Dented to cricket

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 24

Dented to cricket

TJanterbury and New Zealand cricket lost a devoted disciple with the death on Sunday of Mr E. R. Caygili; a player and administrator of much note. Mr Caygili was a senior player for the Riccarton club from 1906-07 until 1924-25, and until very recently he was among the more regular club support ers for its matches at Hagley Oval. In 1907-08, he scored 536 runs in championship matches, and exceeded 500 again In 1914-15. His best season was 1915-16, when he scored 598 runs and made his top score, 168 against East Christchurch. In all, Mr Caygili totalled 5078 runs in senior cricket at an average of almost 30, scoring eight centuries and 26 half-centries. He bowled only occasionally, and will be best remembered as the victim of R. C. Blunt’s sensational effort seven 6’s in an over. Mr Caygili represented

Canterbury, making 10 first class appearances between 1910-11 and 1913-14. In them he scored 432 runs and had a best score of 87. Against Otago in 1910-11, he took five catches. A kindly and gentle man, Mr CaygiU was a generous benefactor of cricket as, in fact, his family has been. His service to the game as an administrator was immense. He was treasurer of the New Zealand Cricket Council from 1937 to 1948, president in 1953-54, and he was made a life member in 1948. He was president of the Canterbury Cricket Association from 1947 to 1950, and was elected a life member in 1950. His father, Mr O. Caygili, was a New Zealand selector in 1907. A noted umpire, he was the first president of the New Zealand Umpires’ Association and a delegate to the New Zealand Cricket Council from 1905 to 1909.