COUNTRY CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 22, 21 October 1937, Page 2

COUNTRY CRICKET

Question Of Fifth Plunket Shield Team WELLINGTON CONFERENCE The annual conference between representatives of the Wellington Cricket Association and minor associations in the Wellington Plunket Shield area was held at the National Party’s rooms, Wellington, last night. Mr. J. H. Phillipps, chairman of the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association, presided, and other members of the committee in attendance were Messrs. W. A. Baker, E. C. Wireu, J. R. Stevens, A. W. Dunean, J. S- Banks and A. Varney. The country delegates present were Messrs. A. M. Ongley’ (Manawatu), T. A. Searell (Nelson), and A. G. Wielts (Marlborough). Mr. Phillipps, in welcoming the country delegates, said {hat the annual conference with delegates of the minor associations had borue good fruit. It was a matter for congratulation that the minor associations had supplied three representatives to the New Zealand team which had toured England this year. The Wellington Cricket Association particularly congratulated Mr. Ongley ’on the success which had been achieved by country players last season. It would be the aim of the Wellington association to do all it eould to foster the game in the country districts. Fifth Plunket Shield Team. Mr. Ongley brought up the question of a fifth Plunket Shield team being admitted, consisting of players from the minor associations in the Wellington, area. The minor associations bad no complaint to make concerning the treatment they were receiving at the hands of the Wellington Cricket Association. The players in the country districts, however, wished to be given the opportunity of taking part in the best class of cricket in the country. The players in the minor associations had improved their form until to-day they were worthy opponents of the players of the rdajor associations. Cricket in N.ew Zealand would never attain the rank it should while the Plunket Shield contest was confined to the four main centres. The aim should be to spread representation over the whole country. If country cricketers were going to be debarred from taking part in first-class cricket, they would naturally turn to such games as tennis aud golf, where they could make u bid for the highest honours. The minor associations of the Wellington area had supplied three members of the New Zealand cricket team which had toured England this year.' He did not think there was a great deal in the argument that the admission of a minor associations' Plunket Shield team would prove too expensive. He moved that- the conference approve of the formation of a fifth Plunket Shield team, to consist of players in the minor associations in the Wellington Plunket Shield area. Mr. Wicks (Marlborough), seconded the motion, remarking that a very strong team could be selected from the nine minor associations in the Wellington area. Mr. Searell (Nelson), supported .the motion. Cricket at Nelson, he said, was going back on account of the isolation of the province. Mr. Phillipps said the other major associations had not the same problem as Wellington. The Wellington Cricket Association was anxious to do nothing which would upset the Plunket Shield contest. The financial problems connected with Plunket Shield cricket were giving a good deal of concern to the major associations. The tendency in the future would be not to play Plunket Shield matches at holiday time, as it was found that the attendances of the public at Christmas and New Year were disappointing. His idea was that major associations should play matches each year at such centres as Hamilton, Palmerston North and Timaru. This would give country players a chance of meeting the representatives of the major associations. Until the major associations were assured that they would not be saddled with- a great deal of expense if a fifth Plunket Shield team was admitted, he did not think there was much chance of the proposal being agreed to. Mr. Ongley's motion was carried, only the country delegates voting. On the motion of Mr. Ongley if was decided to request the New Zealand Cricket Association to adopt the eightball over in all matches , this season. Number of Selectors. A proposal from the Wairarapa Cricket Association that two additional New Zealand selectors should be appointed to represent minor associations, one from each island, was discussed. Mr. Phillipps was afraid that if this were done it would only make confusion worse confounded. Mr. Ongley agreed with this view, remarking that the present system of appointing one selector for each major association was wrong. They had too many selectors at present. The Wairarapa proposal lapsed for want of support. The Rangitikei Cricket Association wrote advocating that the playing of a match between minor association teams before the Town v. Country match be continued. Mr. Ongley said the minor associations were strongly in favour of such a match being played. Mr. A. W. Duncan, sole selector for the Wellington Cricket Association, undertook to attend such a match if it were played. It was decided to bring the matter up at the cricket conference in Christchurch. Wellington Cricket Carnival, Discussion took place regarding the cricket week proposed by the Wellington association. Mr. Phillipps said it was proposed to hold the cricket week on Christmas Day and December 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31. It was expected that six teams would take part in one-day matches. Mr. Phillipps said it was proposed to hold the Town v. Country match this season on December 15 and 16, On the motion of Mr. Wicks, seconded by Mr. Searell, Mr. Ongley was reappointed sole selector of minor association teams. Mr. Phillipps conveyed to Mr. Ongley the thanks of the Wellington Cricket Association for the valuable services he had given as sole selector of country teams over a long period of years. At the instance of the’ Manawatu association, the Wellington association agreed to forward a remit to the New Zealand Cricket Association suggesting that the association should adopt the New South Wales rule which provides that if an incoming batsman exceeds two minutes in taking his place he shall lose his wicket.

Speakers pointed out that the M.C.C, rule at present provides that if an appeal is made because an incoming batsman has taken more than two minutes to come in the innings automatically closes. This rule was so drastic that no captain would make an appeal. If the New S‘ uth Wales rule were adopted it would save a great deal of time, as incoming batsmen at present took nearer four than two minutes to take their places at the wicket.

Mercantile League v. Kilbirnie

On Labour Day the Wellington Mercantile Cricket League will engage the Kilbirnie Cricket Club in an all-day game which will be played on the Kilbirnie Reserve, commencing at 10.30 a.m The Mercantile League team, picked from those who gained representative honours lasf season, has been chosen by the selectors Messrs. E. F Casey and E R. Martin as follows: —A A. Jcnning (capt.). C Yenman. F E de Clifford and S. Brooks (Customs Agents), I. Rnmsnv (Prestige Hosiery), C Jackson (Taxes'), M Liddicoat (Amalgamated Bricks). A W. V. Rowland (Sargoods), W. Jupp (Harbour Board), O. Meech (Woolworths), and H. Holmes (Tramways).