CRICKET.

Evening Star, Issue 25927, 19 October 1946, Page 11

CRICKET.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln reading accounts of clubs’ opening days in the ‘ Star ’ —N.E.V. C.C.’s opening, by the way, was omitted—l was impressed by the keenness and support of club members, which augured well for the coming season. But, alas, reports in your columns concerning the number of senior teams have, in my opinion, blunted that keenness. The O.C.A. may have blundered in reaching its decision, but in his earnest desire to improve cricket in Otago, Mr Hadlee has also blundered. Mr W. Hadlee has put forward three suggestions, but they have all been given the “ long handle.” Much has been said about club interest. Well, Mr Hadlee has shown—although he may not have noticed—most decidedly his interest, by his pumping for Carisbrook B. Yet the B’s have not done anything of note in the last two or three seasons. Friction between clubs will not improve our cricket, so why has this issue developed between Carisbrook and Northeast Valley? There must be something, interesting in the Valley _ Club 'to arouse so much interest in O.C.A. meetings of late. Is it. the club’s great record of intermediate and junior teams? If so, why not encourage it instead of hindering it, as certain clubs are trying to do. In trying to hit North-east Valley for a “ sixer,” it appears to me that that club is being victimised, not Carisbrook, as Mr Hadlee would have us believe. —I am, etc., . Sport. October 16. TO TIIB EDITOR. Sir, —Up to last season cricket: in Otago was at a low ebb due mainly to the fact that the administrators have not got behind the players, and given them the encouragement they deserve. However, thanks to the players and the players alone, _ our cricket has been lifted to a higher plane by their great effort against the Australian touring team on Carisbrook last season. They put _up the finest exhibition of any province, and did much to restore the confidence of the Otago people in their cricket. Now in our midst we have one of the finest cricketers New Zealand has produced recently elected to the association. From reading the accounts of the meetings of this venerable body, I feel that this man has received more rebuffs than a travelling salesman, and any concrete suggestion , made by him has promptly been laid aside. Let us look at a few: (1) Six teams in the senior competition; (2) a Brabin Shield team to take part in the senior B competition, captained by an experienced player; (3) six teams having failed, the competition consist of six teams on the senior division; and six in the senior B competition, thereby introducing Port Chalmers and Green Island, who may have players worthy of coaching. Incidentally this would also relegate the North-east Valley and University teams to a grade where they could be reasonably expected to put up some sort of showing. The result of all these suggestions has been the same, and we are back to the “ eight team ” stage. But this is not all. The O.C.A. decided that there were 88 senior players in Dunedin, hence" the eight teams, but it was found that one club had 27 of them while another had—well, there might be' one, hut I am doubtful. It would naturally be assumed that Carisbrook, having 27 players, and also having had two senior teams for many years, would have two senior teams. But no—North-east Valley, who have an intermediate team, are placed in the senior division while Carisbrook will place a senior eleven in the intermediate grade. The decision thus reached by the O.C.A. is well up to form, but could anything be more incongruous?—l am, etc., . _ October 8. Well Wisher.