CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 16

CRICKET.

0 GAMTERBURY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING.

Mr D. Eeese presided at the annual meeting of delegates to the Canterbury Cricket Association on Saturday evening. There were thirty-five delegates present.

"The report indicates the great deal «f work done by the Management Committee and the sub-committees in the control of the game/' said the chairman, in commenting on the annual report and balance-sheet. "The season has been a very satisfactory one and we are now in a position—one which England must follow, and with which Australia has drawn into line—of having the young men of the province playing a most important part in the game, that is on the playing fields. Cricket is a young man's game, and youth brings nu increase in enthusiasm. I do not remember, in recent years, when so uiueh enthusiasm has been displayed prior to the opening of a season. I do not know how much Don Bradman has bad tj do with that." Mr Eeese congratulated the Riecarton Club on winning the senior championship, and also referred to the fine spirit *bown by many players in agreeing to transfer to other clubs in order to assist these latter in competition and financially. The performances by the province's representative teams had been good during the season. The Canterbury eleven at Wellington and at Otago had performed meritoriously, as it had done against the M.C.C. team. A reference was also made to the enthusiasm shown by the Old Boys' Club during the season. finance. The financial position of the Association was not one to cause anxiety, said the chairman, but nevertheless finances had to be nursed carefully. The Management Committee had considered the big expense incurred in engaging a professional coach, and had decided not to do so this coming season. The money thus saved would be spent in niuchueeded ground improvements. The C'hristchurch City Council's attitude in regard to grounds had been much appreciated, and the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) had been exceedingly considerate in this connexion. Mr Eeese then moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet.

In seconding the motion, Mr W. Simpson pointed out that Rugby Park would be in order for use during the coming season. He also stafed that arrangements would probably be made to bring into town country players worthy of a trial in big games. Mr E. E. CaygiU remarked that the low expenditure for the fixture with the M.C.C. eleven reflected to the credit of the Management Committee and the special committee governing the match. Mr W. H. Winsor paid a tribute to the personal activities of the president, Mr D. Seese, in connexion with the coaching of clubs during the season. The report and balance-sheet—previ-ously published in The Paras'—were adopted. Election of Officers..

The following officers were elected: --President, Mr D. Beesej vice-presi-dents, Messrs W. Simpson and W. H. Winsor; Management Committee, Messrs W. L. King, L. D. Page, C. H. Ayling, A. Bay, F. Jarrett, C. E. Evans, and B. O. Talbot; hon. secretary, Mr E. E. Luttrell; hon. treasurer, Mr C. S. Thompson; hon. assistant-secretary, Mr K. C. Burns; honorary auditors, Messrs T. Kewburgb and A, E. Byrne; trustee* of foundation fund, Messrs E. B. Gaygill, W. H. "Winsor, and G. T. Weston. Club's Change of Name. The Linwood Cricket Club wrote asking for permission to change its name to that of the Lancaster Park Cricket Club. The secretary pointed out that the application could come up only under notiee of motion. "There may be an objection from the East Cbristehurch Club," remarked the chairman. "The question cannot legally come before the Association tonight,, according to the rules." Mr W. L. Bong did not think that there would be any opposition to the proposal. "The East Christchurch Club has no objection to the change," stated one of the club's delegates. The eolours would be orange and black, those of the old Lancaster Park Club, said Mr King in answer to a question by Mr Kennedy. It was then pointed out that these would clash with those of the East Christchurch Club, black and gold, but Mr King assured delegates that there would be no clashing of colours. The meeting approving of the request, Mr King then gave notice of motion along the lines of the Linwood Club's letter. Veterans', Competition. Mr W. Simpson referred to the question of providing a competition for older players who, while unable to keep abreast of the more youthful memben of their teams, desired to remain in the game, and at the same time could not be expected to drop down to the lower grades. It was necessary to retain these experienced men in the clubs, said Mr Simpson. He thought that each senior club would be able to enter elevens comprised of their older players, and thus form a separate competition. The Management Committee was prepared to entertain the idea. "I suppose the colours would be grey," interjected the chairman, amidst laughter. "It is an important suggestion, however," continued Mr Beese, "and a similar one had to be tackled recently in Sydney. There are elderly players whose inclusion in a side- is inclined to clog the progress of more junior men."

