CROMB TAKES HIS TEAM OFF FIELD

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1936, Page 7

CROMB TAKES HIS TEAM OFF FIELD

PLAYER INJURED ON BAD / WICKET f Special to ",Northern Advocate”! CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A senior cricket match at Rugby Park took a sensational turn on Saturday afternoon. Struck in the mouth by a rising ball delivered by one of the fastest bowlers in the senior competition, an Old Collegian batsman, L. W. Fleetwood, had his two front teeth knocked out and suffered painful injuries to his lips and jaw;. The cause of the accident was the bad state of the wicket, and, deciding to accept any penalties that their action might bring upon them, the Lancaster Park players walked off the field, headed by their captain, I. B. Cromb.

This action was taken as a protest against the Canterbury Cricket Association’s decision to play the game at Rugby Park, where the pitch was known to be in a dangerous state. Both teams had previously made objections to the request that they should play the match at Rugby Park.

There was strong resentment at the decision to shift the senior game from the usual ground at Hagley Park in order that a boys’ match could be played there. It was considered by the players that the bad state of the pitch at Rugby Park placed the senior men under the risk of serious accident, but their protests were of no avail.

The game had been in progress only three-quarters of an hour when the accident occurred.