CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22304, 19 January 1938, Page 5

CRICKET

• * NORTHERN TOUR REVIEWED COMMENT BY CANTERBURY TEAM’S MANAGER REPORT TO ASSOCIATION “It would seem that one-day cricket is not quite the right preparation for four-day matches.” This comment was made by Mr C. H. Ayling in his report last night to the management committee of the Canterbury Cricket Association on the northern tour of the Canterbury team, of which he was manager. Mr Ayling’s remarks caused a short discussion, but no opinion was expressed by the executive about oneday matches, the report being adopted. “If the team had been more experienced,” Mr Ayling added, “it might have been able to adapt itself to the different class of cricket required. However, we have some very promising young players.” Discussing the matches played on the tour. Mr Ayling said that in the Wellington match, which was lost, none of the batsmen seemed able to settle down, and the score of 197 in the first innings was “quite a bright effort.” Fairly heavy rain fell or New Year’s Day, no play taking place and the big gate of the match was lost. The wicket was then more in favour of the bowlers, and only 99 runs were scored iin Canterbury’s second innings. I Improvement Against Auckland The wicket on the first day of the match against Auckland was a batsman’s paradise, Mr Ayling remarked. Canterbury lost the toss, but its bowling was steady and the fielding firstclass. The Canterbury batting was an improvement on the previous efforts, although heavy rain stopped play for the day not long after the Canterbury innings opened and gave the bowlers some assistance. “Our young batsmen tried very hard to play steadily, and succeeded up to a point,” he added. Against the Wellington Minor Associations’ team Canterbury settled down and played well. The slip fielding and wicket-keeping were brilliant. Gate takings were:—Wellington, £IBO for two days; Auckland, £342 for three days; Palmerston North, £36 for two days. When Mr T. W. Reese drew attention to the comment in the report to one-day cricket, Mr Ayling said that the Canterbury team did not seem able to settle down and play steadily. Mr Reese: Still, that is all part of the game. Mr Ayling replied that the Auckland side took no risks at all. The Canterbury men were trying to score all the time. Later he added that he had never seen Canterbury batting so risky. The report was adopted. Return Match Proposed It was decided to invite the Wellington representative team to stay in Christchurch on its return from Dunedin early in February and play a return match against a Canterbury side. It was reported that the net takings for the Canterbury-Otago match at Lancaster Park were £226. A grant of £3 3s to the Canterbury Ladies’ Cricket Association was approved, the donation b£ing made to assist in sending a New Zealand women’s team to Australia this year. Draw for Saturday The following draw for next Saturday was approved:— ' First Grade—Sydenham v. East Christchurch, at Lancaster Park No. 1; Old Collegians v. Riccarton. at Rugby Park No. 1; West Christchurch v. Old Boys, at Haglcy Park No. 1; Lancaster Park v. St. Albans, at Haglcy Park No. 2. Second Grade —Sydenham v. Old Collegians, at Sydenham Park No. 1; Lancaster Park v. Riccarton, at Hagley Park No. 3; St. Albans v. Old Boys, at Hagley Park No. 5; East Christchurch v. West Christchurch, at Lancaster Park No. 4. Third Grade —Sydenham C v. East Christchurch, at Sydenham Park No. 3: Svdcnham B v. St. Albans A, at Hospital No. 1; Christ's College v. Old Collegians. Old Collegians win by default; Old Boys B v. Sydenham A, at Hospital No. 2; West Christchurch B v. Boys' High School, at Straven road No. 1; West Christchurch A v. Riccarton, at Hagley Park No,’ G; St. Albans B v. Old Boys A. at Hagley Park No. 4; Lancaster Park- v. Old Boys, at Lancaster Park No. 5. Fourth Grade—Boys’ High School y. Lancaster Park B, Lancaster Park win by default: Lancaster Park A v. West Christchurch B, at Lancaster Park No. 3: West Christchurch A v. West High School, at Hospital No. 3; Old Boys v. St. Andrew’s, Old Boys win by default; Riccarton v. Sydenham, at Hospital No. 4; Old Collegians v. Christ's College, Old Collegians win by default; St. Albans v. St. Bede’s, St. Albans win by default; East Christchurch a bye. Fifth Grade—Christ’s College v. Lancaster Park, Lancaster Park win by default; West Christchurch v. Old Boys, West Christchurch win by default; St. Albans v. East Christchurch, at Lancaster Park No. 6; Boys’ High School v. Sydenham. Sydenham Park No. 2. Sixth Grade—Sydenham v. Christ’s College B, Sydenham win by default: West Christchurch v. Boys’ High School, at Hospital No. 5. COACH FROM ENGLAND SUGGESTION TO CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION A proposal that the Canterbury Cricket Association should obtain a coach from England is to be made to the management committee of the association at its next meeting, according to a statement made at a meeting of the committee last night by Mr T. W. Reese. Mr Reese’s claim that a first-class coach was needed in Canterbury was first made during a discussion on the results of the country week matches played during the Christmas and New Year holidays. After Mr R. C. Burns had commented that the fixture should be annual if it was to be successful and that its scope should be extended by inviting West Coast and South Canterbury teams to take part, Mr Reese said that Vhc coaching scheme seemed to be starting at the wrong time. From his observation of play in the country week fixtures it seemed that some promising young players should be coached from January 1 until the end of the school holidays. At a later stage of the meeting Mr Reese said he was certain it was tim«» the association employed a first-class coach. The association should consider getting a coach from England next year. He had discussed the possibility of getting a coach with Mr M. L. Page, the captain of the New Zealand team that visited England last year, and Mr Page had said he thought it should be possible to get a player from one of the county teams to come to Canterbury. Mr Reese added that he would move, at the next meeting of the committee, that the committee set up a sub-committee to consider the possibility of getting a coach from England.