"Can Mr Simpson give us any further details!" asked Mr Godfrey. "The Management Committee would deal with the matter and make conditions," replied Mr Simpson, who then moved that the proposal be referred to the general committee, with a favourable recommendation.

Mr Godfrey intimated that Old Collegians had been considering entering an old men's eleven in the ordinary competitions. He thought that if any objections were to be raised against an old men's side playing against younger men, they should be stated at the meeting.

"The only objection against young men playing with old ones is that the hitter act as a stymie to the former," Mid the chairman. A club could overcome such a difficulty by playing the two teams, an old'men's and a youths', is the one competition. It,was pointed out that no club would be compelled to play its older members in a veterans' competition. Mr Caygill expressed the opinion that too much emphasis could be placed on the regulating of competitions by age limits. A mistake had been made previously in a junior competition when no team was allowed to contain le?s than eight members under the age of twentyfive. This tended towards a certain amount, of lack of control in a team. Ho moved as an amendment that it be a recommendation to the Management Qommittee that it considers the question; n The amendment was lost, and the pfiUpn, that tha Management Commit-

tee be asked to consider the question aud that it be favourably reeommendedj was carried. General Business. Mr King suggested that the New Zealand Council be written to and asked if there was any possibility of a visit to New Zealand of an overseas team. Mr Winsor stated that so far as was known no overseas visit was likely to take place. On Mr Caygill's motion it was decided to place on the minutes the Association's appreciation of the action of those players who voluntarily agreed to transfer their services to club's needing assistance.

It was decided, or. the suggestion of Mr Simpson, to send a letter of congratulation to the Wecdons Club on its having attained its jubilee. Mr J. Prosper moved that play in all games below senior grade finish at 6 o'clock during the coming season, instead of at 6.30, as hitherto. The later finish had resulted in the games dragging, owing to the anxiety of many of the younger players to get away earlier.

The question was discussed and Mr Prosper agreeing to modify his motion, it was decided to recommend to the Management Committee that play in all grades below fourth cease at 6 p.m.

FINAL TEST MATCH.

