Award For Enterprise In Shield Batting

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29077, 14 December 1959, Page 14

Award For Enterprise In Shield Batting

Recognising the need for players to adopt a more rowitive aunroach if cricket is to flourish as one of the JZt of games, “Th. Press goffered the Canterbury Cricket Association an awardl of ? to be made to the Canterbury batsman contributing most to enterprising cricket during the provinces three home Plunket Shield matches this season. The offer has been accepted by the association, which will, in a few days, appoint its representative to a panel of three which will sdect the winner. ITie others on the panel will be Mr T. W. C. Tothill immediate past-president of the New Zealand Cricket Council, and the sports editor of “The Press.

There have been pleas for brighter play throughout the cricket world. Because of a negative' approach by batsmen as well as bowlers, the game has lost much public support. But in making the award, “The Press does not have in mind that players should’ be encouraged to ignore the needs of their team or the state of the game. The award will be made on very different grounds. Performances will be assessed not merely on the relation of runs scored to minutes batted. There may be a stage of a match when a burst of batting violence means little or nothing, or where a wicket thrown away is detrimental to the interests of the team. The panel will look for the player who shows the greatest eagerness and ability to win the initiative from opposing

bowlers and the greatest appre. ciation of a tactical situation. Ths award could be won by batsmen from one to eleven. The quality of the opposition and the state of the game will be of paramount importance. Speed and good judgment in running between the wickets are powerful weapons in the hands of a' batsman determined to get on top. In short, the winner will be the batsman who plays ths innings best suited to the interests of his team and of the game. The award will take the form of a permanent trophy, with a sum in cash. Canterbury’s home shield matches this season an against Otago, starting on Christmas Day, against Auckland, beginning on December 30, and against Northern Districts, this match beginning on January 11 -R.TB.