Cricket: Opening of Season Delayed

Evening Star, Issue 25950, 15 November 1946, Page 5

Cricket: Opening of Season Delayed

But Other Centres Also Affected

(By Wallaby.) ’

The start of the 1941-42 cricket season was delayed for three weeks owing to unfavourable weather conditions, and, at the time of writing, it looks as though the same delay might occur this season. Already there have been two postponements, in addition to which practice has been almost impossible owing to wintry conditions having prevailed throughout the week. This is most gull fortunate, .as enthusiasm among layers- and interest among the public ave been noticeable iii a marked degree. . Groundsmen have had little chance of preparing ..wickets, but a sufficient number would have been available last Saturday had heavy rain not again fallen at the week-end. But Dunedin is not the only centre thus 'affected. In Christchurch, cricket was got under way only after a month’s unprecedented hold-up. Grade competitions were to ha’ve opened last Saturday week, but, for the third time in succession/the executive of the Canterbury Cricket Association had to make a hurried inspection and , announce that play was impossible. In October it: was not even possible to hold the customary club opening days, with presidential speeches and so on “ It has been the worst season I have known in Canterbury for 17 years.” stated -the Hagley Park groundsman “We have had bad interruptions m previous years, but October always saw at-leasttone'round played. There have “teen days lately when it was absolutely impossible to get a tractor 'on to the ground. It would 6imply have made a worse mess than the rain had made, •We: had heavy showers throughout Oe-' tober, "and then more showers in the first- few, days of November.” Oldtimers in. Canterbury say it is the .worst; cricket' opening weather in the history of the province.,

Brabin Shield Matches To Resume. - • The Brabin Shield contests, in which .■ young, cricketers under 21 years of age who have not played in more than two senior ■ matches in the. current season take part, are to be revived. This shield is competed for by representatives of the four major provinces, and is distinct from the Brabin Cup, for , the possession^of which only Otago and Canterbury compete. ■■■ It is some years since Brabin Shield matches were last flayed, and the move for their resumption was first made by.the Auckland association, this being supported by Canterbury. Now Otago has- agreed to take part, and the tournament will be held during the Christmas arid New Year holidays, mostly in Christchurch. In view of the intensive “search for talent ” amorig younger players;. the necessity; for- which has been,, stressed by the New Zealand Cricket Council, the resumption of • these;-matches is timely. : v? The Otago association - had: intended , sending a colt's’ team on a tour of Central Otago, but the committee readily agreed that to participate in matches against the best of the younger players from the other provinces would be of far more value than a country tour, so the latter was cancelled.

Hutt Valley a Minor Association. The Hutt Valley Cricket Association has been admitted by the .New Zealand Cricket Council as a minor associatiori, and will be eligible to play for the Hawke Cup if i so desires, Hutt Valley, with a population of soriie 63,000 to 64,000, is separated from .Welling-ton-city a distance of five miles, and is now the site of many industries, the employees of which reside near by, and are consequently out of touch with Wellington. The Hutt Valley Association has 50 teams urider its control, and can provide 25 to 30 wickets/ Within five years, it is stated, the association will have at least 80 wickets. Ken James, former New Zealand rerepresentative wicketkeeper-batsman, has been engaged as coach. Merritt to Coach.

A recent cablegram from London announced that W. E. Merritt, former New ■ Zealand and Canterbury ,spin ■bowler and for several years a member of the Northamptonshire County side, lias abandoned county cricket, having accepted an appointment ■as coach of the Dudley Cricket Club, which takes part in the Birmingham League competition. Merritt, it will‘be remembered, had a rapid rise to fame. His first appearance in representative cricket was ,at the age of 18, and one of his many ;fine performances, probably the best of ithem, was hi's seven wickets for 88 runs oil a perfect Lancaster Park pitch when playing for New Zealand in an unofficial test match against the Melbourne Cricket’ Club team. His victims on that occasion were V. S. Hansford, H. C. Sandford, B. A. Onyons, T. G. Armstrong, K. G. Johnstone, T. R. SRogerson, and H. I. Ebeling. The sensational feat surprised everyone. He howled leg breaks and gooiglies with an occasional straight ball.. A month earlier he took five for 48 and three for 20 for Canterbury against Otago at Dunedin. In England, with the 1927 New Zealand team, he took. 173 wickets at a cost of 23 runs apiece, a brilliant performance.

M.C.'C. Itinerary. The next five matches in the English cricket team’s itinerary on the Australian tour will be:— November 15 to 19, against New South Wales, at Sydney. November 22 to 26, against Queensland at 1 Brisbane. November 29 to December 5, first test at Brisbane.

' December 7 and 9, against Queensland Country, at Gympie. December 13 to 39, second test, at Sydney.