‘Astounding’ decision

Press, 9 April 1979, Page 36

‘Astounding’ decision

“Astounding and unthinkable” was how Mr L. J. Knowles, the chairman of the Canterbury Cricket Association, described the decision of the New Zealand Cricket Council’s board of control not to allocate Christchurch a test match against the West Indies next season.

Mr Knowles said that he could appreciate Dunedin had not had a test for seven years and that Wellington missed last season. “But I’m amazed that the Cricket Council can schedule tests at the two venues when both were out for cricket last season. The pitches will be totally untried.” Christchurch and Napier have been placed on the standby list should either Wellington or Dunedin not prove suitable. “That is the unthinking part,” said Mr Knowles. “It is ridiculous to inform the Lancaster Park groundsman half way through the season to prepare a test pitch. I know the work on a test block in Christchurch starts in October,” he added.

“Historically, Lancaster Park and Eden Park (Auckland) have proved the best test pitches in the country.” Mr Knowles was astounded that there would be four tests in New Zealand next! season — three against the West Indies and one against England —• and that Christchurch would not receive one.

“Presumably gate takings was the reason for Christchurch missing out. Dunedin’s gate takings have previously been substandard and Wellington is usually about one third less than Christchurch,” he said. Mr Knowles said that Canterbury spectators faced a , bleak season of cricket with only 12 days of cricket at the park compared with 27 days two seasons ago. “I hope this decision will shatter an illusion that the Christchurch-based N.Z.C.C. is Canterbury biased. I don’t regard the decision final without further discussions and the Canterbury association will be pursuing the matter vigorously,’’ he said.