WELLINGTON CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 1, 26 September 1944, Page 3

WELLINGTON CRICKET

Super Grade Scheme Not Favoured

TWO-DAY SENIOR GAMES

A scheme to establish a super grade o£ four teams, the players to be obtained by a grouping of clubs, moved by, Mr. J. Reid, was rejected by delegates to the annual meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association last night. Mr. Rold was congratulated by delegates,, however, it being considered that while the scheme was not acceptable it had drawn attention to the vital need for measures to help to raise the standard of the game. Mr. Reid said be bad been abler to explain bis motion to all the elfibs through their courtesy, therefore he intended only to summarize the. main points. His objective was to help to raise the standard of senior cricket by strengthening the senior competition. He could not see bow this could be achieved by a reduction ot or demotion of the number of senior teams, as such a procedure mlgb,t lead to anomalies. He felt the objective could be achieved by promotion of players rather than demotion. For this reason he advocated a super-grade consisting or four teams created iiy combining clubs and picking the best. Players would still belong to their individual clubs and practice with them, but clubs would have to make sucrlflces to ensure the success of the plan. The scheme was a very genuine attempt to overcome the weaknesses in Wellington cricket, said Mr. J. B. Watson, in seconding the motion. Delegates should be prepared to sink all club feelings in discussing the matter and vote only for what they considered in the best interests of cricket as a whole. The great drawback he saw in the scheme was that it was not for the improvement of cricket in general, but for representative cricket only, said Mr. A. Ronaldson (Old Boys). All delegates would congratulate Mr. Reid on the time he had devoted to the scheme, eaid Mr. L. Pointon (Petone), but his club felt it would merely mean creating a glorified grade for representatives to the detriment of the lower grades. Th.e main aim of the Wellington Cricket Association was to provide cricket for as many players as possible, said Mr. E. J. Alm (Hutt). Creating representative players was really a secondary consideration. “We should not get panicky because we lost a few representative games.” All provinces had lean periods. The solution appeared to lie along other lines — among the younger players, improving wickets and above all in public support

Mr. Reid had stressed that his scheme would mean sacrifice. The speakers had Indicated that the clubs could not see their way clear to make that sacrifice, said Mr. W. B. Walker (Midland). Therefore the Introduction of the scheme might lead to chaos. “We were beaten in representative game'' last year simply because we did not have the cricketers,” said Mr. T. Mullan (Karori). Improvement came through the efforts of the clubs, and through concentration on coaching schemes such as that seen at the Basin Reserve last season on Saturday mornings. The discussion had largely centred round the weaknesses Mn Wellington cricket, said Mr. H. Osborn (Midland). Inbls opinion, these were due mainly to the deplorable state of the wickets nt. the Basin Reserve. Clubs could not offer proper tuition to young players under the existing .conditions, and representations should bo made to the e.ty council in an effort to improve the practice wickets. If it was hoped to improve the standard of sbnior cricket, one of the remedies was a reduction in the number of teams.

Replying, Mr. Reid said he had gathered during his visits to the clubs’ annual meetings that liis motion would not be carried. However, he was concerned that something should be done to improve the standard of the game. If there were other proposals be would be glad to hear them and see if be could support them. Two-Pay Senior Cricket.

After a lengthy discussion, delegates carried by 29 votes to 21 a proposal to revert to two-day cricket in the senior grade. Proposals were also before the meeting to extend two-day cricket to the lower grades. Arguments in favour were the value of having second-grade players who would in due course receive promotion having had experience in two-day matches. Arguments against were mainly the problem of travel and of maintaining personnel. Air. M. F. Lnckle was re-elected president along with the following executive: Honorary secretary, Air. H. L. Cooper; management. committee, Alessrs. B. Peglar, W. Baker, L. T. Brabim, G. b. Whyte, ,T. D. Hnwitt, Peacock, J. Standigo and J. Reid.

In reply to a question by Air. G. L. Whyte regarding the supply of cricket material, a delegate stated that there was every prospect of 9000 bails forthcoming from India. Bats would be in full supply, but tiiere would bo a shortage of pads, gloves, and canvas goods.