CRICKET POSTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 119, 16 November 1933, Page 9

CRICKET POSTS

(By "Not Out.")

LEAGUE AND COUNTY

MERRITT-DEMPSTER PLANS

Four of New Zealand's cricket representatives aro in residence in England, and one, C. C. Dacre, has long since qualified to play with Gloucestershire in county cricket. Of the intentions of the others in regard to playing in county cricket nothing definite is known, although by remaining in residence for two years they will fulfil an important part of the conditions governing qualification. E. C. Blunt, who plays with Sir Julien Cahn'a team, which has recently been to Canada and America, would be qualified to play for Nottinghamshire, and C. S. Dempster, who is in business at Blackpool, and plays in the Bibblesdale League, would bo qualified to play for Lancashire, as would W. E. Merritt, who has just completed a two-season engagoinent with the Kishton Club in the Lancashire League. A cabled report published in "The Post" yesterday stated that Merritt is to play in county cricket. Rumours to that effect have been heard previously, but they lack confirmation. Thero have been similar reports regarding, other players, notably _C. S. Dempster and L. N. Constantino. The last-named, however, has expressed himself as being quito satisfied to .carry on with the Nelson Club in Lancashire League cricket. Dempster, who, by .the way, celebrated his thirtieth birthday this week, would seem to be aspiring to a place in the Lancashire county team, as he has taken up his residence in Lancashire. Ho will require to have two years residence before being qualified,' so that ho will haye another season in League cricket, no doubfc with Blackpool in the Bibblesdale League, before appearing in county championship matches, if this is his intention. f Merritt, too, will require another year's residential . qualification. Although ho has had two seasons with the Bishton Club, his- residence was broken by his return to New Zealand for the 1932-33 season here.. However, as he did not represent New Zealand in that season, the point may be waived; So far Merritt has been well pleased with. League cricket, and he intends to carry on with it next season, though he has decided to change over from Eishton to East Lancashire. . Merritt has performed so ably as to be ono of the outstanding players in the Lancashire League, and he is able to sell his wares at a high.figure. Bishton, apparently, c<?uld not afford to retain Mm at the price-offered in other quarters, though in W. Hunt the club has secured a player who has made, his mark in New South Wales. ■ ' - . A further consideration in the matter of qualifying for county, cricket is that permission from the ruling authority in the country which the players have represented is necessary. The rule on the point is as follows:—"A cricketer who is engaged t»'y or has played for a county and wishes to qualify for another county must obtain a written consent from the former county before commencing residence in the • latter. His residential qualification shall not commence to run' until such consent has been given but such consent shall not bo withheld unreasonably. A British Dominion or State shall for the purposes of this rule be regarded as a couniy." It would be interesting to know if Merritt and Dompstcr have made application to the New Zealand Cricket Council. , \V. A. Hunt" was associated, witli S. J. Hird (now in. Lancashire Leaguo) and'the late A. Jackson in his development as a ' cricketer. Ho graduated into first grade cricket through ■ the Balmain Club, to which he returned this season after a period, of service with Mostnan. A. A. Mailey had some-, thing to do with Hunt's advance as a left-hand medium-pace bowler, though natural skill was an aid to success. Hunt entered representative cricket in playing for the New South Wales colts in the 1930-31' season, and did so well that he won a place straight away in the State Sheffield Shield team, with which' in 1930-31 he captured, 32 wickets at an average of 22.31. His bag of wickets was a little larger in the next season of first-class cricket, though as an Australian representative in the fourth T.est with the South Africans his opportunity was limited. One of his notable feats in club cricket is the'taking .of all ten wickets in an inniugs. He did this against Paddington in 1930-31 at the small cost of 55 runs. '.Foe Jtfosmau last season Hunt took 47 "wickets at an average of 11.27, this being the best average ever obtained by a moinber of the club in first grade cricket. .