Dunedin Crowd Hoots Auckland Cricket Team

Northern Advocate, 5 January 1948, Page 5

Dunedin Crowd Hoots Auckland Cricket Team

DUNEDIN, Mon. (Sp.)—When G. IT. Mills, an Otago batsman, was given out caught behind the wicket, the crowd at Carisbrook during the Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Otago hooted and jeered.

It was one of the worst and most prolonged demonstrations by a crowd in the history of New Zealand cricket.

Mills, who was playing a lighting innings for his side, had scored 68 runs and the Otago team's total was 282 for seven wickets in reply to a score of 415 made by Auckland in its first innings.

When Mills stood at his crease he thought something' had gone wrong and this made him consult the other umpire. Mr McDonald then had said that he had not clearly seen what had happened. The Laws of Cricket state that an umpire can change a decision if he does so immediately. Members of the Auckland team in a position to see said that Kent had taken the catch.

Mills glided a rising delivery from J. Cowie, and L. A. Kent, the Auckland wicketkeeper, ran over and took the ball cleanly for a great diving catch. After catching the ball, Kent fell on the ground with his gloves outstretched and the ball went out of his grasp. 8 On a unanimous appeal frqm the Auckland team, the umpire (Mr P. Thomson) immediately raised his hand. CROWD’S OUTBURST Evidently of the opinion that Kent had not taken the catch cleanly, Mills stood at his crease while the crowd yelled vociferously. “Not out.” Mr Thomson then walked over to the square-leg umpire (Mr G. McDonald) and held a consultation with him. Following this, he walked over to Mills and sent the batsman to the pavilion. The action caused a great outburst from the crowd of hooting and jeering which was maintained for a period of about 25 minutes.

Cowie was made the chief subject of hostile attention after the incident. The spectators hooted and yelled "No ball” while he was making his run to the wicket. On one occasion Cowie deliberately delivered the ball from well behind the crease but the crowd still yelled ‘‘No ball" while he was making his run to the wicket. The jeers of the crowd did not perturb Cowie in the least and it anything he bowled better. With the dismissal of Mills he had taken four wickets and he went on to dismiss two other Otago batsmen and to finish with the fine figures of six wickets for 94. PLAY GOLS ON After the crowd had been demonstrating for 10 minutes, L. D. Smith, the Otago captain, went on the field and had a talk with H. T. Pearson, the Auckland captain. 4 Smith inquired whether the barracking of the crowd was upsetting the Aucklanders and whether they would like to sit down until it subsided. Pearson told Smith that the situation was satisfactory and play was continued. Mr Thomson said afterward that he saw Kent take the catch.

His view was then obstructed by Cowie running in front of him.