CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26264, 8 November 1950, Page 2

CRICKET

GRANT TO BE MADE TO SUBASSOCIATIONS

A grant of £5O Is to be made to each of the five cricket sub-associlations in the Canterbury Association’s district, out of the £1250 given the association from the proceeds of the New Zealand cricket I team’s tour of England last year. This was decided at a meeting of the management committee’of the Canterbury Cricket Association last evening, on the recommendation of the finance committee. The committee as yet had no recommendation to make as to the disposal of the remaining £lOOO, said Mr T. A. Tucker, reporting for the finance committee. Until the grounds committee had had further discussions with the Hagley Park grounds committee Its commitments in connexion' with the development of the polo grounds would not be known. CouncH Wickets The Cathedral Club's wicket was capable of further improvement now that water had been laid on, and he did not think the committee should take any action at present, said Mr Tucker, reporting on an inspection he had made of City Council wickets. He had inspected most of the wickets discussed at the last meeting, and some of them were not as good as the Cathedral one, he said. The polo ground was a bit “hairy” in parts, and at Barrington Park there was one good wicket and one poor one. The Fendalton ground was very weedy and had a long way to go before it would be up to second grade standard. Elmwood Park was in pretty good order, and it was evident that additional work had been put in there. “I think we should mark time in the meantime,” said the chairman (Mr C. G. Crawford). “The Cathedral ground should improve with water laid on.” On the motion of Mr W. J. V. Hamilton, it was decided to write to the director of parks and reserves (Mr M. J. Barnett) advising him that no disparagement of the council wickets was intended in remarks made in connexion with the Cathedral wiqket at the last meeting of the committee. Mr Hamilton said the remarks as reported might be interpreted in two ways. It was decided to recommence competitions in all. grades except president’s and fourth grade on January 6, after the Christmas and New Year break. The other two grades, in which one-day matches are played, will be recommenced on January 13. The itinerary for the Canterbury B team’s tour to Tlmaru and Ashburton at the end of this year was agreed to. The team will play South Canterbury on Wednesday and Thursday, December 27 and 28. and Ashburton on the following two days. Coaching "I don’t think our batting against slow bowling has ever been at a lower ebb. One could count the senior grade players who can play slow bowling on the fingers of one hand. Unless we improve it we will be up against it with overseas teams.” This comment was made by Mr W. J. V. Hamilton when the committee was discussing the coaching of the 17 selected junior players by the association’s coach (Mr L. F. Townsend). Mr Hamilton asked whether they were getting adequate practice against slow bowling. Mr W. O. Mappiebeck, for the competitions committee, said the boys were getting plenty of slow bowlirfg. The coaching was proceeding satisfactorily except for interruptions because of wet weather. Mr I. A. Baxter asked whether they could be given fielding and other practice, and lectures on days when it was fine overhead but too wet for batting. The competitions committee was asked to approach Mr Townsend on this question. . .

The selection of a captain for the Canterbury Plunket Shield team's northern tour this season was discussed in committee. It was announced later that, the question would be fully discussed at the next meeting. Mr W. A. Hadlee will not be available for the tour.

Mr R. A. Smith was appointed manager of the team.