CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 23026, 21 October 1936, Page 11

CRICKET

MARYLEBONE TEAM’S TOUR ITINERARY ANNOUNCED (United Press Association.) Christchurch, October 20. The itinerary of the Marylebone cricket team’s New Zealand tour was announced officially by the New Zealand Cricket Council this evening as follows:— March 13.—Leave Sydney by the Wanganella. March 17.—Arrive at Wellington. March 19, 20 and 22.—v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. March 24, 25 and 27.—v. Wellington, at Wellington. March 28.—Leave Wellington 7.15 p.m., arriving at Frankton at 6.59 a.m. March 29.—Leave Frankton at 7.29 a.m., arriving at Rotorua at 11.40 a.m. March 30.—Leave Rotorua at 4.30 p.m., arriving at Auckland at 10.45 p.m. March 31, April 1 and 2—Auckland, at Auckland. April 3.—Leave Auckland by the Mariposa. ITINERARY OF ENGLISH TEAM CRITICIZED. (United Press Association.) Wellington, October 20. “The New Zealand Cricket Council is making an awful mistake,” said Mr C. W. D. Bell at, a meeting of the management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association, when referring to the proposed itinerary for the English cricket team, which will play matches against Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland, but none against New Zealand. “It gives more players a chance to show their wares against the visitors,” said Mr J. E. Banks. Mr Bell pointed out the attractiveness of such a fixture to the public and the effect this would have on the financial result. Another speaker said that the fact that it would be an English team would be enough and the public would go to see it all right.

Otago’s Protest

OMISSION FROM TOUR (United Press Association.) Dunedin, October 20. A strong protest against the action of the New Zealand Cricket Council in failing to include Otago in ' the New Zealand itinerary of the Marylebone cricket team was made this evening at a special meeting of the committee of the Otago Cricket Association, which was called to consider the possibility of the list of fixtures being amended, to allow a match to be played in Dunedin. Mr A. H. Allen was chairman.

Mr Allen said that according to the tentative arrangements made by the council, the team would not come further south than Christchurch, but he suggested that an alternative itinerary could be drawn up, so that the team could come by way of Bluff, calling on the way at Milford Sound. This would give both Southland and Otago an opportunity of meeting the Englishmen. He felt that in bringing the matter forward Otago had a good case and he thought that every effort should be made to persuade the New Zealand Council to revise the itinerary. The following tentative itinerary was submitted by Mr E. J. Ferguson, who pointed out that if it were adopted both Otago and Southland would get a game:— March 10.—Leave Melbourne. March 14. —Arrive Bluff. March 15 and 16.—v. Southland. March 18, 19 and 20.—v. Otago. March 24, 25, 26 and 27.—v. Wellington.

March 28 to 30.—Visit Rotorua. March 31, April 1 and 2.—v. Auckland. _ ..... Mr Ferguson pointed out that if this suggestion were adopted, the visiting team would be saved the trip from Melbourne to Sydney and double the journey between Auckland and Christchurch, about 1000 miles of unnecessary travelling. He could not see why Canterbury could not do without a match for once, more especially as Otago had been consistently missed out from these tours. It was difficult to understand the council’s action in the present instance, for there was a big cricketing public in Dunedin, and, as a matter of fact, the attendance at the last Marylebone match played in Dunedin was greater than at Christchurch. The secretary of the association (Mr E. S. Wilson) expressed the opinion that the council should take a broader outlook, than it had been doing. Otago had been left out of these tours time and time again. Mr J. A. Dunning-said that he did not think that the Southland match should be emphasized. It was not at all likely that the visitors would play four matches in New Zealand. Therefore the association should advocate a game for Otago and two games in three of the northern centres. This would give the team time for rest and an opportunity of viewing the scenic beauties of Otago, in addition to Milford Sound. It was a striking fact that in recent years seven games against visiting teams had been played in Auckland and three in Otago, and Canterbury and Wellington had had at least six matches each. It was decided to write to the New Zealand Council suggesting that the visiting team should come by way of Bluff and pointing out that if this course were adopted a game could be played in Dunedin and the visitors would be saved 1000 miles of travelling and would be given an opportunity of visiting the southern lakes. THE SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION ALL MATCHES TO START ON OCTOBER 31 The executive of the Southland Cricket Association last evening decided that all grades of its competitions shall start on October 31. The decision to start junior grades on October 24 was rescinded, the difficulty of getting wickets ready being emphasized. It was stated that players did not seem eager to begin at Labour Day weekend. It was decided that first grade and junior A fixtures should be two-day matches, and that Junior B and third grade matches should be of one-day. Times for play in all matches except those in which teams from the Bluff Cltib were playing were fixed at 1.45 to 6.30 p.m. It was stated that many matches last season were very late in starting and that much time was wasted i between innings and in tea adjournments. It was decided that there should be a 10-minutes tea adjournment, and the secretary was decided to ask umpires to enforce all time rules. Selectors to be Appointed.

The chairman (Mr H. Grace) advised members that he would ask them

to discuss the appointment of senior and junior representative selectors at the next meeting. M. Collins was granted a transfer from the Union Club to Marist. The proposal to reform Queen’s Park as a cricket ground was discussed in committee. A motion was passed confirming a decision to ask the Invercargill City Council for full details of the suggested scheme. A letter was received from the Upper Clutha Association asking what advantages there would be to it in affiliation with the Southland Association. It was decided that it was hoped to send a team to Invercargill for a match again this season. It was suggested that the Upper Clutha district was in Otago’s territory, and members thought that the position should be discussed through the Otago Association. The secretary was instructed to advise the Upper Clutha Association of the executive’s attitude. M.C.C. Team’s Visit. Advice that the Management Committee of tire New Zealand Cricket Council was giving consideration to the Southland Association’s suggestion that the M.C.C. team should arrive in New Zealand via Milford Sound and Bluff and that it should play a one-day match in Invercargill was contained in a letter from the secretary of the council (Mr W. H. Winsor). The secretary of The Southland Progress League wrote stating that the league had supported the association’s efforts in this direction and that a letter expressing that support had been sent to the New Zealand Cricket Council. “The call at Milford Sound has been particularly stressed,” the letter stated, “for it would undoubtedly make a pleasant break for the touring team and at the same time, it would be a good advertisement for New Zealand scenery.” One result of the Hon Adam Hamilton’s interest in this subject was contained in a letter which he forwarded from the general manager of the Tourist Department (Mr L. J. Schmitt). The Christchurch district manager had sent a copy of the itinerary originally scheduled for the M.C.C. team’s tour of New Zealand, Mr Schmitt stated. It was mentioned, however, that there was a possibility of that being altered. Mr Schmitt added that he was writing to the Australian office of the department to see if anything could be done in the direction suggested by the Southland Association. “You never know your luck,” remarked a member. The chairman: There is nothing to give us undue hope, but it is possible that our suggestion will be adopted. The meeting was attended by Messrs H. Grace (chairman), G. Agnew, R. Taylor, T. W. Baker, C. C. Harris, G. M. Broughton, A. McCarthy, J. S. Brass and Dr G. H. Uttley.