NEW ZEALAND CRICKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21333, 7 November 1932, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND CRICKET

ENGLISH TEAM'S YISIT IMPROVEMENT OF UMPIRING •' FUNDS AS TOURING RESERVE The present season will see a short visit to New Zealand of tho English test team now In Australia, says the report to be presented at the annual meeting of tho New Zealand Cricket Council at Christchurch next Saturday. Tho report states that it is over 40 years sinco such an English team visited these shores. An intense public interest will bo taken in tho struggles for supremacy in Australia and there is no doubt that tho New Zealand cricketing public will bo eager to avail itself of the opportunity of seeing tho English players here. The New Zealand Council is very grateful to tho M.C.C. for its decision to make a detour of its itinerary to New Zealand. Due to an alteration in tho dato of tho "departure of tho South African team from 'Australia, and with tho consent of tho Australian Board of Control, a re-arrango-jnent of tho later part of tho team's itinerary provided time for a short visit to New Zealand last season. In a sixteenday tour to tho Dominion three matches were played, the first against Auckland and the remaining two against New Zealand. An opportunity was thus afforded tho New Zealand public for tho first time of seeing representatives of South Africa on the cricket fields. Brief as was the South Africans' stay, the tour gave great pleasure, the team proving itself ono which played the game in a spirit of friendship and with a very high appreciation of tho ideals of the game. Much of its play was of a bright nature; in fielding, particularly, its work reached a high standard. The members of tho team and its manager, Mr. J. H. Tandy, made many friends and •were very popular. The visit constituted a link betwen the two countries, for which it is hoped the futuro will permit of extension.

Blunt's Record Score With the consent of tho Australian Board of Control, the management committee arranged for a game to be played by Mailey's Australian team in Wellington against a Wellington team. It is regretted that bad weather spoiled the game as an exhibition. In a very close final game with Otago, Wellington won the Plunket Shield by two points from Canterbury. The points gained by the four provinces were as follows : —Wellington, 20; Canterbury, 18: Otago, 8; Auckland, 0. Seven centuries were made, two each for Otago, Wellington and Canterbury and one for Auckland. Blunt's score of 338 not out against Canterbury was a record for first-class cricket in the Dominion. For .the second year in succession there was no match for the Heathcote Williams Shield and the trophy is still retained by Christchurch Boys' High School. The bolder of the Hawke Cup, South Auckland, was undefeated and won its five matches outright. The series of ten consecutive victories by South Auckland is unparalleled in the history of the competition. The Redpath Cup was awarded to A. W. Roberts, of Canterbury. Appoiatment of Umpires

Recognising the importance of good umpiring, the council is anxious to improve as much as possible the standard of umpiring in first-class matches. The work of those officiating in representative matches is noted with care and the council is building up a growing list of those who are' regarded as competent and efficient. The appointment by the council of umpires in first-class matches has been decidedly successful.

The council has to record with regret the death of an old and esteemed officer of the council, Mr. E. Heathcoto Williams, cf Hawk6's Bay. Several times president of the council, he invariably took a very lively interest in the affairs of the game in the Dominion. For many years his shield, known as the Heathcoto Williams Shield, been open for competition among the secondary schools of New Zealand. It will, perhaps, be a melancholy satisfaction that the part played by him in international and Dominion administration was fittingly recognised at the last, annual meeting of the council'at which the deceased gentleman was present. As was anticipated in last year's report, the council's funds, after providing for the loss on the English tour, slightly exceed the sum of £SOOO. The committee has placed £4OOO of this amount to a special touring reserve. The whole of the funds are safely invested on deposit in the meantime, the uncertainty of the financial and legislative outlook at present rendering it undesirable, in the opinion of the management committee, to seek at once any more permanent investment.