HOURS OF PLAY

Evening Star, Issue 20034, 27 November 1928, Page 10

HOURS OF PLAY

GRADE CRICKET COMPETITION PIUNKET SHIELD DATES 'l’lio hours of play ml opted by the Ola-'o Cricket Association during the present season have been the subject of much criticism, many cricketers considering that 7 p.m. was too late an hour lor the drawing ot stumps. A circular sent out by the association to the clubs resulted in communications twining be loro lust night s meeting ol tlic association in which the clubs stated their opinion unanimously in favour of an alteration of the time of -losing plav from 7 p.m. till 6.30. Mr Charles Todd was in the chair. Mr Bimicy moved that the hours ot play in future should be 2.15 to (3.30 p.m., the motion being carried.

PLUNKET SHIELD COMPETITION*. Tito secretary of I lie Auckland Cricket Association wrote stating that bis association had fixed the date lor the commencement of the Auckland v. Canterbury match lor December 25 and following days. Ho asked if January 1 and foiowing days would suit tor the match against Otago. The manager of the team would be Mr D. V. Moore, and there would he thirteen players in the party. Regarding Urn Wcllinpton-Utngo match, the secretary of the Wellington Cricket • Association wrote that the City Corporation had allotted the Basin Reserve to tlm Caledonian Society on Boxing day without consulting the cricket association, this nlaeing the association in a position of the greatest difficulty. The only apparent solution was to go to the college ground, hut that was a solution that did not commend itself, the ground not being what it once was. The suggestion was_ made that the match bo started on Christmas Day at 2 p.m., resumed on (be following Thursday, and continued on the Friday and Saturday. It was proposed that the Otago team should leave Dunedin on the night of Sunday, Decombci 23, and return on Monday, December 31, at (3.24 a.m.

The Chairman said that this was not the first occasion on which similar trouble had been experienced, and he thought the convenience ol (he visiting learn should ho met.

It was decided t lint, the Otago team, consisting ol twelve players, should leave Dunedin by the mid-day express on Saturday, December i l2, the match to he started on the following Monday, and to be finished not later than the following Friday, the team arriving hack in'"Dunedin on Saturday, December 2d. There would he a break of one day, December 20. It was decided that the match between Otago and A nek land Do started on Monday. December Ml, and continued on the following three day,-. SOUTHLAND v. OTAGO. The Southland Cricket Association accepted a representative fixture at Dunedin on December 25 and 2(5.—1t was resolved that play commence at KI.3U a.m. each day, and that one hour and a-half bo allotted for the luncheon adjournment each day. COST ()]■’ WICK IMS. On behalf of the oratio Committee Mr Binney reported on rhe allocation of the cost of wickets. ’1 the senior games would he played cn the, liome-aml-homo principle excepting those in which the Colts were engaged, as they did not possess a homo. L, was proposed to allocate tile cost of wickets to the clubs for tiiesc matches .so that one club would stand the cost in the first round, and the outer club Dm cost in the second round. For instance, in the Old Boy.s-Dnncdiu match on the Oval Dunedin would stand the cost of the wicket, and in the return match Old Boys would moot the cost. In the event of any game not being played in the second round, the cost of the wicket and the collection would be divided by the clubs. The Colts would do the same, but they would be compensated in matches in which they had to pay the cost of wickets by a collection. SCHOOLS’ MATCHES.

Tiio Secretary of (he Southland Schools’ Cricket Association wrote in regard to the schools’ representative matches at Invercargill, stating that by adhering to the conditions concerning the senior teams they might ho preventing some boy who had obtained his proficiency in (lie special July examinations from playing, so lie suggested that the rule he changed (o include any boy who had .btained Ins proficiency in 1923. Tho Secretary of the. Otago Sr heels’ Cricket Association wrote strongly disapproving of any alteration to the conditions regarding the senior listuro. No boy was eligible who had obtained his proficiency cer: idea I e belore. tho Usual examinations at Lao end of tho year, lie also advised tins ins commit U-o thought it advisable to give AL Kastman a. free bai*d in the selection of liis twelve boys for each night’s coaching at Carisbrook. It was decided to advise Hie Sout.liland authorities that the present rule must be adhered to.

CHRISTiAN BROTHERS’ PROTEST. The Secretary of tho Christian Brothers Old Boys’ Club wrote deploring the anonymous correspondence winch had been directed at Air Todd through tho Press, and ho assured Mr Todd that tho club was not in any way connected with tho writers of the totters, and did not subscribe to their motives, it seemed clear that these correspondents were not imbued with any consideration for the cause of

BOYS’ DIVING CHAMPIONSHIP (Neat header). The following buys were recalled for neat diving, and will dive off this evening:—R. Geddes, P. Alathieson, J. Rovdhousc, W. Jams, J. M'Leau, F. Chisholm, W. F. Clark, J. M’Grcgor, R. Campbell, and C. Elliott, cricket, and were solely concerned with political motives. They regretted that tho secretary and vice-president of tho association in their commendable cllort to justify Air Todd had not been Junto the attitude of the club in certain particulars. Their letter included a statement as iolloas: “ The Brothers themselves would scarcely care to claim tho honours; in the circumstances they would bo empty honours indeed.” This was surely an unwarranted presumption, tor tho association was well aware that tho club had not at any time raised any objection against tho final determination in respect of this grade, and had even refrained from making any comment upon tho extraordinary delay of six months and the ensuing mudUlo which attended tho determination of the honours. “ 1. was rather disappointed,” said Mr Todd, “that i.ono ot 1-iio members of the Christian Brothers’ Club had played the game of cricket by writing u, letter to the paper exonerating me. ’ Ho added that ho had written to the secretary of the Christian Brothels Club asking to bo relieved of tho vicepresidency of tho club. The letter was received. GENERAL. The Secretary of the Carisbrook Club advised that it considered its D team in the second grade B section was too strong tor that competition, and asked if it would be possible to transier it to second grade A, and place Old Boys B in the second grade B competition. Mr Brinsley said he thought there would bo no objection from the Old Boys’ Club, as the B team had been raised from second grade B to save a bve in second grade A.—lt was resolved to accede to Carisbrook s suggestion, the Grade Committee to make the necessary arrangements. Xlio New Zealand Cricket Council advised tho appointment of Mr W. H. Winsor as lion, secretary to the counU Mr J. A. Robson, in apologising for Ids absence, wrote stating that he had written to Air Tannock .regarding tne unsatisfactory practice wicket on Logan Park. He had also asked that the match wicket at hogan Park be laid north and south, instead of cast and west as at present, the evening sun on Saturdays being troublesome.—Received. , , 'The Secretary of tho High School Club wrote in connection with tho High School A-Albion fourth grade match on November 17. At 4.30 p.m., when each side had completed an innings, Albion refused to play further. Finally some of them and some spectators hall a second innings, bub they refused to <*iv© High School its second innings, and left the field. Albion scored 54. in tho first innings and High School 50. If was decided to obtain the views of the respective captains and to hold the matter over until next meeting Tho Secretary reported that the annual match between the doctors and the clergy would bo played at Carisbrook on December 12. the chairman intimating that he would provide the afternoon tea.