SIGHT SCREENS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 22

SIGHT SCREENS

AT KELBURN PARK

VALUE OF BOUNDARY SHOTS

The question of sight screens, brought to the notice of the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association by the Institute Club at a recent meeting, is a very important one. On certain grounds in Wellington the use of a sight screen for senior matches, at least, is necessary, and the ground that Institute made particular reference to—Kelburn Park—is one of these.

At the northern end of the park spectators gather on what is for them a very convenient bank, almost directly in line with the batsmen facing the bowling from that end. There is a certain amount of shifting around, and this in addition to people passing on the path continually, makes matters very disconcerting to the batsmen, to say the least.

But it must not be thought that the management committee does not realise that conditions at Kelburn are by no means the best for the staging of senior matches. It does not like the idea of senior teams playing there at all as a matter of fact, but at times it cannot be avoided.

Mr. J. H. Phillipps (chairman) and Mr. A. Ronaldson already have a visit to Kelburn Park in store for them— the outcome of which will probably result in a much better arrangement regarding the value of boundary shots there. s"or some considerable time it has been realised that the Kelburn Park boundaries are easy, much easier, in fact, and sometimes worth more, than the boundaries at the Basin Reserve; a state of affairs that gives the team batting at Kelburn a very definite advantage over an opposing team that bats at the Basin Reserve. However, a letter from the Umpires' Association brought matters to a head, and something is to be done to bring about a more equitable and satisfactory position.

Nor is the sight screen business going to be forgotten. A suggestion has already been made that a white trellis screen at Kelburn Park would just about fill requirements, and, possibly if nothing eventuates this season, then before the start df next season something will be done. At the present moment sight screens for senior matches are provided at only Karori Park and the Hutt Rrecreation Ground.