PRESIDENT’S REVIEW OF SEASON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 7

PRESIDENT’S REVIEW OF SEASON

The lessons the season taught were that running between the wickets and fielding must be improved, said the president of the Canterbury Cricket Association (Mr W, J. V. Hamilton) at an end-of-season function last evening. Risks would have to be taken to improve the running between the wickets, Mr Hamilton sziid. It was at present very bad, and it should not have been necessary for it to be taken in hand at the representative practice. He suggested that schools, in particular, could use tip-and-run cricket to improve running. That sort of game also improved fielding, for catching and throwing the wicket down gave the fieldman an innings. x Fielding was another “must,” Mr Ham-1 ilton said. With New Zealand cricket In its present position, the fielding had to be good. The batting at present might be a little too orthodox, and it was good to see some unorthodox strokes by the Canterbury. batsmen, in the match, against South Africa. Off-break bowlers should not dominate the scene as they did at present, Mr Hamilton said . Years ago the pulled drive was used with effect against the off-spin bowler, but now it seemed out of fashion. Mr Hamilton recalled a senior match between Riccarton and Linwood in which - A. W. Roberts and O. Gorrie had “taken on” Reg. Reed, a notable off-break bowler, and scored 235 in 67 minutes. “It has been an interesting season, particularly because we have so many young players coming on,” Mr Hamilton said. “I feel that in two years Canterbury will be very strong. It may then be harder to get into the Canterbury side than it is to get into the New Zealand side now;" Mr Hamilton congratulated the three Canterbury players—A. R. Mac Gibbon, M. B. Poore, and M. E. Chapple—on winning places in the New Zealand team for the South African tour. The chairman of the management committee (Mr C. G. Crawford) said Canterbury had the habit of being bottom in the Plunket Shield competition one season and top the next. Taking the season by and large, there was not too much to worry about, and he felt sure Canterbury would be in the picture again next season. F. B. Smith, who led the Canterbury team in the first two shield matches, congratulated the Canterbury players on their showing against South Africa, and J. G. Leggat, the captain, for the other matches, said he felt that Canterbury and Wellington were the two strongest teams, although they finished fifth and fourth respectively. Members of the Canterbury side were presented with photographs of the representative team, and captains of teams which won the competitions received their awards from Mr Crawford. The following special awards were made:—Orchard ’Vophy, for the best Brabin Shield tournament bowler, J. W. Reeves; John Cowans prizes: best bowler under 18, D. McKendry; best batsman under 18, B. A. Bolton; best bowler under 21, Reeves; best batsman under 2!, J. Darifr.