All Day Matches In Senior Cricket

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26918, 2 November 1948, Page 8

All Day Matches In Senior Cricket

Sports Commentary

By the Sports Editor,

The decision of the Otago Cricket Association to introduce all-day cricket in the senior competition on Saturdays appears to be a popular move. It is too early yet, of /course, to/determine the effects of the scheme on all clubs, but the feeling generally expressed by players on the opening day last Saturday seemed to be they welcomed the opportunity to begin play on Saturday mornipg and finish at 6 p.m. It is obvious that some of the older players will have to make some sacrifice to take part in the games in the mornings, but this they appear willing to do in the interests of their clubs, and the keener players are anxious to get all the play they can in view of the important programme ahead this season.

A correspondent, “ Wicket.” writing on the subject of all-day cricket, however. makes some telling points which should be noted by the authorities. “After your very valuable suggestions in your notes on cricket for the coming season last week, I have waited patiently to see if any of the officers of the association would take up the challenge,” he writes. “ but so far nothing has eventuated, and I hope the association will be alive and do all it can to keep up the interest in the game which has been created during the past two seasons. “The cricket season opened last Saturday, and one would have thought that the president or his deputy or the secretary would have been there to see everything in order,” the correspondent adds. “The CarisbrookKaikorai fixture should have been played on No. 5 wicket, but was played on No. 2 wicket on the University ground, and play was started at 11.30, half an hour late. None of the matches was started on time, and instead of three-quarters of an hour for lunch, an hour was taken, and half an hour for tea instead of a quarter of an hour.” Many enthusiasts will agree with this correspondent when he emphasises that these are the things to be avoided if the public of Dunedin is to become interested in the grand old game. He adds that the umpires should walk out on time, and when a batsinan is out the incoming batsman should pass him on the field instead of waiting till the outgoing player reaches the pavilion. “If these suggestions are taken in the spirit in which they are given, I am sure the public will show their appreciation,” he concludes. “ Cricketers. help yourself, and the public will help you is a good motto.” It is interesting to observe that as all-day cricket begins in Dunedin, the Wellington Association has decided to return to afternoon hours of play, and, commenting on that decision, a Wellington senior captain pointed out that the England-Australia tests and plenty of other evidence suggested that what was important was not so much the length of time spent playing cricket as the manner in Which that cricket was played. “ Too many cricketers,” he said, “just play about. Batsmen appear to be obsessed with the idea of waiting for a long-hop or a half-volley, and even when such a ball comes they often do r.ot know what to do with it.” It goes to show, therefore, that the success or otherwise of the Otago Cricket Association’s new policy rests with the cricketers themselves. Lack of practice, caused by unfavourable weather, was reflected in the uncertain stroke-making of many players on Saturday. This should be righted as the season progresses, but there is little excuse for slackness in the field, which was too often evident on Saturday. Improvement in this direction and in the returns to the wicket will be looked for very early. Encouraging form was shown by several of the players who are expected to be prominent in Otago cricket this season, and if there were no particularly sensational batting performances on the opening day the impressive effort’s of several of the bowlers may be a happy augury. Impressive Reappearance E. Kruskopf, the Dunedin Cricket Club's left-hand medium pace bowler, signalised his return to association ranks with an impressive performance in the match against Albion-Y.M.C.A. For the past two or three seasonsKruskopf has been playing in the Otago Cricket Leagues’ competition, but after his return from the war he displayed considerable promise during his short period in association cricket and played for Otago. Kruskopf bowled very accurately on Saturday, and although he was not getting much movement with the ball his length and direction were good.- His direct method of attack brought results, for all his victims were clean bowled, and from 20 overs he took six wickets for 23 runs. This lively left-hander will be a big asset to the Dunedin Club. Fighting Knock

L. D. Smith, Otago's Plunket Shield captain, is at his best when his side is up against it, and he played a characteristically fighting knock for AlbionY.M.C.A. against Dunedin on Saturday. It was largely as a result of Smith's determined batting for 42 that the Albion-Y.M.C.A. side was saved from complete collapse. He got the majority of his runs from the off side, and his square cuts were most effective. He also bowled serviceably, and the ball that bowled R. Wedlake was a really good one. The former Australian test player. R. H. Robinson, went in fairly late on the batting list and made 18 in quick time. When the last man came in. Robinson went after the runs and eventually got out to a weak shot on the leg when playing E. Kruskopf. Robinson's bowling was particularly good for the beginning of the season, and even the few loose balls that he bowled were treated with more respect than they deserved.