Decline in Cricket.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 955, 27 December 1933, Page 6

Decline in Cricket.

Dear Sir,—After attending the three days of the Plunket Shield match at Lancaster Park I am forced to ask the question: “Is cricket in Canterbury on the decline?’’ Undoubtedly the worst feature of the home team’s game was the fielding. There were occasional glimpses of past brilliance, but muffed catches and fumbling in the field made an unpleasant anti-climax. For instance, when Smith was fielding in the Otago second innings, he made one brilliant catch but let two easy balls through without excuse, all in a few minutes. I seem to remember that the Canterbury Cricket Association in its last annual report urged the importance of fielding on the part of the representative team. Has no notice been taken of this excellent advice? The poor attendances at the match show how tired the public are of such exhibitions f>i hopeless ineptitude. The remedy seems to be for Canterbury to secure a Badcock, for that is the secret of Otago’s success. I like the game. I don't want to see it die. but I don't like the way it is played in Christchurch, and if an improvement is unpossible, it would be as well for the game to die.—l am, etc., 1 BUCK UP CANTERBURY.