LANCASTER PARK BOUNDARIES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27875, 25 January 1956, Page 14

LANCASTER PARK BOUNDARIES

SITING DISCUSSED BY COMMITTEE

The siting of the boundary on Lancaster Park oval for the match between Canterbury and the West Indies, which is to starf on Friday, was discussed at a meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Cricket Association last evening. Several speakers spoke of the anomaly cf having two boundaries—one for fours and another for sixes—and it was proposed that the boundary should be shifted in from the ditch around tne fence a few feet. This motion was defeated on the casting vote of the ch airMr E. D. Milne said that at present there existed a “no man’s land” at the boundaries. The four boundary was the ditch, but the six boundary was over the picket fence. A player was still permitted to lean backwards over the fence to take a catch provided that his feet were on the grass and not in the ditch. In point of fact, Canterbury had two boundaries —a four end a six. He said the Umpires’ Association had discussed the matter several times and the only thing it coula suggest to overcome this “no man’s land” was a,white line on the grass a few feet in from the ditch.

Other speakers supported the present arrangements. Mr F. F. Dawson said an umpire knew when a six had been scored because the ball had to clear the fence. Likewise he knew when a four had been scored because the ball rolled into the ditch. From the centre of the field there might be times when it could not ne seen whether the ball had cleared a white line for a six or a four. After mrther discussion a motion that the boundary be a white line several feet inside the fence was moved. On a show of hands the voting was even, and on the casting vote of the chairman the motion was lost.

The treasurer (Mr J. C. Saunders) re ported that gate takings from the Plunket Shield matches in Christchurch amounted to £1652, compared with £1493 last yeai. The estimated attendance at the two matches in Christchurch was 12,644 tuis year compared with 11.422 last year. After all expenses had been deducted—including the beam’s travelling expenses lor the other two matchest—the association would make about £250 for each of tne home matches. Expenses this year haa been fairly heavy, he said. It was decided to send a suitable letter to the Otago cricketer G. W. Overton on the occasion of his retirement from first class cricket.