CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 218, 10 June 1926, Page 10

CRICKET

ENGLISH COACH FOR AUCKLAND DUE HERE IN OCTOBER , “Dominion” Special. Auckland, June 9. A somewhat humorous sidelight on the playing of cricket in Samoa came belore the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association, when a letter was received from the Apia Cricket Association appealing for secondhand gear for use by natives, who have recently been initiated into the game. “We have purchased a good deal of gear with the mojicy collected, but we have not sufficient to supply ten teams,” the letter ran. “Anything in the way of pads, balls, aud bats w.ill be very useful, especially bats, as the natives are very hard on this article. You will appreciate the fact that a cricket competition is something new to the natives. They play their own style of cricket a good deal, and, being naturally slow at taking up what is new to them, they do not like parting with their money at present to supply gear for themselves.” This last familiar complaint provoked amusement among members of the committee, one of whom asked: “Why don’t they cut down a couple of coconut trees and make some bats?” It was decided to reply sympathetically, but to point out that what discarded gear Auckland clubs had was tn very bad condition, and not worth sending. There has been no further development regarding the proposal to engage for a term of three years an English cricketer to coach Auckland players. Following upon a meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Crjcket Association a month ago, a cablegram was dispatched to Lord Hawke setting out the salary and conditions of appointment. At last evening’s meeting of the committee it was reported that no reply had yet been received as to the selection of. a coach, in connection with which Maurice Tate’s name had been mentioned. It was anticipated, however, that communication would be received from Lord Hawke shortly. The necessity for mapping out a programme of work for the coach, and of having sufficient good wickets available, was discussed at length. According to ' latest advice, the coach will leave England on September 24. arriving in New Zealand on October 30. It was felt, therefore, that arrangements should be put in hand almost Immediately, so that coaching could be started at the beginning of the season. The necessity for coaching the secondary school nlavers, and the best bovs in the primary schools, was particularly stressed. Mr. E. C. Beale was deputed to draw up a general scheme of coaching for discussion at the next meeting of the committee.