"HOME AND AWAY"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 78, 29 September 1930, Page 10

"HOME AND AWAY"

CRICKET "* PROPOSAL

MORE SHIELD MATCHES

.WELLINGTON'S IDEA

(By "Not Out.") "I am convinced that the one thing New Zealand cricket needs is more cricket of the best land." This statement was made by Mr. P. B. Broad, chairman of' the Wellington Cricket Association, in presenting to the delegates at the annual meeting the opinion of the Management Committee in regard to tho playing of "home and away" matches between the major provinces in every season in whicu there is, not a visit from an overseas team. During the coming season, for, which active preparations are now,being made, tho need of cricket of the best kind will be felt more particularly in view of the selection of aNew Zealand team to visit England. As was pointed, out in "Tho Post" last week, there, is some prospect of a match or matches with the West Indies team, which. will be calling at New Zealand on its way-to and from' Australia, but there is no prospect of a tour of the Dominion by these visitors. '.'...■ .. ■ ■ ■

The Wellington Cricket Association is hoping to arrange for a two-day match with the West Indies team at the Basin Reserve in November, and it is also likely that an effort- will be made to induce the tourists to spend a few weeks in the Dominion on their return from Australia. The prospects of "the West Indies team making an appe'araneo in Wellington appear to be good, but the question of matches in Now Zealand after the tour of Australia is "in the air." At the moment tho season's main cricket attractions appear to be confined to the interprovincial matches, and, if the usual programme is followed out, there will be only six of these. IMPEOVING THE STANDAED, It is claimed by Wellington that in an ordinary season there is not enough cricket of the Plunket Shield class, and that more of it is needed not only to improve the standard but also to givo more of. the players an opportunity of "breaking a lance in the best company." The playing of home and away matches is being advanced as a means of filling the bill in a season which will be rather lean for some centres after the big attraction of the visit of the M.C.C. team last season. The idea of "home and away" matches is that each of the four major associations shall play the other three at home as well as on the lattcr's ground, making six matches in all for each association instead of three as is usual. It is also suggested that all these games should be regarded as Plunket Shield matches. Support for the idea is found in the' practice followed in England and Australia, where the big competitions are played on the "home and away" principle. In the county championship in England the counties meet one another twice, playing one match at homo and the other on the opposing team's ground. The same thing, applies in the Sheffield Shield competition in . Australia, whero club cricket is confined mainly to Saturday afternoon play, as in New Zealand. There is no reason why the Plnnkot Shield competition should not be conducted on similar lines in New Zealand. The question of leave for players, of - course, crops up, but where players were uuablo to secure, leave to take part in all . the six matches, as proposed, the chance would come to others to'appear in big cricket, i It might also be rrgued that the scheme would interfere with club cricket. Tho position, however, would be no different from that created by the visit of an overseas team; ..in fact, there is no reason why the usual number of Satr urdays for club cricket should bo reduced in any way, unloss "an exceptionally wet season is experienced. FLTJNKET. SHIELD FIXTITEES. In the ordinary course of events the Plunket Shield matches in the coming season will be:— Wellington v. Otago, at Wellington. Canterbury v. Wellington, at Christ- , clnireh. ' Otago v. Canterbury, at Duncdin. Wellington v. Auckland, at Auckland. ' Canterbury v. Auckland, at Christchurch. Auckland v. Otago, at Dunedin. It wilL-be seen, therefore, that only two of .-flic interprovincial matches will be played in the North Island this season, one at Auckland and . tho other at Wellington. In order to fulfil their engagements, xVuckland will^have to go to Christchurch and Dunechn, and all that would be required of them under the proposed ■ scheme would be to remain in Wellington for a few days on their way to or from the South Island, and play a match' here. In return for this Auckland would have three matches instead of one at home, Otago and Canterbury, as well as Wellington, travelling north. Wellington will have to go to Auckland in any case this season, and' will also have to go to Chi-ist,chur'eh. ' To mako the .proposed scheme of things complete, they would so on from Christchurch to Dunedin, and there should be no difficulty about In' view of the fact that Canterbury and Otago aro'each having two'matches at home 'in "the ordinary eourso of events this season, the "home and away" proposal might not appeal to them as much as in another season. Otago, however, will have to visit Wellington, and, having coino so far from their home ground, it should not bo a great hardship on them to go on to Auckland. They would also be required to play a match at Christclmrch, but this would only mean a stay of a few days on their way to or from the North Island. Canterbury's only trip this, season will be to Dunedin. The "home and away" scheme, therefore, would mean that they would; have to; visit Auckland and Wellington. Sight must not be lost of the fact* however, that in return for the travelling there are to be more matches at home. SUGGESTED PEOGEAMME. As showing that there would be no great difficulty in; .carrying out ■ the larger programme of matches, tho following fixtures for the Christmas-New Year period are suggested: — Christmas dates.—Auckland v. Wellington, at Wellington; Otago v. Canterbury, at Dunedin. ' New Year dates.—Auckland v. Canterbury, at Christchurch; Wellington v. Otago, at Dunedin. Auckland would then go on to Dunedin and play Otago there, and Wellington would play Canterbury at Christchurch on their return from Dunedin. Later in tho season, about the end of January, or in Ferbuary, the second series of matches would be played as follows: —Otago v. Canterbury, it Christchurch, and Wellington v. Auckland, at Auckland, on the same dates, followed by Canterbury v..Auckland, at Auckland, and Otago v. Wellington, at Wellington. Otago would then go on to Auckland to play there, while Canterbury met Wellington at Wellington.