Sunday Play Decision Attacked By Delegate

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31500, 14 October 1967, Page 15

Sunday Play Decision Attacked By Delegate

Criticism of the New Zealand Cricket Council’s executive was made by an Auckland delegate, Mr W. K. Jagger, at the annual meeting of the council in Christchurch yesterday.

Mr Jagger, speaking on behalf of his asassoclation, attacked the executive for varying the itinerary of the New Zealand team’s tour of Australia next month, without reference to the board of control.

The itinerary originally approved by the board provided for play on a Sunday in the game against Queensland. However, problems arose because three of the likely tour players—V. Pollard, B. W. Yuile and B. A. G. Murray, all of whom were eventually chosen—do not play on Sundays for religious and moral reasons. For this reason, the executive in March varied the itinerary. This was not satisfactory, said Mr Jagger. “I feel the itinerary should’ not have been varied without reference to the full board. This is far beyond conducting the day-to-day business of the council.” “Emergency Arose” The chairman of the board (Mr J. G. Leggat) said he could not remember the executive ever before varying or rejecting an itinerary, “nor do I think it would normally be done.” However, Mr Leggat said,

“a situation of emergency arose and I know that a selector, possibly the selectors, were consulted.” Mr Leggat was in hospital at the time of the executive decision. Mr W. A. Hadlee, a member of the executive, said he was surprised the matter had not been raised earlier. As he recalled, the selectors had advised they would be unable to field a team under the circumstances which then prevailed.

If the council had any policy on the matter of Sunday play. It was that it did not support it, said the retiring president (Mr J. A. Newman), who was chairman at the executive’s March meeting.

Change Of Days “New Zealand touring teams have played on Sundays,” said Mr Jagger. "If it can be done in India and Pakistan, then it can be done in Queensland.” Mr Newman did not agree and said that the day of rest in those Asian* countries was not a Sunday. When Indian and Pakistani teams toured New Zealand, they were expected to play on their Sabbath—Friday or Saturday, said Mr Newman. New Zealand teams reciprocated when they’toured. Mr M. E. Chapple (Central Districts), who is also the convener of the national selec-

tion panel, said the emergency arose between board meetings and four players could have been involved. Confirming that he had approached the players involved, without persuading them they should play on the Sunday, Mr J. A. Ongley manager of the tourists, said the executive had done nothing to indicate the policy of the council on playing on Sundays overseas. Issue Of Sweaters Mr Jagger also complained about gear and clothing provided for New Zealand teams. He had read that the touring team would not be issued with long-sleeved sweaters. “In the southern states, it can still get very cold in the late afternoon,” he said. Mr Jagger also asked that a set of match gear be made available to New Zealand teams at home: and that the board look at the issue of clothing to players .chosen for home tests. He said that players should receive a jersey in addition to the cap, blazer and tie at present issued to them.

Mr Leggat said that the question of a sweater in Australia was a matter of the players* own choice and, after Mr Chapple had ' added his support to Mr Jagger, it was recommended to the board that it look at the question of gear and clothing.