CRICKET MATTERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12617, 30 November 1926, Page 11

CRICKET MATTERS

SOIL FOR WICKETS OTAGO’S CHRISTMAS VISIT WHAT HAPPENS AT CHRISTCHURCH? The management committee of tho Wellington Cricket Association mfet last evening, present—Messrs G. G. Wilson (chairman), H. McGirr, H. J. Buck, A. Ronoldson, R. S. Johnston, D. McKenzie, G. Drummond, W. R. Bock, W. J. R. Ohristopherson, and the secretary, Mr A. Varney The umpires for the cricket match at the Basin Reserve to-day, Wellington v. ManawatU, will he Messrs P. Bevan and W. Twomath. The match ljegins at 10 a.m. The teams will be entertained to tea, and the visitors will leave by the limited express in tho oVenirtg*. Otago Crfcket association wrote asking that four umpires be nominated for tho match Wellington v. Otago on December 25th, 27tli and 28th, The Otagio team Would leave Dunedin on Thursday, December 23rd. The question of nominating umpires was referred to the Umpires* Association, which meets on Wednesday evening. MASTERTON SOIL. Mr Buck said the committee had had an interview with Mr Brewer on the subject of the soil from Masterton, with which it is proposed to top-dress at the Basin Reserve. They had a sample of tho row material and the finished article. Tho former was of a gray colour, and the latter had the appearance of a light, fine pumice. Mr Buck explained that the hard piece, although like stone, had not been subjected to elaborate treatment. It had only been worked with tho hands, and had not been submitted to pressure, and they were quite satisfied that they would bo able tb grow a grass crop on ft. The chairman*. You would wonder how grata! would grow on that. The committee also reported that the main scoring board required renovating. This matter was left In the hands of the championship committee. Subsequently Mr Buck informed a "Times’* representative that if there was enough of tbe Masterton noil it would be used for all tho wickets. CONSERVE THE WICKETS. Mr Buck said tho committee desired players to take notice that the wickets should be taken as much care of as possible. When fielding u ball at practice, which went on to the wickets inside the ropes, the man fielding the ball should get off tho wicket and outside the ropes, and not turn round two or three times on the wicket before throwing in tile boll. An intimation to this effect had been sent to clubs ond to Messrs Badcock and Brewer, HUTT GROUND. n* g»tt District gyb Wftote tjfcftt jx

had forwarded the complaint of the association regarding the state of the Hutt ground to the reserves committee, bidding that they considered the complaint justified, and asking the committee to take such action as would assure satisfactory wickets in future. They had been informed that everything l possible would be done to secure the desired result. MORE INFORMATION WANTED. Mr Buck asked if any reply had been received from the Nett Zealand Cricket Council on the subject of whether country players were expected to pay their owh expenses in the Junior Association's match to be played on December 21st and 22nd. This match was proposed to enable the selectors to sfee the best talent available in the minor associations in view of the team to be selected to go to England. Mr Varney said he wrote to the secretary to the New Zealand Council last Tuesday, but had received no reply. He supposed they would have to wait until they had a meeting. Mr Buck §aid ho did not think they should haVe to Wait for information until they had a meeting. The facts as published in the press Were at variance with the ter lo ® or the original arrangement. After correspondence on tile subject had been read, Mr Buck Bftid they wore getting information through the press which should come to them first hand. It opened Up a wider question as to whether they should not be kept better informed of the doings of the New Zealand Council, and Whether copies of the minutes of meetings should hot bo forwarded. It was quite wrong that they should have to look for such informa, tion to the press. They were also in the dark as to tile South Australian tour, although they would like to know the position fto ub to make preparations. They saw in the press that the South Australian team was a good representative side prepared to make the trip, and the committee could very easily be taken into the confidence of the council in matters of that kind so that they might know a little more about what was going on. They were the last possible people—being away from Christchurch —to get to know things which were of the utmost importance to the game He moved that a request be made to the'council to forward minutes of each meeting to affiliated associations! within one week of the meeting. Mr D. McKenzie seconded the motion, saying it was desirable that they should know what was going on. Mr Varney said the Now Zealand Football Association sent copies of minutes of their meetings to esch of the affiliated associations a. few days following the meeting. REVISED FIXTURES DECEMBER Ith and ilth.< Retoae v. Hutt, at Betone. Thftfftdon y. Kilbirnie, at Kilbirnie. Midland v. Wellington, at Hutt. Old Boys v. Institute, Basin Reserve, No. t. 'Varsity v. Y.M.C.A., Basin Reserve, No. 1.