COMMENTS ON CHANGE OF CAPTAIN. (F3OM OOa OWi? COKSESPOSMEST.) LONDON, August 15. Long before this reaches New Zealand the result of omitting A. P. F. Chapman from the team chosen for the final cricket Test will be known. The dropping of Chapman has created a great deal of discussion, but it is said that it is no surprise to those with inner knowledge. He was subjected to sharp criticism during and after the fourth Test at Manchester. It wai held that he kept Peebles on too long, and that he failed as a batsman. Chapman gave the "Daily Mail" an interview. "The circumstances are such," he said, "that 1 think the public will be able to sympathise with me and understand my disappointment. I have led the team in this country at Nottingham, Lord's, Leeds, and Manchester, and for the vital match of the series the privilege of playing for and leading England has been withdrawn from nie. Frankly, I am at a loss to understand why. I am told, and of course I accept it, that the England batting needs strengthening. If that i 3 the real reason why I have been dropped I may perhaps be excused a rueful smile, although a smile of any kind is farthest from my thoughts. It is a matter of record that my batting average in the present series of Tests is something under 44. "I have been exceptionally lucky in the field. I have caught Bradman twice, Woodfull twice, Kippax twice, and a'Beckett once, and in regard to one or two of these catches some of my friends have been good enough to say that they doubt, if any other fieldsman would have succeeded. But, of course, I am lucky to have height and reach above the average. "Well, there it is, and I must leave it at that. I think England has a vetj good chance of retaining the Ashes, and with all my heart I wish Mr Wyatt and the team full and complete success." A Precedent of 1926. "The change of captaincy is calculated to cause people who have followed the events of' the four matches already played to doubt the evidence of their own eyes," writes Mr H. J. Henley, in the "Daily MaiL" "If there was one man who had justified his place in England's team that man. was A. P. F. Chapman. And he has been left out! What has Chapman done wrong t Has he handled his bowling badly? Has he placed his field perversely? Has he fielded slackly or failed as a batsman 1 Has he been unpopular with the men under him? The answer to each of these questions is an emphatic 'No!'" The selectors,! for their part, have precedent as their justification. It may be recalled that A. W. Carr, who was in charge in the first four Tests in 1926, was superseded by Chapman in the decisive match at the Oval, when victory, for England recaptured the Ashes, which have since been in the keeping of England. Mr A. E. B. GUligan's Views. Mr A. E. K. Gilligan, writing in the "News-Chronicle," says: "Having seen practically every ball'-bowled in the four previous Tests, I can say that I do 'not believe any other captain could have possibly done better than Chapman, and that few English captains have excelled him. Look at his record: Coming in to captain England in 1926 in the final match at the Oval in almost precisely similar circumstances to those in which he is being superseded now, he won back the Ashes which had been in Australia's keeping for 14 years. Ho then went to Australia and captained our winning team in the first four matches. In the final match at Melbourne Jack White took over the side owing to Chapman's illness—and Australia won. Previous to the present series he had never lost a match as captain,, and in ' England this year he has, of course, won one, lost one and drawn two. Out of nine Tests he has won six, and j lost only one. What an achievement! "Furthermore, I have not forgotten that ho did more than anybody to win the match at Nottingham. It was his ! wonderful catches of Woodfull in both } innings, and his sterling knock of 52, I at a time when we had four wickets I down for 71 runs, that played such a big part and gave us the victory. Again at Lord's, he not only made 121 at a critical period in the second innings, but he caught out Bradman I on both occasions. Indeed, his fielding throughout has amounted to genius. Ho was worth his place for that alone, and I am certain that at the Oval there will be moments when his absence will be very severely felt. Why has he been dropped! I am at a loss to understand I it. Becently, it is true, his batting has not been as successful as in the early part of the season, but he is a born fighter in a big match, and would have revelled in the final struggle to the death. He has my sincere sympathy." The majority opinion is that the dropping of Chapman, who has come to j be known as England's "Lucky Captain," is a huge blunder: the other point of view is that in a non-stop Test the strong, silent take-no-risks type of Captain—as Mr J. A. H. Catton describes Wyatt in the "Evening Standard" —is to be preferred to the more dashing, hard-hitting school of leader. The Team Spirit. Mr W. F. Smith, in the "Sporting Life," writes: "The team spirit counts for much in these 'contests, and not even Chapman's most bitter critic could Bay that he has not got the best out of his men. His tactics have been criticised. Have, however, his detractors allowed that not once this season has he been given a team to lead from which he could properly place his field! Always he has had, at some time or other, to place one or other of his

bowlers a long way from the wicket. This ought not to be necessary, and undoubtedly handicaps a captain, whoever he may ( be. Admittedly moro solidity in the middle of the batting order was required, but shrewd captaincy ought not to bo ignored in striving for it. Wyatt is a keen cricketer, a very sound bat, and a change bowler of sorts. I doubt very much if he has the personality to carry his men with him, however, when a big effort is wanted. Surely, if we had to change the captaincy at this critical stage, the obvious choice should have been B. H. Lyon, of Gloucestershire, without question the outstanding leader in county cricket to-day." SUNNYSIDE CLUB. The annual meeting of the Sunnyside Cricket Olub was held, when Dr. Brown, in the absence of Dr. McKillop, occupied the chair. The balance-sheet, showing a satisfactory position, was adopted. The annual report stated that tho club had had a most successful season last year, having won the senior Suburban competition. The resignation of Dr. Brown from the secretaryship was received with regret, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to him. The following officers were elected: President, Dr. McKillop; vice-presidents, Dr. Brown, Dr. Lewis, Messrs Barnes and L. Hibberd; selectors, Messrs L. Hibberd, L>. Watson, and T. Sincock; delegate to Association, Mr L. Watson; club captain, Mr L. Hibberd; field captain, Mr L. Watson: treasurer. Dr. Brown, secretary, Mr K. Chinnery. A presentation was made to Mr G. Roberts,, a member of the club, who was recently married.