OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21543, 15 January 1932, Page 3

OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING A meeting of the Management Committee of the Otago Cricket Association was held last evening. There were present: Messrs J. M. Fraser (chairman), G. A. Wycherley, D. Solomon, W. Brookes, A. Began, E. H. Ferguson, and K. Biuney. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Canterbury Girls’ Cricket Association suggesting Easter Saturday as a suitable date for a match against an Otago ladies’ team. — The matter was left in the hands of Mr Brookes. A letter was received from W. A. Rowland tendering his resignation as a member of the association and the Management Committee. —Mr Regan said it was a pity that Mr Rowland had seen fit to send in his resignation. He moved that the letter be received.—The motion was carried.—lt was decided, on the motion of the chairman, that a letter should be sent to Mr Rowland thanking him for the assistance he had given to cricket in tne past.A letter was received from the New Zealand Cricket Council stating that, with reference to the amendment to rule 24 of the Laiys of Cricket dealing with the “ snick,” information had just been received from the M.C.C., London, that this was still regarded as an experiment, and affiliated associations might play under the amendment or not, as it suited them. As regards the present season’s Plunket Shield series, the Management Committee had decided not to play under the amended rule.—The secretary re-' ported that he had advised the clubs and umpires regarding the matter. —The letter was received.

J. A. Robson wrote suggesting that instead of the South African cricket team playing a Canterbury side, at Christchurch, thus excluding all Otago players, a match might be arranged at Christchurch against a South Island team, thus affording an opportunity for several of Otago’s outstanding cricketers to meet the Springboks.—The chairman said the matter had already been ventilated in the press. He was sure that all would agree with what had been suggested by the writer of the letter. The opinion in Christchurch seemed to be that the test match against the South Africans would be played there. In any case, it could do no harm to write to the New Zealand Cricket Council suggesting that in the event of the match at Christchurch not being a test, the side to meet the South Africans should be representative of the South Island, in view of the fact that n match had not been allotted to Dunedin. — After some discussion, it was decided to write to the council on the lines suggested by the chairman. ’ A telegram was received from the Wellington Association stating that the suggested dates for the Plunket Shield match —February 19, 20, 22, and 23 —would be suitable.

An inquiry wae received from the Southland Cricket Association as to whether there was a possibility of the Otago Association sending a senior representative team to Invercargill within the next two months. The question was also raised as to whether a junior representative match would be played in Invercargill this season.—Mr Binney said that in view of the financial position it would be hard to get a team together who would be prepared to make the trip.—Mr Regan said there might be some way of getting a team which would be prepared to pay its own expenses.—Other members, however, did not think that this wquld be possible.—On the motion of Mr Solomon, it was decided to reply stating that, in view of the financial position of the Otago Association, it would not be possible to send a senior team to Invercargill unless the Southland Association was prepared to pay expenses. The Taieri Cricket Club protested against the action of the Kaikorai Club in playing two men in the B team, of the Second Grade B section who had previously been playing First Grade.—On the motion of Mr Brookes, it was decided lo write to the Kaikorai Club asking for an explanation. THE NORTHERN TOUR.

Referring to the Otago match against Canterbury, the chairman said that Badcock had been an inspiration to the team. He also paid a tribute to the innings of Hawksworth in the match, which had been a particularly fine effort for so young a player.—lt was decided to congratulate the team on the success of its tour. The chairman stated that he had received a letter from Mr Dunning stating that the Canterbury Association was prepared to make a gift to the Otago Association of the ball which had been used in the match in which Blunt had made his record score, the northern association being of the opinion that the Otago Association would probably like to present it to Blunt as a memento of the occasion.— After some discusison, it was decided to present the ball to Blunt during the luncheon adjournment on the first day of the Plunket Shield match with Wellington. NEW MEMBER. The chairman said the matter of appointing a member to fill the vacancy which had occurred on the Management Committee did not altogether come within their province.—On his suggestion it was decided that a meeting of the full committee be held in a fortnight to discuss the matter. THE NORTH GROUND. The Grounds Committee reported that an inspection had been made of the North Ground, and the outfield was in such a bad state that it was unfit for first-class cricket. Nothing had been done by the City Council since the recommendations regarding the ground had been made. The Grounds Committee would like the Management Committee to make an inspection before coming to any decision with regard to the ground. As a matter of fact, the Kaikorai ground was in a much better state than the North Ground. In view of the fact, however, that the Grange Club looked on this as its home ground and that it was also a source of revenue to the club in that collections were taken up there, it was felt that the Grange Club should be written to pointing out that, as the City Council had failed to make the required improvements to the ground, it was_ unfit for first-class cricket. —The chairman said that when they were so much in the hands of the City Corporation the report was disconcerting. _ The Grange Club could prepare the wicket, but it could not undertake the expense of bringing the outfield up to first-grade match condition. —After some further discussion, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Regan, that the Grounds Committee should interview the Grange Club and report to the next meeting.

INTERCLUB MATCHES. ALTERATION OF GROUNDS. In view of the Otago band contest being held at Carisbrook on January 23, it has been necessary for the Grade Committee to make the following alterations in the grounds allotted for January 10 and 23: Senior Grade. —January 16-23: Grange v. Carisbrook, from Carisbrook No. 1 to North Ground. Second Grade A. —January 16-23: Grange v. Old Boys, from North Ground to Oval No. 1; Valley v. Dunedin, from Oval No. 1 to Valley. Second Grade B.—January 16: Valley v. Old Boys A, from Valley to Logan Park No. 5. January 23: Valley v. Dunedin. from Valley to Oval No. 3; Carmbrook G v. Albion, from Carisbrook No. 2 to Logan Park No. 5. Third Grade. —January 23; Kaikorai v. Carisbrook, from Carisbrook No. 3 to Kaikorai No. 2.