CRICKET YOUTH

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31628, 14 March 1968, Page 6

CRICKET YOUTH

Although there had been heavy overnight rain to the great relief of young cricketers the second day of the first round games in the Junior Advisory Board’s Saturday competition continued on Saturday. At Hospital Corner overhead conditions were fine, but the state of the ground was far from ideal. Among the few batsmen who excelled on the slow wickets was East Christchurch - Shirley's Barry Whittaker, who scored a fine 25, coming to the wicket at first drop. He never hesitated to play strokes, and his was a good attacking innings. With the Xavier College fast attack very accurate, and the pitch quite lively, catches were being offered quite regularly. The Xavier close-in fieldsmen, lead by Michael Nolan, who took one very hot chance, upset the batsmen with their anticipation and quick reflexes. It was very pleasing to see the friendly spirit of these matches being enhanced by the practice of sending out substitute fieldsmen by the batting side when the opposition has some players absent. Because of the rain, a number of boys had not arrived, and in some cases, only the cooperation of the opposition made any play possible. This gentlemanly practices does not harm the game. One of the best opening at-

tacks seen at Hospital Corner on Saturday was that of Larry Porter (Lancaster Park B), a left-armer, and Wayne Clements who work very well together. Both are accurate and able to bowl regularly on a different length

for the batsmen. Concentration for any length of time is a rare thing in junior cricket, and usually the batsman who can concentrate will make runs. One cricketer who has this valuable quality is Bernard Marlow from St Thomas’s College, who batted right through bis team’s inn-

ings against Old Collegians. A wet outfield, numerous puddles, a wet ball and sandshoes made life miserable for many a fieldsman on Saturday and yet some excelled in spectacular athletic saves. One fieldsman moved to field a ball, slipped over, stopped the ball, stood up, slipped over again, then the ball via a gigantic puddle, straight into the stumps from side-on. Two batsmen who played innings of heroic proportions on Saturday were Old Boys’ John Langley who made 29 out of a team total of 35 and Loreto College’s Tim Murdoch who completed a fine double 38 out of 52 and 21 out of 25. Both boys batted

with assurance and style. East’s Stephen Ambler may

never have figures like this again four overs, four maidens, five wickets for no runs. He attacked the stumps and was well assisted in the field, and, as with all good bowlers, had a little bit of luck.

Two facts of cricketing etiquette which are not well observed as a whole in these grades are talking on the field and vociferous appealing. Nobody minds a quiet chat between overs, but fighting and yelling are most unnecessary and only the wicket keeper and bowler should appeal.

A wet Saturday is not easily accepted by sportsmen and administrators have a difficult task in deciding whether to take advantage of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation’s cancellation service. If there was any parent who doubted the Advisory Board’s wisdom last Saturday, a quick visit to Hospital Corner would quickly have dispelled all doubts. To see the enthusiasm and pleasure which competition cricket gives to these boys, many of whom bad been anxiously scanning leaden skies since the dawn's early light was compensation enough for the dedicated few who devote so much of their leisure time to providing

worthwhile recreation for schoolboy cricketers.