INDIAN TEAM WANTED

Evening Star, Issue 26102, 16 May 1947, Page 8

INDIAN TEAM WANTED

O.G.A. COMMITTEE URGES VISIT At lust night’s meeting of the committee of the Otago Cricket Association, over which Mr W. S. Armitage presided, Mr ,J. W. Walls expressed the opinion that it would be advisable if. some effort were made to ensure a visit next season from the Indian cricket team, which would be making a tour of Australia. Next year, he said, would be centenary year, and it would be a pity if the Indians could not be induced to come to New Zealand. The public had, by the recent visits of the Australian and the English teams, become cricket-minded, and this desirable state should be eneouraged. The Chairman said that the New Zealand Cricket Council was fully alive to the desirability of getting an overseas team of test match calibre to visit the Dominion. He had been assured by the council, he said, that Otago would be given a test match late in the season, but it was not possible to say yet whether the opposing team would be the Indians, an Australian side, or some other overseas team. The council was considering three or four different propositions. This was in addition to the tour of a Eiji team early in the season. - Mr J. A. Robson said that the efforts of the New Zealand council in the direction of arranging visits from overseas teams had, he thought, been rather unfortunate in the past. There had been too much secrecy, and the associations had not been allowed to know what steps were being taken. He supported Mr Walls in regard to a visit from the Indians, which would not only be popular, but a payable proposition, and he hoped that no effort would be spared to bring it about. He intended no discourtesy to the council in moving that it be requested to use every effort to bring about a visit from the Indian team at the conclusion of its Australian tour. The motion, which was seconded by Mr Walls, was carried unanimously. OVERSEAS TOURING TEAMS. The New Zealand Cricket Council, replying to the association’s suggestion that a member of the council should travel with each overseas team visiting the Dominion, stated that it had been an almost invariable practice to arrange for a member of the council to be in the different centres when matches with overseas teams were being played. In the case of the match against Otago it would be recalled that the president of the Management Committee, Mr J. H. Pliillipps, was present. As to the suggestion that this .apply to actual traveling with the side, the writer said that was not always convenient, and in the opinion of the Management Committee it was also unnecessary. The association’s suggestion was nevertheless appreciated. Mr Walls expressed the opinion that the association should still stress the point that an official should travel with overseas touring sides, and it was decided to advise the council that after the matter had been further considered by committee it was felt that it would be an advantage to all concerned that an official should travel with all touring teams. COACHING. A scheme for the raising of funds for tire purpose of obtaining the services of a coach was discussed in committee, and it was resolved to endeavour to enlist tile co-operation of the clubs in the matter, asking that certain of their members give their services for a short period in the near future. The question of the engagement of a coach was referred to the Coach Committee for report. NEXT SEASON’S FIXTURES. The Wellington Cricket Association wrote that, owing to the difficulty of arranging transport arid accommodation at short notice, and in order that next season’s cricket might proceed with the minimum of difficulty, they were endeavouring to get a programme completed. Accordingly, it snbmitted the following suggested dates for Otago’s Phinket Shield matches for the association’s consideration:—v. Wellington, at Wellington, December 24, 25, 26, and 27; v.- Auckland, at Dunedin, December 31, January 1,2, and 3 ; v. Canterbury, January 9, 10, 12, and 13. It was resolved to inform the Wellington association that Otago had already approved the suggested dates for the Wellington and Auckland fixtures, but that the dates for the Canterbury match had been approved as February 6,7, 9, and 10. SOUTHLAND’S THANKS. The Southland Cricket Association wrote expressing appreciation of the action of the Otago association in acceding to its request for a return game at Invercargill at Easter. It was particularly gratifying to supporters of cricket in Southland, the letter said, that a strong Otago eleven was able to travel. The Otago team created a great deal of public interest, as indicated by the attendance, the collection figures constituting a record for an open ground. As the result of the match, it was felt that the game had benefited to a marked extent, and the association was confident that such matches, particularly when players of international standard were included in the team, would do a great deal to improve the standard of cricket in Southland, and thereby to ensure the continuance of public support.—Noted. BOWLING TROPHY. It was resolved that the question of the award of the Wycherley Trophy, for the best bowling performance by an Otago player in first class representative matches last season, be referred to the captain of the Otago team (Mr W. A. Hadlee) and the sole selector (Mr S. Duncan) for decision. The trophy* is awarded each season, the last holder (pre-war) being G. Lemin. APPRECIATION. Mr H. Fogarty, at the conclusion ol the meeting, said he wished to thank the president (iMr J. A. Robson), the chairman (Mr W. S. Armitage), and the other members of the committee l'or their co-operation with him as representative of the Umpires’ Association. That association, said Mr Fogarty, had become much stronger than it had been, and it was proposed that its members should meet more often.