CRICKET

Otago Witness, Issue 3890, 2 October 1928, Page 60

CRICKET

OTAGO ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Otago Cricket Association was held on Thursday evening. Mr C. Todd (president) occupied the chair. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the chairman stated that the association had been fortunate during the past season in having the services of the coach, Mr L. C. Eastman, who had shown promise of becoming one of the best coaches the province or the Dominion had had. The accident with which he had met, however, had been a severe blow to the association. Had he been able to give his services during the whole of the season, he would have done great work among young cricketers, because he had the ability and the temperament. He .was making good scores at Home, and it was to be hoped that he would not be hampered in his work during the coming season. The speaker was of the opinion that cricket would have to be made more lively if bigger crowds were to be attracted to the matches. If public enthusiasm were to be aroused in the game, the players would have to hit out more. The Boys’ Association was one of the strongest features of-the game in Dunedin, and it should be congraulated on the work it had done in encouraging the younger players. Among them, no doubt, there were some future Alloos and Gallands. When the association held an evening entertainment cricketers did not support it as they Should have done. They had failed to take advantage of an opportunity to help themselves. There was a credit in the coach fund account of £584 19s 6d. It was a very healthy condition, and no difficulty should be experienced in that connection The association itself, however, did not have much to come and go on. and the clubs should see that it was kept in a gopd position. Grounds at Logan Park would be handed over to the association this season, and more could be expected next season. The association was indebted to the City Council for the work it had done in this connection, and it seemed that in the near future Dunedin would have some of the best grounds in the Dominion. the association would have no trouble in procuring grounds during the coming season. Cricketers should see that the Citj r Council provided more and more grounds. In seconding the motion, Mr J. J. Clark stated that there was every reason for optimism in regard to cricket in Dunedin. There was no doubt that the game was progressing. Dunedin had never had so many promising young players before. The Plunket Shield matches did a great deal of good, but he questioned whether cricket benefited from the tours of some of the overseas teams. He thought that Australian State teams should be invited to visit the Dominion. He hoped that the association would stick to its guns and have nothing to do with the visits of English teams, which were not so popular as the Australians. Mr L. Joel stated that the association had really lost only about £2O during the past season. The motion was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. "V 1 ?, e l ec^i°n of office-bearers resulted as follows:—President, Mr C. Todd- vicepresidents—Messrs L. Joel, W. Mackersv G. A. Wycherley, and Crosby Morris; secretary and treasurer, Mr E. S. Wilsoncommittee—Messrs W. Brinslev, F. '‘Binney, W. Rowland, R. Torrance, J. Robson, G. G, Austin, G. Nelson. J. M. .eraser, G. A. Martin, and Dr Reid; auditors—Messrs G. Pickard and A. Ray “°J ora \’y m embers' representative, Mr J. A. Fitzgerald; Boys* Association representative, Mr E. Ferguson. OPENING OF SEASON. _ w as decided to open the season on October 20. Mr Robson stated that it would be possible to begin First Grade games on that date, as the grounds would be read* much earlier this year. It was decided to arrange for cricket matches on Labour Day, which will be observed on the following Monday. SIX SENIOR TEAMS. Mr W. Brookes (Christian Brothers) moved That it be a recommendation to the incopiing committee that the num ber of teams in the First Grade competiincreased to six.’ He considered that an increase would be beneficial to Otago cricket. He had understood that when the number of senior teams had been reduced to four it had been don? with the object of tightening up cricket and improving the standard. He also thought that when the reduction had beer made it had been intended to increase the number of teams later. The ChrisGau Brothers Club intended to apply for Grade status this season. It was a pity that Dunedin could boast of only four teams when other centres had double that number. Mr M. G. MTnnes (High School) seconded the motion. He stated that senior cricket had been improved m Christchurch by increasing the number of teams. Mr Clark said that the matter depended to a large extent on what the Coach Committee decided to do. Il might decide to play a colts’ team. It would not be wise to tie the hands of the committee. Mr G. A. Martin stated that he had previously been in' favour of having four teams, but he was beginning to think that a change would be desirable. Young men playing in junior clubs were never thought of as being eligible for repre sentative matches. If they were given' the opportunity of playing against better men their cricket would improve. During the last few years Otago had had only about 13 men fit to represent the province. There was not sufficient competition among the senior teams, and their cricket w r as becoming lax. Last season a representative practice wicket had been provided at Carisbrook, and sometimes onlytwo or three men had attended. If the number of teams were increased young players would be provided with an incentive to develop their ability.

Mr J. Robson (Dunedin) said that he had also come to the conclusion that the time had arrived when the number of teams should be increased. The time ha 1 ’ come for the forming of a colts’ team. Young players in junior clubs were leaving the game because they could make no further progress, stated Mr J. Hope (North-East \ alley). He thought that interest in the game would increase if the number of teams were increased. The motion was unanimously carried. TWO-DAY MATCHES. Mr Brookes moved that two-da v matches be plaved in the Second Grade A competition. He stated that they had been reduced to one-day matches last season on account of dayiight saving. The majority of the games had been drawn. Mr W. Brinsley (Old Boys) stated thar it had been shown that it was quite impossible for two strong teams to com plete a game in one day. The motion was carried. GENERAL. The matter of providing protection for the wickets on the Littlebourne ground was left in the hands of the Grounds Committee. _ Mention was made of the dilatoriness of clubs in paying their dues, and it was decided to write to the clubs drawing their attention to the rules dealing with the subject. CLEM HILL TO REPORT TESTS. LONDON, September 25. The Daily Telegraph announces thar Clem Hill will replace Bardsley to describe the tests. LEG-BEFORE RULE. LONDON, September 29. The Executive Council of club cricket called a conference, at which 509 chibs and 60,000 players were represented. It was unanimously resolved that the suggested alteration in the leg-before rule is at present unnecessary. MATCHES IN SYDNEY. SEVERAL CENTURIES SCORED. SYDNEY, September 29. The grade cricket season opened in fine weather on good wickets. For Northern District against University, Buckle made 126. For St. George against Gordon. Loudon scored 102, and Bradman 106 (not out). Bowling for Petersham against Western Suburbs, Everett took five for 32. For Balmain against Randwick, Mailey took five for 69. For North Sydney against Cumberland, Eaton took For Waverley against Glebe, Gregory took six for 40. For Mosman against Manly, Salmon took four for 5.