"WATERED WICKETS’’

Southland Times, Issue 18939, 12 May 1923, Page 6

"WATERED WICKETS’’

ALLEGATIONS DISPROVED. THE COMMITTEE’S FINDING. (Per United Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. The management committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council sat at Christchurch this week at the request of the Wellington Cricket Association to investigate the charges made by D. C. Collins, that on the occasion of the Plunket Shield match, between Canterbury and Wellington the wicket had been watered, swept and rolled in contravention of the laws of cricket. The committee’s finding was announced to-night. It says inter alia: The full and free withdrawal of any suggestions of dishonesty on the part of Vagg or members of the Canterbury’ team narrowed the inquiry down to two issues. (7) Was the condition of the wicket as seen by Collins and Hiddlestone, caused by some application of water by some person unknown? or (2) If not by what means was it caused? In the first place there is no doubt in the minds of members of the committee that Collins and Hiddleston gave an absolutely honest description of the condition of the wicket, as viewed by them, and without knowledge of local conditions. Their conclusion that the wicket had been watered was a reasonable one. Having arrived .at this conclusion Collins should have reported the position to Vagg, who lives on the ground or to some official of the Canterbury Cricket Association, when the matter could have investigated at once. The reason given by Collins why he did not take this obvious and reasonable course is that “he was so annoyed that he lost his head,” and further that “he admitted he made a fool of himself.” The committee sees no reason to disagree with Collins on the point . . . The fact that Messrs Du Feu and Marker with their years of local experience have made the same mistake, as have Collins and Hiddlestone, shows both the practical certainty of the committee’s judgment being right and also the absolute honesty of the belief of Collins and Hiddlestone. The committee finds “That the conditions of the wicket as viewed by Collins and Hiddleston on the morning of Sunday, February 25, was caused by the groundsman rolling the wicket that morning, while the ground was wet with dew and that such rolling was quite in accordance with the local custom.”