ENCOURAGEMENT OF BOWLERS

Evening Star, Issue 21285, 14 December 1932, Page 2

ENCOURAGEMENT OF BOWLERS

CRICKET ASSOCIATION'S PROPOSALS MR E. S. WILSON'S SCHEME A scheme that met with the approval of members was put before the General Committee of the Otago Cricket Association on Monday night by the secretary (Mr E. S. Wilson) in regard to the encouragement and developing of bowlers, and it was resolved that the Coaching Committee should take the matter up with the coach, it being strongly recommended to carry out Mr Wilson’s scheme. The Secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council wrote stating that at tlie annual meeting of delegates of the Council a resolution was passed affirming the importance of encouragement of bowlers and recommending to each association that some step should be taken to promote improved bowling amongst young cricketers. A movement of this nature, if made general, might- be expected to have far-reaching effects in the improvement of trundling in New Zealand, and might conceivably be the cause of good young bowlers in time being brought out to represent New Zealand—much to the advantage of the standard of cricket in the dominion. The Secretary (Mr E. S. Wilson) said he would suggest that clubs consider setting aside a wicket for bowling practice, and have a wicketkeeper behind the stumps. This would serve as practice for wicketkeepers also. He suggested that a single stump should be used, and a circle marked where a good-length ball would' pitch in order to first get bowlers to cultivate a length. The single wicket and bowler’s wicket could be shifted to leg, say, 2ft, and the bowler continue to bond at the circle with the idea that ho was bowling off theory. The reverse could be used for leg theory. As bowlers cultivated length, they could be taught to spin or swing a ball. 'A bowler with pace could be taught to cultivate a run whereby he would retain all the pace secured by his run up to the wicket. Practice on these lines would also help to improve wicket-keeping. Clubs could get one or two members who would be capable of giving players some useful hints on the methods of bowljng and pointing out to the bowlers their weaknesses, and the most promising six or seven might then be passed on to the coach, so that he could give them some special coaching in bowling. Mr Wilson added that the clubs could take up the matter first and on certain nights the coach (Mr F. T. Badcock) could take the bowlers on a special wicket. The scheme might also produce some wicket-keepers, for Otago was short of them at the present time. The Chairman (Mr J. M. Fraser) expressed approval of Mr Wilson’s scheme, and said that he had mentioned some such suggestion to Mr Alex. Downes, who had expressed his willingness to take a dozen young bowlers for coaching if he could find the time. Mr P. N. Bundle also supported Mr Wilson’s scheme, and said that it should be the means of developing bowling talent. It was decided that the Coaching Committee take the matter up with the coach and bring down a report, the General Committee strongly recommending Mr Wilson’s plan be carried out.