THE COMING SEASON

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 84, 6 October 1931, Page 13

THE COMING SEASON

MAKING PREPARATIONS With the approach of the 1031-32 cricket season, local clubs are busy watching their interests with regard to securing adequate practice wickets, and this was one matter that came in for a considerable amount of discussion at the weekly meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association last evening, at which Mr. W. P. Broad presided over a full attendance of members. In connection with the practice wickets at the Basin Reserve, it was stated by the secretary (Mr. A. Varney) that, an assurance had been obtained from the Director of Parks and Reserves tha,t every endeavour would be made to briiig the pitches up to requirements. It was also reported that the caretaker of the ground hud stated that the wickets would probably be better this year than last, as the top-dressing .had been done in the autumn instead of in the spring as in the past. In addition' to the four senior clubs which will have the use of training facilities at the Basin, there will be wickets for the Railway and Marist Clubs and for the coaching of colts and the practising of the representative team. The practice wickets at the Basin Reserve will not be available until 15th October. The season is to open on the following Monday."- ' The Karori Club made an application to have a practice wicket up to junior A requirements prepared at Karori Park, and the matter was left to be discussed with the Director of Parks and Reserves.' The club stated that with a little preparation a senior A wicket could be secured on the park. Mr. L. J. Bra bin remarked that Karori was apparently trying to arouse local interest, as was evident in the Kilbirnie Club, for instance, and he thought they should, be eticouraged as much as possible. NUMBER OF ENTRIES. The same-eight senior teams—Midland, Wellington, Institute, Wellington College Old Boys, Kilbirnie, University, Petone, and Hutt—have entered teams for this year* competitions, aud-up till last night 57 entries had been received for the junior grades'. Entries have yet to be received from, the Seatouh Club. \ . On bthalf of the junior grades committee, Mr. L. J. Brabin sought a lead from the meeting with regard to the, application* from' Wellington College and the Pbrirua Club to compete in the junior A grade. It was decided to ascertain whether the college eleven would con-' tinue to play duriug the vacation. The Pofirua Club is to be informed that, as the clab has only one team, ita application, cbuld not be acceded to, as) It was advisable for the senior clubs to have their second elevens playing in the junior A BIENNIAL CONFERENCE. Mr. W. P. Broad was appointed to represent the Wellington Cricket Association at the biennial conference of delegates at Christchurch on 10th and 11th November. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Association is to be belli on the second day. The secretary reported that the use Ot the- Basin Deserve had been secured

during the Christmas holidays in view of the prospects of the Plunket Shield match against Auckland being played then. The honorary treasurer, Jlr. W. J. 1\Christophcrsen, submitted a proposal with regard to framing a bylaw to cover the obligations of clubs in connection with the dues to' the association and other charges, and the matter was held over for further consideration. . . Mr. W. A. Aldersley sought a definite ruling as to when third grade teams, whose matches are one-day fixtures, could declare their inuings closed, and the chairman replied that the proviso regarding the senior und junior grades did not apply to the third grade, which was governed by the M.C.C. .rules relating to one-day matches. In reply to Mr. W. A. Duncan, MiBroad said that the larger wickets would not be used locally in club matches. TWO M.C.C. RULINGS. The New Zealand Cricket Council' advised the association of two rulings passed by the M.C.C. committee on lath June last, only one of which applied locally, the other being expressly for first-class and minor county matches. It. allowed an umpire to give a batsman out "leg before wicket" if he stopped a ball with part of his body after having snicked it, providing the ball would have hit the wicket had it not been so obstructed. The ruling of interest to New Zealand cricket made more clear the rule which had been in force for some time regarding a bail being shifted out of its position but not totally dislodged from' the top of the stumps. This was the rule that was brought home to the local cricketing public with something of a shock in the season before last when Dempster was given out under its terms while playiug against the M.C.C. team. ' . Ths M.C.C. Committee has decided "that the umpire would be justified in ruling that part of the bail had been struck off if, as a result of. the wicket being struck, part of either bail has been disturbed from its original position on the top of the stump." The chairman remarked that although the intended meaning was quite plain, the rule, it interpreted literally, would require the umpire to inspect the bails before each ball was bowled. , , ~ Mr. J. S. Hanna asked ■ whether it would be possible to arrange a match with the New' Zealand team on its arrival back from England, but the chairman pointed out that it would be arriving at 4uckland, and there was-no possibility of the Auckland players being brought down to Wellington to play a special match.