FOR BIG CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 600, 2 November 1932, Page 11

FOR BIG CRICKET.

Promising Young Bowlers Tried Out. INTENSIVE COACHING. Promising bowlers selected from a number of city cricket clubs will shortly undergo a course of intensive training. In a report to the Canterbury Cricket Association, the coach, Mr A. W. Thomas, states: “In my opinion there are a large number

die CL IdlgC IIUiUUCI ■ of young cricketers I who, with consisI tent practice and V coaching, will deI velop into first-class | bowlers. 1 visited j the eight senior I clubs and made it I my first duty to I get to know the * players. I marked each pitch with a k ring in whitewash with the object of getting bowlers to

make length and direction the first consideration. “ I found few of the bowlers with a correct knowledge of how to hold the ball, and am gradually making a distinct improvement in this direction. I found players who were not considered bowlers having possibilities of making good bowlers.

“I am now on my second round of visits to the clubs and I have selected a number of promising bowlers from four of the clubs who will receive intensive coaching next week. I have still to select the best bowlers from the other four clubs and hope to have this selection made next week. This would have been completed but for the bad weather.

“I propose to coach these speciallyselected bowlers at one net on their own club’s grounds, so that batsnven will have the advantage of batting against improved bowling. I consider that in two weeks’ time I shall have at least forty promising bowlers under special tuition. Lectures or talks in the pavilion on wet nights have not been a success so far, because the players do not attend; but I found that dozens of bowlers have come to me at all times of the day and ask*ed my advice on cricket generally. This awakened personal interest should react to the good of the game. With regard to primary school boys, arrangements have been made for the boys to attend at Hagley Park and Lancaster Park two afternoons of each week, starting on November 7.” Matches Arranged. The Canterbury Cricket Association met last evening, Mr W. L. King presiding. The Otago Association confirmed February 3,4, 6 and 7 as the dates for the Plunket Shield match at Dunedin. The Canterbury Umpires’ Association wrote disapproving of the suggestion to form a New Zealand umpires’ association. It was decided to send on the suggestion at the request of the Suburban Association, to the New Zealand Council with the reply of the Canterbury umpires. A request for a team to play the West Coast at Greymouth was received and a sub-committee was set up to go into the subject, the name of Mr C. T. Rix being mentioned as likely to arrange for a team. The West Coast Association suggested Christmas or New Year as the most suitable time. Any team would be heartily welcomed. Cricket was well on the way to becoming popular on the Coast. “ One of the most important steps has been the setting up of an Advisory Committee which will give pi'actical advice on any matters relating to sports grounds,” read an extract from a letter from the Canterbury Greenkeepers’ Association. It was decided to thank the association for the letter and congratulate it on the success ,of its efforts. Umpires Appointed. The following umpires will control the cricket matches on Saturday:— First Grade—Riccarton v. West Christchurch, Hagley No. 1, Messrs R. Coleman and P._ D. Mansell; Sydenham v. St Albans, Hagley No. 2, Messrs T. Burgess and R. Buchanan; Old Boys v. Lancaster Park, Lancaster Park No. 1, Messrs C. Miln and J. Forrester; Old Collegians v. Fast Christchurch, Rugby Park, Messrs H. E. Lawrence and M. O’Malley. Second Grade—West Christchurch v. Old Collegians, Elmwood No. 1, Messrs C. Donaldson and A. King; St Albans v. Old Boys A, Hagley No. 3, Messrs J. M’Guinness and F. Lightfoot; Lancaster v. Sydenham, Sydenham No. 1, Messrs T. Jamieson and R. Tucker; East Christchurch v. Old Boys B, Lancaster No. 3, Messrs P. Fleete and W. Gough. Boys’ Association. The seventh round of matches is to take place in the Canterbury Boys' Cricket Association’s competition on Saturday, the draw being as follows: First Grade—Boys’ High School v. St Bede’s College, Straven Road No. 4; Christ’s College v. West Christchurch, Christ’s College No. 5; Cathedral Grammar School v. Technical College, Ensor’s Road N 6. 2. Second Grade—B.H.S. v. Technical B, B.H.S. win by default; Technical A v. St Andrew’s, St Andrew’s No. 3; New Brighton v. Christ’s College, Christ’s No. 6. Third Grade—B.H.S. v. Technical, Ensor’s Road No. 3: West Christchurch v. St Bede’s, St B’ede’s No. 2; Christ’s College v. St Andrew’s, St Andrew’s No. 4. Fourth Grade—B.H.S. v. Christ’s College B > Chest’s No. 8; Technical A v. Christ’s A, Ensor’s Road No. 4; West Christchurch v. Technical B, West Christchurch win by default. Fifth Grade—West Christchurch v. Technical. Ensor’s Road No. 5; B.H.S. v. Christ’s College, Straven Road No. 5; Cathedral Grammar v. St Bede’s, St Bede’s No. 3; Medbury a bye. Sixth Grade—Christ’s College v St Andrew’s, Christ’s No. 10; West Christchurch v. B.H.S. B, Straven Road No. 6; B.H.S. A v. St Bede’s, Straven Road No. 7; Technical v. St Mark’s, Ensor's Road No. 6.