WARTIME CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 61, 9 September 1941, Page 5

WARTIME CRICKET

ONE-DAY MATCHES

WELLINGTON DECISION

ANNUAL MEETING

As a wartime measure, delegates to the annual meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association last night decided upon amendments to the rules to provide for' one Saturday being allowed for all championship matches. During the discussion mention was made of the likelihood of teams from the Services taking part in the competi- -| tions. ■ The president (Mr. M. F. Luckie), to moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said that circumstances made it appear that the only thing to do in the coming^ season was to substitute one-day matches for twoday. There were certain advantages about one-day cricket. For one thing it would probably help to popularise the game by giving the public* something they dearly liked to see—hardhitting and quick scoring. It was likely, too, that a great deal of excitement would be crammed into a few hours on Saturday afternoon. Everybody would appreciate that it would be a case of getting runs or getting out. At the same time, Mr. Luckie said he would hate to think that the change was going to be made permanent. Mr. A. W. Duncan (chairman of the outgoing committee) said that he could not see the possibility of continuing with two-day games, and he thought the incoming committee should be empowered to make arrangements for one-day cricket. The move for the change was sponsored by Mr. H. W. Osbqrn and others of the Midland Club. They had given a great deal of consideration to the matter, it was stated by Mr. Osborn, and it was because of the uncertain position as to the availability of players and to assist the selectors that the proposal was brought forward. It was not suggested that it should be permanent, nor was it suggested that it was the best form of cricket; For his part he did not agree that one-day cricket produced the best cricketers. The motion for the change was seconded by Mr. W. P. Walker, and he and others gave various reasons for the change, as well as discussing different aspects of the proposed new order. Mention was made of what the effect had been of one-day cricket elsewhere, Flying Officer Arnesen. giving details of the encouraging experience .in Christchurch. ■ The proposal was adopted, but it was left to the incoming committee to give consideration to certain matters affected by the change and to the players themselves to carry through the wartime plan in the spirit intended, with no thought of adopting negative tactics in play. " AN INSURANCE SCHEME.^ On the motion of the. Kilbirnie Cricket Club, a recommendation was made to the incoming committee that an insurance scheme be inaugurated on the lines of a pooling system of all clubs affiliated with the Wellington Cricket Association, insuring against damage to property adjoining the playing fields under the jurisdiction of the association. The difficulties necessarily arising on account -of the- war■ were sreferred" to by Mr. Luckie, who mentioned that the material financial loss for the year was not wholly a loss on the year's operations. Both he and Mr. Duncan stressed the need for the exercise of the greatest economy. " . OFFICERS ELECTED. The election of officers resulted:— President, Mr. M. F. Luckie; vice-presi-dents, the Mayor (Mr: T; C.A. Hislop, C.M.G.), Sir Alexander Roberts, Sir Charles Norwood, Sir George Tfoup, Messrs. R. A. Wright, A. F. Wiren, H. A.-Ryder, E. W. Hunt, L. T. Watkins, D.'A. Ewen, T. J. Thurman, H. J. Buck, F..M. Martin, W. A. Armour, C. G. Wilson, R. R. Hornblow, P. B. Broad, W. J. R. Christophersen, J. S. Hanna, E, C. Wiren, J. H. Phillipps, H. Hatch, W. P. Walker, J, H. Hutchings, J. Reid, J. Gallagher, W. Hammond, and A. W. Duncan, and Fathers Lysaght and deary; .honorary secretary, Mr. J. A. Carrad;". honorary treasurer, Mr. J. E. Banks;: management committee, Messrs. W. A. Baker, L. J. Brabin, J. D. Howitt, I. H. Nimmo, W. E. Webb, H. E. Moore, JVGray, and B. Pegler, with the representatives of the schools arid the Umpires' Association to be included; auditors, Messrs. C. E. Stevens and E. W: A. KZellow; delegate to New Zealand Cricket Council, Mr. A. T. Donnelly!

Certificates were presented to the following championship winners:—Kilbirnie (club, senior, and third grade), Johnsonville (second and- sixth), and Hutt (fourth, fifth, and seventh).

Tributes were.paid to the work of the past season's office-bearers, to the umpires; and to the Press, and a vote of appreciation was also passed to Mr. H. W. Osborn and the other Midland officials for their part in preparing the case for one-day cricket.