CRICKETS’ POPULARITY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 11

CRICKETS’ POPULARITY

MANY NEW CLUBS FORMED MUSHROOM GROWTH IN TARANAKI. RESULT OF TEST BROADCASTS. With mushroom-like rapidity, cricket clubs have sprung up all over Taranaki and retired representative players,, “hasbeens” and young hopefuls are taking up the game with renewed enthusiasm and vigour. Small settlements, scattered districts, and in some cases factory staffs have set in train arrangements for the formation of new clubs. At no time in the history of Taranaki cricket has there been a greater wave of enthusiasm than at present. This to a great extent has been attributed to the popularity of the realistic test cricket broadcasts from Australian stations. North Taranaki clubs have all reported Increased membership, while two clubs are experimenting with the introduction of extra sides into competitions. Inglewood has entered an extra team in the Thursday competition, while a new New Plymouth club, styling itself the Kiwis, has become affiliated. The country competitions have also shown increases. However, the phenomenal increase in interest has occurred in the small country districts, where teams have been formed for non-competition games. All along the coast new teams are I to be found, while inland at Frankley Road, Mangorei, Ratapiko, Wharehuia, Marco and other , districts enthusiasm is at its height. / At New Plymouth three women s teams will probably take the field this season. The fact that Taranaki holds the Hawke Cup plays no small part in stimulating interest. The commercial world has reaped considerable benefits from the added interest in the game. The demand for all classes of cricketing material from balls to matting has far exceeded that of previous years. The larger wickets have nbt met with a ready demand and dealers are stocking only a few sets to meet the requirements of the senior teams which will use them this season. “The demand for cricket gear this season has been greater than ever before,” said a New Plymouth sports dealer yesterday. “We are getting new business every day. Clubs are springing up all over the province and we are receiving large orders. Many of the newly-formed clubs are seeking quotations for matting and complete sets of bats, wickets, etc. The splendid test broadcasts have undoubtedly caused a wave of enthusiasm.”

“No sport has had a better advertisement than cricket,” said a prominent New Plymouth player yesterday. “The realistic manner the broadcasting stations presented the test cricket game has caught the public fancy. Men, women and children, who knew little and cared less about cricket have had their appetite whetted, and as a result we find clubs', man of a more or less private nature, coming into existence all over the countryside. I consider the -test broadcasts have come to stay, and Will be excelled in popularity only by the game itself.”