CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19069, 15 January 1924, Page 9

CRICKET.

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH. OTAGO REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. The following players have been selected to represent Otago in the Plunket Shield match against Wellington: J. S. Shepherd (captain). A. Galland. J. M’Mullan. Rev. E. O. Blamires. K. do R. Worker. H. C. Alloo. A. W. Alioo. H. Duncan. W. M. Douglas. G. E. Dickinson. R. Cherry. A. E, Knight, twelfth man. Any player unable to obtain leave must advise the secretary (E. S. Wilson) promptly. OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION. The meeting- of the executive ox the Otago Cricket Association, held last night, was attended by Messrs G. A. Martin (i;a the chair), W. A. Rowland, A. Galland, if. Binney, F. Rylance, A. Eestieaux, Crosby Morris, R. de R. Worker, G. A. Wycherley, J. Ramsden, and C. Todd. NEW SOUTH WALES TOUR. A letter from the New Zealand Crciket Council was received outlining the financial arrangements for the New South Wales team’s tour. After discussion, it was decided to agree to the terms, but to inform the council that the association considered that the council should bear part of the guarantee for matches, as it was to receive the profits from the tost matches. The Southland Association wrote asking the Otago Association to support it in its protest against being refused a match against New South Wales, and submitting a suggested altered itinerary. The New Zealand Council pointed out that in the past Southland had been allotted more matches than any other minor association in the South Island, but in this case the other miner associations had been given preference. Mr Morris eaid that it seemed quite wrong to cut out Invercargill and include Oamaru, Timarn, and Ashburton, On tho motion of Mr Todd, it was decided to support the Southland Association’s request for a match. THE HAWKE CUP. The Secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council wrote stating that a special general meeung of the council would be held in C.iristcliurch to consider a suggestion from tho Southland Association that the Hawke Cup competition should be conducted on lines similar to those on which the Chatham (Association football) Cup competition was conducted. That would mean tiiat a competition among the minor associations in each island would be played, and the winning tarns in each island would play off for the cup. For the purpose of tne competition, .Nelson and Marlborough would be considered as North Island miner associations, in view of the greater ease with which they could compete in that island. It was decided to give the Otago delegates a free hand in the matter. THE WELLINGTON MATCH. The Secretary of the Wellington Association wrote stating that Messrs Salmond and Spraggon had offered a bat for the first man to score a century in the Wellington-Otago match. It was decided that play on tho Friday of the match start at 11 a.m. It was mentioned that this would be tho deciding match for the Plunket Shield. The selection of umpires whose names should be submitted to the visiting team was left to the Umpires’ Association. The-price of admission was fixed at Is (6d after 4 p.m.); stand, 6d extra (plus tax). AFTERNOON TEA. The Umpires’ Association wrote suggesting that the afternoon tea adjournment in club matches should, in the best interests of the game, be abolished. Mr Todd mentioned that 17 minutes had been spent during the adjournment at Carisbrook on Saturday. It was a matter for doubt whether the weather was the cause of that. There was also the time spent when a man went out. It Often occurred that, though a man was ready to go in immediately another came out, he waited to discuss whether his predecessor was out “leg before” or not. The association wanted nublic support, and in the interests of the spectators as little time as possible should be lost. Lis moved that the club’s attention be drawn to the rules on the point: That not

more than 10 minutes be taken for afternoon tea, and that the incoming and outgoing batsmen meet inside the circle. He thought it was too much to abolish afternoon tea altogether, os the matches started so early that many players had little time for lunch. Mr Rowland mentioned that a good deal of time had similarly been lost on the North Ground on Saturday. Mr Galland said that the afternoon tea adjournment made a stop in the afternoon that should not exist. It was not fair to the spectators. Mr Binney said that he did not think the public would object to an adjournment for afternoon tea if a team looked like batting all the afternoon. It was when there was on adjournment for afternoon tea and then an adjournment soon oiler at the end of an innings that the difficulty arose. Mr R.atnsden said that one adjournment must bo cut out, and the one at the end of an innings could not be avoided. Mr Worker said that as the clubs had previously been asked to avoid delay, and the step had not been successful, it was time for a more drastic action. Mr Todd said that, seeing that some of the players themselves did not favour the adjournment, he was prepared to withdraw his motion. * Mr Morris said that the players deserved consideration as well as the spectators, ana Mr Ramsden pointed out that t.ae umpires would have to spend the whole afternoon without afternoon tea. Mr Rowland drew attention to the fact that the suggestion came from the umpires. Mr Binney moved as an amendment that the captains of clubs be asked to avoid tne adjournment if possible. Mr Morris seconded the amendment. Mr Restieaux pointed out that the teams would have afternoon tea without an adjournment. , The amendment was lost, and the motion carried. IMPROVEMENT OP GROUNDS. The Town Clerk forwarded a copy of the report of the superintendent ot reserves on the question of improving grounds. The matter had been brought before the Reserves Committee of the council by a deputation from the association. He asked to what extent the association waa prepared to assist financially. Ihe matter was referred to the- previouslyappointed sub-committee for a report. ALBION’S PROTEST. The Albion Club wrote protesting against the awarding of a second grade match to Grange because Albion had ployed a member of last season’s Carisbrook senior eleven. It was stated that this was only one of numerous similar cases. Mr Binney said that even the club that had originally brought forward this matter had played untransferred members. His club did not wish to state specific cases, but asked that the whole position be investigated. It was claimed that it was for the clubs to bring forward such cases. The Secretary stated that as transfers did not pass through the association, its Grade Committee could not know whether a player had or had not obtained a transfer. Mr Binney claimed that the match had been awarded to Grange because of a breach of the rules. There were other similar cases, and if Albion were to be penalised other clubs should be similarly treated. The Grange Club had not protested. Mr Wycherley said that tho similar cases mentioned should have been cited. The Secretary said that the object of the rule was to prevent too many changes from one club to another. If a club objected to one of its players transferring to another it was for it to bring forward the matter when that man first played for another club. That was why Carisbrook reported the matter in this case. To prevent any club adopting a “ dog-in-the-manger ” attitude, an application for a transfer could, if the club objected, be brought before the association. Mr Binney said that he understood that the resignation of the player mentioned had been accepted, Mr Ramsden remarking that he did not think such was the case. Mr Todd contended that the association bad only observed the rules and had not gone beyond that. Mr Wycherley said that when the case had first been considered the statement that the player had resigned from tho Carisbrook Club hud not been made. He did not think it was yet too late for that evidence to be brought forward in Albion’s favour. Mr Worker proposed, and Mr Todd seconded —“ That the association reply that if the Albion Club had any specific cases of similar breaches it should bring them for ward " The motion was carried. COUNTRY WEEK CANCELED.

Mr Todd reported that a-s only one reply—and that that South Otago could not send a team —had been received regarding’ Country phroposajs, the fixture had been cancelled. Ha thought that in the future some other means of encouraging country cricket mieht be suggested. Mr Martin suggested that the country bodies should be asked to send in. during the Kcw South Wales match, delegates to discuss the whole position.

Tho Secretary said that the Tapanni Association considered that a visit from a town team to the country would be more valuable in the interests of cricket in the country. Mr Morris suggested that the cup which he had presented should be held by the last team (South Otago) to win the Country Week competition, and that challenges to that association for the cup should be played on its own ground. The suggestion was adopted, NORTH OTAGO MATCH. Mr H. Duncan wrote regarding the North Otago match. Financially the association had finished practically ” all square.”