Young Batsmans Anxious Wait

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 13

Young Batsmans Anxious Wait

cricketers with any ““*■ pretensions to batting ability hope, however optimistically, when they make their way to foe wicket, that this may be their day to achieve the hallmark of batting success and score a century. But many are fated to play cricket for a large part of their live* Without ever reaching the coveted three figure*., very few enjoy as successful * match. when only 13, a* Graeme Pulley, a member ot the tqp East ChristchurchShiriey team, in the last round of the Saturday morning schoolboy*' competition. Graeme’s teem at the end of the first day against Sydenham had already reached • commanding position, baving cßflnuswa D'y’aefHiacn tor 43 and gained a substantial lead on the first innings, with

Graeme 67 not out. Although he had made several genres in the forties Graeme had

•never before been closet to making a century, and he spent an anxious week wondering if it would rain, or if be could make the allimportant 33 runs before his team was forced to declare. But hi* success on the second Saturday could hardly have been more complete; the declaration was made when he had readied 107 not out—the highest score ever made by a member of bis team—and by way of celebration he secured six for 10 with his off-spinners ta Sydenham’s second innings. East Christchurch-Shirley won outright by an inntags and 81 runs.

Although he is interested in most sports, and is a busy footballer in the winter, with irt foe back* for Starley intermediate school, and

Rugby League as a forward with the Shirley club—he is a Canterbury under 12 and under 13 representative— Graeme has always been particularly keen on cricket. At Banks avenue primary school he came under the guidance ot E. Muleock, the former Canterbury bowler, who is foe headmaster there, and until last season he had foe benefit of coaching from the East ChristchurchShirley opening batsman, J. W. Groeott

Graeme practises at every opportunity and spends many hours hitting « ball suspended from foe family clothe* line. Hi* success to • well-deserved reward for keen teas and enthusiasm, and he to • youngster of whom much more may be heard ta years to come.