CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 21620, 16 January 1934, Page 11

CRICKET ASSOCIATION

DATES FOR WELLINGTON. MATCH MEETING OF COMMITTEE Last tught’s meeting of the Otago Cricket Association was held in Mr E. S. Wilson’s Board Room,: tire president (Mr J. M. Fraser) being" in the chair. , ■ •' The. Secretary of the Wellington Cricket Association wrote that since teutativelyCfixing the date of the Otago Wellington ’ match, arrangements ‘ had been made for a visit to New Zealand by ail -Australian eleven. Wellington’s match with the Australians was set down to commence only one day after the return of the Wellington team from Otago—should the match as originally arranged take place, and lie had' been instructed to write suggesting that the Otago-Wellington match should be played earlier, preferably commencing on Friday, January 2fi. If the match could not be arranged as suggested, they would probably not be able to play before March. The Chairman said that it would be difficult'do-.arrange any dates other than'those originally suggested—Febru-. arv 10, 17% 19, »vnd 20. On the earlier■. date suggested by'Wellington the Fdrlinry Trots were being held, the fob lowing Saturday .the amateur athletic: championships were to be decided, and, the Week after .that the cup race meet-.: ing was being held--. The Otago team, had. just completed- a three-weeks’,, tohr, and it-would be difficult to:obtajn leave: for the players to take ■ part ho,, soon, after the tour.- ' ; : ' Tho ■. Chairman. jsaid that .the, --test match-between Australia and New Zealand would probably be played at Dunedin ,on March 2,3; and 5. . It was decided to wire the Wellington Cricket Association that Otago desired to adhere to the original dates for the Wellington match in order to avoid clashing with other events . on alternative dates that were suggested. The secretary'was-instructed #0 write giving, p full explanation of the position. , , The Secretary of the New Zealand. Cricket Council advised that Messrs W. Butler and R. C. Torrance had been appointed as umpires in the Olago-VVel-lington match. _ . coaching arrangements.

Tiie vfsecrelary pf the Albion*. Cricket Club (Mr H. J. Greenfield) wrote stating that his club had made special arrangements to secure a practice wicket for December 11, hut the coach was not present; and-the clfih-received*tfio notification of any change that might have been made iii the programme Dr Reid explained that he had communicated with the 'cKajrman of the Coaching Committee and it was pointed out that on account of one or two wet Mondays there seemed to be some upsetting of arrangements, but the Albion Club should certainly have been notified. He suggested that if it, we f? two wet for coaching, the coach should devote his time to giving a lecture. The Chairman said he thought this suggestion a good one. It was decided that the secretary give the clubs a week’s notice of the attendance of the coach at, their grounds.' It was also agreed that , notices of Postponements of practices be signed by the chairman of the Coaching Committee, and to advise that wet weather would not prevent the coach’s attendance at the club’s ground. MATCH WITH SOUTHLAND. • The" : •Secretary 1 of' the “Southland Cricket Association (Mr A. J. ’ Hamilton) wrote advising that the association approved of the dates return match between Otago and Southland at Invercargill at Easter time, providing they did not clash with the visit of the Australian team. '■ It was decided to send a team to Invercargill at Easter. GROUND MATTERS. , The Acting Town Clerk (Mr R. A. Johnston) wrote replying to the association’s letter ip; ivhidk n;a's, submitted a list of charges for the season for the various wickets allotted the association, and intimating that it had deleted the charges for one wicket;, on the North Ground, which was prepared by the Grange Club, and also for the wicket on the Opoho ground, which had not yet been properly laid down. The matter had now been considered by the council’s Reserves Committee, and it had been decided to agree to the schedule as submitted by the association, making a total charge for this season only of £IOO. With regard to the last paragraph in the association's letter, in which it was, stated that the outside wickets at Logan Park were not receiving the necessary attention, ho could not altogether agree with such a statement, but it was recognised that the laying on of a water supply would assist largely in improving the condition of the wickets. This, however, was entirely a matter of finance, which was now being gone into, ami if at all possible the work would he proceeded with.

The Acting Town Clerk also wrote stating that it was intended to put down two senior and three junior wickets on Tonga Park, the cost bcin« the same as for the original proposal of one senior and five junior wickets. GENERAL. In connection with the proposed test match between New, Zealand and Australia, the Chairman, in reply to a question from Mr A. Martin, stated that Otago would obtain a fee for conducting the match. v V ' The Secretary of the North Otage Association wrote asking if there was a possibility of an Otago team being sent, to Oamaru this season.—lt was decided to hold the matter over pending receipt of definite advice concerning the dates for the Wellington-Otago match. It was decided to circularise the clubs advisirig that the Excelsior Club. Alexandra, was desirous of a visit from a Dunedin team on Easter Monday.

The Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. wrote stating that he had been asked by members of his second grade B team to make a complaint concerning the wicket they were given against Taieri on the Oval before the holidays. According to reports, no attention had been paid to this wicket, and with fast bowlers it was absolutely dangerous.—The Chairman of the Grounds Committee .(Mr E. H. Ferguson) said that the matter had been dealt with and the wicket was now out of commission.

The Chairman reported that he had sent a wire to the Auckland Cricket Association congratulating its team on winning the Plnnkot Shield.