CRICKETERS GET NO CHANCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11304, 1 September 1922, Page 8

CRICKETERS GET NO CHANCE

INSUFFICIENCY"’ <}F 'nETEI SPOILS NEW ZEALAND CRICKET. AN CRITICISM In regard to the representative cricket practices last season, Mr.H. C. Watson reported to the Wellington Cricket Association as follows: . v r . ...j. He regretted that the 'practices were not as successful as he would.have wish-, ed; but for this," he said, there were several reasons: . (1) The provision-, of only one net at "the Basin Reserve' for 20 players was quite inadequate, since it gave them no proper opportunity to- get the necessary practice; (2) owing to the late hour, on several ocasions, -players, had to leave without any batting practice at all, thus, accounting, for several' batsmen being quite, out of form; (3) the lack of slow, leg-break and slow lefthand bowlers had a lot to do with the non-success of the team at Auckland;, and, with only one practice net available, it was not possible to invite other bowlers to assist. ’ - This shortage of nets accounted, also, for the insufficient‘fielding practice. Mr Watson suggested that representative practice should commence earlier in the season, thus getting players into form sooner. '■ Mr Watson criticised the inadequate facilities provided in the Dominion as] against the .better .provision in England and Australia; and he recommended, also, the instalment of a proper locallymade catching machine, to give the necessary slip-catching practice.