LOCAL CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 51, 7 September 1928, Page 10

LOCAL CRICKET

ASSOCIATION'S REPORT

IMPROVING THE STANDARD

TOO MANY TEAMS

In a survey of last season's activities, the Wellington Cricket Association'a Management Committee in its annual report states that the number of clubs affiliated to the association is 20, and these entered 79 teamssenior 10, junior A 10, junior B 12, junior C 12, junior D 12, third, grade A 11, third grade B 12. In addition, 14 teams played in the City and Suburban League, 18 in the Boys' Cricket League, 27 in tho Intermediate Grade (comprised of secondary achoolß and institutional teams), and 48 in the public schools competition, making a total of 186 teams. The City and Suburban Association and the Public Schools' Cricket Association were affiliated to the association during the season, thus bringing under either direct or indirect control of the Management Committee practically every cricketer in Wellington. This seems to the committee to bo in the best interests of the game, as one definite head must make for better government. SENIOR STANDARD. Tho senior championship committee ; reports that tho standard of play was fairly good, but stresses the need for a reduction in the number of senior teams. The cricket ability of some of tho lower teams in the championship contest is not in the committee's_ opinion up to what is required to maintain a reasonably good standard of senior cricket in Wellington. "This is a matter that should be dealt with immediately, so that stepß can bo taken to raise the standard," states the report. "A matter that the committee would like to emphasise is tho generally unsatisfactory attendance at the practice nets on the part of members of affiliated clubs. This is an important matter, and club officials should be seized with tho fact that the work that is put into practice wickets does not achieve the results it should if there are not full musters of each and every club on the evenings when the practice wickets are available. It is by their attendance at practice that s playera improve in their play, and loyalty to their clubs should be the first consideration of all players. The committee goes to a lot of trouble to see that things are made comfortable for the players, and if the attendances at the nets are not up to standard it stands to reason that any arguments for increased facilities are defeated before they aro even given expression to. If it should be found during the incoming season that clubs practising on the Basin Eeserve aro not taking full advantage of the facilities offered tho committee recommends that they be given power to re-allot the wickets." REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. Tho Wellington representative team is congratulated upon again bringing tho Plunket Shield to Wellington. Tho committee records its appreciation of outstanding performances in batting by K. C. James, T. C. Lowry, H. M. M'Girr, H. Foley, and C. S. Dempster, and in .bowling by W. S. Briee and 11.. M. M'Girr. C. 8. Dempster deserves special commendation for excellent batting performances in both representative and club cricket and he thoroughly earned tho distinction awarded him by the New Zealand Cricket Council —holder of tho Bedpath Cup as the most outstanding Now Zealand cricketer of tho year. The Plunket Shield matches against Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago resulted in victories for Wellington, and the shield is now in the possession of the association. The Wellington team maintained a,high standard of play in all departments of the game. The. Town v. Country fixture was again played last season, but owing to tho poor side fielded by the Country team, not very much interest was taken in tho match. This m^tch could be made the best game of the year, but owing to the Country associations not showing the keeness they should in the event, due, probably, to the date being unsuitable, the committee is of tlie opinion that somo other moans should :be considered of giving country players an opportunity of a try-out before the team is selected to take part in Plunket Shield matches. Tho Wellington Plunket Shield district ia a comprehensive one, and the Management Committee considers it as its bounden duty to give the players outsido tlie jurisdiction of tho Wellington Association an opportunity of taking part in these games, and they aro prepared to go to any lengths to bring this about. The co-operation of tho Country Associations, however, is a necessity. Various other matches are referred jto in the report, and details are given of activities in all the grades, as well as in the Boys' League and the schools. Satisfaction is also expressed with tho work of the coach (F. T. Badcock). FINANCE. The financial statement shows that it was necessary to transfer from the accumulated funds an amount of £157 4s 8d to meet a deficit to that amount in the income and expenditure account. While the deficit was not wholly attributable to the workings of the past season, the following explanation of tho position will no doubt be of interest: —"Three main items may bo set down ns the causes which resulted in thu rather large reduction in the accumulated fund. These are: (1) Substantial reduction in gate receipts for both club and intcrprovincial matches; (2) payment of three years' rental for use of chibrooms at tho Basin Reserve; (.'!) an unexpected increase in tho charjri;s by the City Council for junior match wickers. "Thu first item is without a doubt due to matches being lacking hi interest, particularly in tho Plunket Shield games. The three interprovinciul games did not net this association as much

as tho Otago match the previous season or tlie Auckland match in 1925-2G season, and in addition the Town v. Country match was most unsatisfactory from a financial point of view. . Tho one redeeming match was with Australia, when a net profit of £194 2s lOd was made. The second item was tho receipt of a belated account from the City Council for three years' rental' of the Basin Reserve clubrooms. Of the £125 paid under this heading £75 is on account of the two seasons prior to 1927-28. '' Tho third item was by far tho most unfortunate as far as this association was concerned, as it was too late for adjustment with clubs when advice was given that the charge for junior wickets was to be same as that for senior wickets. It remained therefore for the committee to decide either to curtail club cricket or clso stand a loss of approximately £65 in this connection. Tho latter course was decided upon." The general expenses of the association show a decrease of about £8 on the previous year's figures.