DACRE FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20316, 26 January 1928, Page 5

DACRE FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE

FAMILY ASSOCIATIONS. (From Oce Own Correspondent.) LONDON. December 14. Mr Horace Walker, chairman of the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, referred, at the annual dinner of the Bristol and District Umpires’ Association, to C. C. Dacre, the New Zealand cricketer, qualifying for Gloucestershire. He said it was not Gloucestershire which approached Dacre. When over here with the New Zealand tourists last summer Dacre made it quite clear that he was determined to settle in England and play cricket. He would prefer to attach himself to Gloucestershire because of the family ties, but if that county would not have him he would certainly go elsewhere. Later in the evening Mr Walker announced that a cablegram had been received from New Zealand stating that the cricket authorities there were quite agreeable to Dacre qualifying tin Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire or Worcestershire. A writer signing himself “ H. E. R. ’ comments on the news that C. C. Dacre is to play for Gloucestershire. Speaking of the time when Dacre was playing for the New Zealanders against Gloucestershire, the correspondent mentions that the Dominion cricketer was determined to settle in this country, and if he could not play for Gloucestershire he would secure an engagement with Worcestershire. That, in my view,” says the writer, “ was the very best thing that could happen. Although Dacre scored a merry 64—he hit with a freedom which recalled Jessop when in an aggressive mood—he did not impress me as a player of the stamp Gloucestershire need. If money is to be spent in qualifying men, bowlers should be the first choice. What is more our experience in the case of J. J. Ferris was not happy, though my reason for taking no action was a strong objection to an English county enlisting the services of a colonial player. ‘‘ Some weeks later, following a meeting of the committee of the county club, a paragraph went round the country that Gloucestershire had offered Dacre an engagement though my information was that he had asked for one. This led to many severe comments upon the county’s action. Now news has arrived that he sails in March to begin his period of qualification. ‘‘ln the course of last summer’s tour Dacre played 34 innings for New Zealand, in the course of which he scored 1070, and as he was never not out. his average was 31.47. He also took eight wickets at cost of 16.63 apiece.”