NUGGET CUP WINNER

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32407, 21 September 1970, Page 16

NUGGET CUP WINNER

Convictions defended

Because of his convictions, the first winner of the Nugget Cup, B. A. G. Murray, feels the public sometimes thought of him only as a person who would not play cricket on Sundays.

Murray received the trophy last week at a presentation in Wellington, and said it would perhaps serve to remind people that he sometimes played on Saturdays as well. The trophy will be awarded annually to the outstanding personality in New Zealand cricket and can be made for either batting, bowling or fielding. Murray said he became annoyed at times when somebody ridiculed him, as was the case when Sunday play was proposed for the test in Auckland next season against England. This day was latet deleted to allow Murray and other players in similar positions to play in the test. He said it was no business of his whether matches were played on Sundays, and it did not worry him because the New Zealand Cricket Council made the decisions. He added that he would accept any decisions it made. Murray said it was inferred that he dictated to the council what its policy would be, on a tour to Australia, but all he was doing by saying he would not play on Sundays was increasing his chances of being omitted from a side.

Sport was not everything, and by making a stand against playing Sunday cricket was his way of emphasising that point.