CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24418, 2 October 1940, Page 9

CRICKET

OTAGO ASSOCIATION SEASON OPENS ON OCT. 19 TWO-DAY FIRST GRADE MATCHES The first meeting of 'he 1940-41 Management Committee of the Otago Cricket Association, over which Mr F. N. Binney presided last evening, decided that two-day cricket will be played in the First Grade during the coming season, and that all other grades will play one-day matches. This decision was in accord with the recommendation to the committee carried by the annual meeting of the association.

The motion to that effect was moved by Mr W. A. