CRICKET.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 January 1931, Page 3

CRICKET.

TARANAKI ASSOCIATION. SOUTH-NORTH MATCH. . At a meeting of the executive of the Taranaki CricKet Association last Jiight in New Plymouth the South—North match and various other matters concerning the conduct of cricket in the province were dealt with. There were present: -Messrs T. H. Bates (president), 0. G. Bottrill, W. P. Nicol, V. Duff, D. F. Cl. Saxton (northern division), C-. E. Betts, L. A. Jennings, C. Massey, H. D. Hughes (southern division) and -J. Brodie (honorary secretary). After some discussion the annual North v. South Taranaki match for the Graham Cup was fixed to take place on the High School ground, New Plymouth, on January 31. With reference to a new scheme loi Hawke Cup matches submitted by the Manapvatu Association the secretary reported that though lie had written to the association’s delegate in Christchurch asking the latter to oppose the scheme when the matter came before the New Zealand council for discussion, apparently this had not been done, foi in a subsequent letter from the council it was stated that the number of votes for and against .the proposal had been evenly divided. No vote, however, Intel been recorded on behalf of Taranaki. The scheme provided for the territorial grouping of the associations and the playing of a series of matches on the knock-out principle. The chief objection to the scheme was that it involved tfto much travelling each season. It was pointed out that nothing would now be done in the matter until the next meeting of delegates, and whatever decision was arrived at would not affect this season’s play.—The secretary was instructed to write to the council drawing attention to the fact that the Taranaki Association wished to record its vote- against the proposal. It was resolved to take up ten £ 1 shares in New Zealand Cricket, Ltd., a company that is financing the tom Lo England during the coming season of the New Zealand team. The president pointed out that it was practically certain the association would gel its money back, perhaps with interest. The chairman reported that at the informal request of tin* Waikato Association an invitation had been sent to Waikato- to play a match against Taranaki at New Plymouth at Easter. In view of the fact that Easter falls at the beginning of April, and the cricket association’s rights over Pukekura Park ground terminate on March 31, it was decided to write to the sports ground committee asking whether it would be convenient to have the use of the sports ground for cricket af'Easter. The secretary reported that the nett profit on the Taranaki-Wailganui Hawke Cup elimination fixture at New Plymouth had been £1 12s 4d. SELECTION OF TEAMS. During an informal discussion Mr. C. G. Bottrill said it seemed to him that there had been a falling-off in the standard of representative of representative cricket. The fielding, for instance, had been bad, and other faults in the plav seemed to indicate a lack of cohesion in the team that arose largely from lack of practice together and knowledge of one another’s play. He thought it was a mistake not to hold the North v. South Taranaki match early in the

season, as that at any rate afforded one opportunity of the players getting j together. ! Mr. W. P. Nicoll supported Mr. BotI trill and pointed out that the task of i the captain of the Taranaki team was j a very difficult one. Owing to the j diversity of the clubs from which the players were drawn it was difficult for the captain to use liis men to the best advantage, as lie had probably not seen some of them in action at all. Without wishing to criticise the liaiidI ling of the team in the last TaranakiWanganui match, he drew attention to : the fact that Crawford, a South Taranaki bowler, allegedly included in the team for his howling, was not given a turn with the hall in the first innings, and Morrison, a High School boy supposedly included for liis slow bowling, , was given one over in the whole match, j Mr. O. E. Betts: There was a lot of comment iu South Taranaki on the ! same lines. Mr. L. A. Jennings suggested that the difficulty might be very largely overcome by collaboration between the selectors and the captain. Mr. Bottrill suggested a ranking list for both divisions, in order of usefulness of players. He thought it would create a healthy rivalry. After further discussion, in which several members of the association spoke in favour of the scheme, it was resolved that in making future selections the selectors be asked to submit to the association for the private information of the captain comments on the qualifications of each player that influenced the selectors in making their choice. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. The High School team to plav Patea- at Hawera on Saturday will he: Thomas, Surgenor, Beamish, Lee. Duke!, Claringbold, Thrush, Etamitt. Buist, Nowell, Edwards, Sargent, 3a<uir Cousins, Stewart. * Old Boys A team: Hayes, Moloney, Gray, Hammoncl, Walker. Jordan. CWiemaii— -Lendr urn. Thrush, McMillan. Read. Cars leave P.O-. 1 p.m.. Old Boys B team : Cheevers, Barker 2). Pacey. Sturrpok, Milrov, Turn,hull, Morrison j Smith, Claphani, Ogden, Perrett. The Okaiawa team to plav K-aponga •i.t Kn-pooga, will he: Lenn. Watson. Newman, Crawford, Eden (2), Skipper. 1 Murdoch, Thomas, Belts and Penny,