Two-Day Cricket Again This Season

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 October 1949, Page 2

Two-Day Cricket Again This Season

The respective remits of two-day and one-day club cricket provided a full and animated discussion at the annual general meeting of the Rangitikei Cricket Association on Monday night. There was a decided cleavage of opinion among delegates and after the meeting had considered a motion and two amendments it was finally decided by 16 votes to nine to play two-day cricket this season. Later in the meeting when it was pointed out that with seven teams two-day cricket did not permit of two full rounds, a motion that two-day cricket be played for the first round and one-day for the second, the starting time to be 10.30 a.m. for the latter, was carried by 15 votes to nine.

Thus cricket this season will be conducted on the same lines as last year.

Arguments brought forward at the meeting followed closely those already ventilated at the various annual meetings of the clubs. The Sanson Club supported one-day cricket with a morning start, pointing out that it was possible, with a bye in the competitions, for a player to miss four weeks’ cricket if he happened to be dropped for one game. Little cricket was possible sometimes on the second day and the delegate, Mr. S. Kent, asked whether the standard of cricket had improved last season with two-day matches. If a morning start was not favoured, Sanson supported one-day cricket, the hours of play to be frbm 1 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. The president, Mr. N. V. Rix-Trott, assured Mr. Kent that last season there was a definite improvement in the standard of club cricket.

Speaking on behalf of the Hunterville Club, Mr. C. Wood favoured twoday cricket for the first round and one-day for the second, with a 10.30 a.m. start for the latter. Mr. W. Sanders (Marton) said his club favoured one-day cricket, from 1 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. He considered it made for more enjoyable cricket. “Looking over the representative averages it appears as though our players did not show the desired improvement,” said Mr. A. B. Marshall (Porewa) in opening the case for twoday cricket. He pointed out, however, that only two representative games had been played and it was unfair to judge the performance of the team on such a small number of games. He had noticed an improvement in club cricket last season, especially towards the end of the season. In one-day games it was not always possible for all players to secure a bat, whereas it was -in two-day games. Mr. Marshall contended that it was not a .game of cricket if the match was decided on one innings. Mr. Marshall then moved that twoday club games be played during the season. His motion was seconded by Mr. J. M. Grant.

Old Boys favoured one-day cricket from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., with a r?ght to play to 6.30 p.m., said Mr. B. Klitscher.

Mr. D. Timmins said High School supported two-day cricket and failing that a one-day game from 10.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Suburbs also supported two-day cricket, said Mr. A. Smith. Marton would be unable to field a team if it was necessary to start play in the morning, said Mr. W. B. Tidy. His team was composed of several farmers who could not spare the time to play in the morning, at least not until after Christmas.

Porewa would be in the same position, said Mr. M. Marshall. Mr. J. Harris (Sanson) pointed out that his club contained many farmers who had no trouble in being ready to take the field at 11 a.m. for their Sunday games. “I don’t see why they cannot be ready to play in the morning,” said Mr. Harris.

Both Mr. M. Marshall and Mr. Tidy pointed out to Mr. Harris that whereas a farmer could get off early to play Sunday cricket, it was not possible on a Saturday. Most, farmers employed labour and Saturday was a working day. Very often it was necessary to work on a Sunday to make up for time taken off for Saturday’s cricket.

Mr. Harris then moved an amendment that one-day cricket be played from 10.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. N. Darvill (Hunterville). On being put to the meeting it was lost on the voices. A further amendment was then moved by Mr. Tidy that one-day cricket be played from 1 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. This was lost by 15 votes to 12. The discussion then returned to the original motion of two-day cricket and when put to the meeting was carried by 16 votes to nine.

Closing the discussion, the president said he was sorry that there was a divided opinion among clubs and that the decision had not been unanimous. At a later stage of the meeting the number of available Saturdays for club cricket was discussed and it was stated that with seven teams, two-day games did not permit of a full two rounds. It was moved by Mr. C. Wood and seconded by Mr. Sanders, that two-day cricket be played for the first round and one-day for the second round, play to begin at 10.30 a.m. for the one-day games. Mr. Smith suggested that one-day games be played in the first round and two-day in the second, as teams would be in better form to last twodays later in the season. After further discussion the motion was put to the meeting and carried by 15 votes to nine. PERSONAL Mr N. V. Rix-Trott was re-elect % president of the Rangitikei Cricket Association at the annual meeting in Marton on Monday ight.