CRICKET CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1934, Page 11

CRICKET CONTROL

DOMINION CONFERENCE

HOME-AND-AWAY MATCHES

PREMISED

Deliberations .at the gathering' of New Zealand cricket delegates in Christchurch this week are regarded by Mr. P. B. Broad, chairman of tho Wellington Cricket Association, as having had satisfactory results. Mr. Brdad attended tho conference, oho of the objects of his trip to Christchurch being.to press, for, more big cricket — interprovincial, intor-Island, and international.. Ho was, also directly responsible for a motion tabled at tho annual meeting to have tho constitution of Jhe management committee of the New1 Zealand Cricket Council altered. However, on the strength of an intimation by tho chairman of the council's management committee to the effect that representatives of the major associations would meet and confer •with the management committeo at least'once a year, and possibly tivieo a year, Mr. Broad withdrew the Wel-i lington motion. On his return from Christchurch today, Mr. Broad informed a "Post" ropresentative that the special representatives of the major associations had ipent much time- going into the .question of„ home-and-awav matches. "I have brought back with me a draft programme of home-and-away matches, and this will be submitted to the management committee Of the Wellington Cricket Association," ho said. "Each ' of the other associations will also have the proposed itinerary for the provincial sides placed beforo them for consideration, and if they O.K. it, wo will have home-and-away 'matches this season." Another satisfactory outcome Of the meotings in,' Christchurch, he added, was that the major associations would now bo left largely in the con; ' trol of their arrangements,, and they would meet once or twice a year to discuss things- with the' New Zealand Council. , . "HAPPY. SOLUTION.'' '■The Wellington motion,", which had been placed on tho agenda 'for'the annual meeting of tho council, was as follows: —"The management/ committee shall consis. of' the-.honorary secretary", the honorary treasurer,, a delegate permanently . resident in' Christchurch who shall be elected at the annual general meeting -of tho 'council, one member appointed ,from time to time by each of, the major associations, and one member representing the min6r associations." _ , it As already indicated, it was withdrawn by Mr. Broad.' ■ According to the, report of the meeting published \in the "Suh," Mr. Broad said* that if '•the conference of representatives of the major associations which had been referred to by Mr. Donnelly became a permanent' institution there -would be no very substantial difference between that .and, what Wellington proposed: He emphasised that the Wellington Association' had entire confidence in tho council's management committee as at present constituted, and had no desire, to have the council's headquarters removed f£om Christchutch. What Mr. Donnelly proposed* was a happy solution of the, difficulty. , , ' MORE SHIELD MATCHES. Vfttti'iregAW to' the move-to have the Plunket iShield series of matches varied to pfovide for home-and-away matches, Messrs. P. B. Broad (Wellington) and E. E. Nalder (Auckland) were invited to give some indication -of what the conference was considering in respect of more matches this season. Mr. Nalder (it -was reported by tho "Sun") gaid that Auckland and\ Wellington were definitely going to play an' extra match with each other this season, and Auckland, which would be playing in Christahurch, had .invited Canterbury to s&nd a,team to Auckland. The difficulty was going to' be''in arranging an extra match between Otago and Auckland, as they wgre so "far apart;,' involving tho expenditure of more time and money. If tho Plunket Shield matches this season were played under rules different from those set.out in the council's rules this would have to be done under a "gentlemen's agreement." ' ', ' ■/ . Mr. Broad said that what tho special delegates contemplated was that in any season when there was'no visit by an overseas team the major associations, thould play each other on their own grounds and also on'their opponents' grounds. Mr. E. E. Luttrelt, hon. secretary of the Canterbury Association, had suggested a plan which seemed feasible—that the, matches'be reduced from, four days to three -days each! The proposals involved playing nearly all .the matches id January, and that wag a weakness, because 'of possible interference with club"cricket; it was; ,duo to geographical "difficulties. Once I Auckland or Otago sot forth. It must play all three- Matches beforo its return, dr else duplicate the expense. That was one of tho difficulties tho delegate* had to solve. As Mr. Nalder- , had remarked/ the plan would have to be based on a "gentlemen's agreement"—all the 'major associations would have,to agree to it. In reply to a question, t Mr. A. T. Donnelly, chairman of thi> council's management committee, said that if. the major associations agreed to depart from' the Plunket Shield-rules for' this season validating legislation, which seemed, to be very popular nowadays, could be'introduced when revision of the council's rules was being carried out in April. NORTH-SOUTH PROPOSAL. i Another suggestion.for more firstclass cricket this season was that the North Island v. South Island match be revived. Mr. Broad moved that the management committee be recommended to reintroduce .this match,- it being understood that it would not be feasible if home-and-home matches or a tour by an overseas team eventuated. Mr. H. M. Chrystall (Manawatu), who seconded this, suggested that if a fully representative inter-Island match could not be arranged an interIsland match for players who wore colts in the'sense- of, not being Plunkot. Shield players should bo -considered. The motion was carried. Mr. Donnelly,' speaking in his personal'capacity, not for tho management committee, suggested that this season the. major associations should not try ' to win tho Plunket Shield so much as to try to build up sides and take risks with young players, in view of tho probability that a Now" Zealand team would go to England in 1937. Mr. Nalder considered that tho major associations should appoint as .captains of their teams players who were possible captains of tho New Zealand team. _______«„__«