OTAGO CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 21662, 6 March 1934, Page 11

OTAGO CRICKET

PLUNKET SHIELD TEAM ENTER- ' TAINED PRESENTATION TO COACH Taking the dual form of a complimentary function to the Otago Plunket Shield cricket team and a send-off to the coach (Mr F. T. Badcock), who leaves for England to-morrow morning, an enjoyable dinner was provided lit the City Hotel last evening by Mr J. M. Fraser, president of the Otago Cricket Association. Mr Fraser presided over an attendance which included not only the representative players, but also members of the Otago Cricket Association, the Otago selectors, representatives of the various clubs, and others interested in the advancement of the game in this province. At the conclusion of the dinner the Loyal Toast was honoured 1 . In proposing the toast, “The President of the Otago Cricket Association,” Mr A. Martin thanked Mr Fraser for inviting them there that night for the dinner, which was being given as a complimentary function to thC Otago Blanket Shield team and which was also being used as a suitable means of bidding farewell to the coach, Mr F. T. Badcock. The association had had many fine presidents, but he did not think that any of those who had preceded Mr Fraser would ■be jealous of the yeoman service he had rendered to the game during the time he had been in the presidential chair. (Applause.) The presidents had always done what they could to advance the game in Otago. Mr Fraser had had the great privilege and honour of being president during the year, in which Otago held the Plunket Shield—not that they played for th<» express purpose of winning the shield; they played for the sake of the game. (“Hear, hear.”) After having seen the games with Canterbury and Wellington he had been unable to understand why the team had not beaten Auckland. However, such reverses were all in the game. He was glad to see so many members of the Otago Cricket Association present, and he would like to say that during the past few seasons they had done their best to advance the game here, [n Mr Badcock they had one of the best coaches they had ever had in New Zealand. (Applause.) Pie was one of the hardest-working coaches they had ever had, and by his own example and influence had created cricket that was worth going a long way to see. (Applause.) In conclusioii. Mr Martin expressed tb'e hope that some members of the association would take a little more interest in coaching affairs than they had in the past. On rising to reply Air P raser thanked Mr Martin for .his kind remarks. Ho said he was pleased to see all the members of the Otago team present, and he was also pleased to see the selectors: he was sure they would all agree that the selectors had chosen quite a pood team. After paying a warm tribute to the good behaviour of the Otago team during the northern tour the president said that the prospects for the coming season were distinctly good. Young players were coming on very well, and he was certain that the coaching they were getting was largely responsible He would like to bear out what Mr Martin had said in regard to the need for taking more interest in coaching. The money for coaching was largely supplied by men who were no longer plaving the game —men who were doing their best to develop the game for the sake of the province. He thought the> could reasonably expect a continuance of the support that had been given, and he thought that the Coaching Committee and the cricketers themselves should show their appreciation of it by taking a keen interest in coaching activities. After dealing with the matter of home and home matches with Southland the president made an appeal that all players selected should make the trip to" Invercargill at Easter, It was desirable that the strongest possible team should be sent, in order to foster the game in the southern province. Mr Fraser then presented Mr Badcock with a fountain pen as a tangible mark of the esteem in which the coach was held. The gift, he said, carried with it the best wishes of the members of the association and the hope that, after scoring many runs and taking many wickets on English fields, the coach would return to them in better form than ever. (Applause.) At the conclusion of his address Mr Fraser announced amid applause that the Wycherley trophy for bowling had been awarded to J. A. Dunning. After returning thanks for the gill Mr Badcock said be was more than gratified that the bowling trophy had been awarded to Mr Dunning. As captain of the team he had had to call more than once upon. Mr Dunning foi hard spells with the ball, and it seemed as if he had come out on top. (Applause.) In regard to the performances of the Plunket Shield team, Mr Badcock thanked the members for their unfailing loyalty and support, and congratulated them on the excellence of their behaviour while on tour. It was unfortunate in many ways that they had lost the game against Auckland, but he doubted if any team could this season have beaten Auckland on its own ground. He was more than pleased that the association had seen (it to continue his contract for another two years. He took this as a compliment, but he would appeal to the members of that body to take a greater interest in coaching. To watch representatives practice was not enough; the members should attend the colts’ practices, and until they had done this they had no right to criticise either the Coaching Committee or the coach. He hoped that the association would consider the possibility of a colts’ team being formed, for until this was done it was not getting full value out of its coach. Coaching did not end at net practices. Fielding and running between the wickets were also matters that- should be given attention, and the formation of a colts’ team would materially assist in improving these branches of the game. (Applause.) Mr Fraser agreed that The formation of a colts’ team was a vital matter to the association, and he proposed to take a strong stand with a view to ascertaining if, by some means, such a combination could not he got together. (Annlanse.)

The gathering "as brought to a close by the singing of 1 Anld Lang Syne.’