'A. Nother’ problem for cricket assn

Press, 28 November 1979, Page 40

' A. Nother’ problem for cricket assn

Instances of senior cricketers playing in lower grade teams prompted a long discussion and some action from . the Canterbury Cricket Association’s management comImittee last evening. i The matters concerned two i provincial representatives. ! Steve Bateman (Burnside-| West) and Lindsay Thorn | (Riccarton), and an anony-; mous High School Old Boys' player who was referred to; ■as “A. Nother.” * Bateman appeared for. the 'Burnside-West second grade XI which beat East-Shirley! in the fourth competition round, but it was allowed to! retain its points even though the competitions committee considered that there was I “no doubt that he played un-j I fairly below his normal grade,! I even if only for one day.” ! It was pointed out that the' ! East-Shriley captain (John 1 i Knowles, who is also the management committee chairman, but who vacated the chair during discussion) had agreed to BateI man playing solely as a batsman. He is best known for his skill as a medium-paced bowler. 1 Both Bateman and Thorn had been in the Canterbury XI which played Nelson on the first day of the fourth round. Thorn was then listed in the Riccarton third grade • team’s scorebook to join that ' side on the second day. but steps were taken to transfer

him to the club’s President’s grade team. No action was necessary. However, the case of “A. Nother” drew a protest from the Marist club, which lost to Old Boys in the eighth grade on November 10. "A. Nother” had been in the Old Boys senior team the previous day, Show Day. Mr N. G. Ockwell, the competitions sub-committee chairman, said that the Marist protest had technically arrived late, but he said that the offence was such that no formal complaint was necessary. The name “A. Nother” was listed both in the scorebook and on the official result card (he scored a half-century, in addition to bowling his limit of 10 overs). The Old Boys club will lose the points it earned from the match because it was found that the player had offended in three ways by playing unfairly below his grade, by appearing in two fixtures in the same round, and by using a false name. A general discussion followed on the replacement bylaws for representatives who are available for only half of a two-day match, and the competitions sub-committee is to look at the problem. It was also suggested that thought be given to registering players in future seasons, a system that is used by the Christchurch Suburban Cricket Association.