CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 22454, 26 September 1936, Page 11

CRICKET

f OTAGO ASSOCIATION’S YEAR The annual report of the Otago Cricket Association, to be presented at the annual meeting, states, inter alia:— The committee regrets that the past season was not as successful as it desired, though it was a very important season in many ways. The weather was not as settled as the previous year, and consequently matches were at times interfered with. It is, however, pleasing to report that a keenness in the game was shown by both players and patrons, and that several young players showed distinct promise. There are a number of young players coming on • who should make their names in Otago cricket in the near future. An important event in the past season was the visit of the M.C.C. team. Unfortunately, the dates granted to Otago were moat unsuitable to the association. Because of the holidays many patrons were out of town, and thi sfact considerably affected the attendances at the Otago match, and consequently the association suffered a rather severe financial loss. With the view to assisting cricket in the sub-association and minor association districts, several matches were arranged during the year, and the committee trusts these matches have been helpful to all cricketers in the various districts. Mr F. T. Badcock again carried out his duties as coach to the satisfaction of the Coach Committee and the association generally, and it is pleasing to note the vast improvement being shown by a number of young players, who should further develop and be a great help to Otago cricket in the future. Mr Badcock has another year ,of his engagement still to go, and it is hoped that several more young cricketers will be brought on through his efforts. The dearth of bowlers is still felt in Otago as well as elsewhere, and while the coach can perhaps help in this direction, it is necessary for young players who desire to become first-class bowlers, to practice assiduously and learn to cultivate a perfect length. Until a bowler can rely on bowling a perfect length, he cannot aspire to ever becoming a bowler. A great deal requires to be done to improve fielding; this is not really a matter for the coach, but each club should endeavour to improve its players in this department of the game. An important _ innovation regarding the Boys' Association is to be instituted in the forthcoming season. It has been felt that the need exists for a closer connection between the activities of the Boys’ Association and the Otago Cricket Association in order to retain the interest of players who leave secondary school or become too bid'to p'ay in + b,. present boys’ competitions. ' JVitfa. ibis end in view, a i

new grade for boys under 17, controlled by the Boys’ Association, is to be formed and named fourth grade. The present grades of the Boys’ Association are to be renamed fifth _ and sixth grades. By this _ means it is hoped to make progression from the boys’ competitions into the competitions under the control of the Otago Cricket Association a natural process, thus eliminating any leakage of players between the two associations. The committee-desires to congratulate Mr J. A. Dunning on winning the Wycherley bowling trophy, his consistent form throughout the season entitling him to the honour of holding this trophy. It is to he regretted that the association’s finance suffered a severe setback last season, principally owing to the loss incurred by the visit of the M.C.C. team, and the incoming committee will require to us© every effort to make up the lost ground. The committee trusts that those having the game of cricket at heart will rally round the . association _ and become ground members, as their help in this direction will be greatly appreciated.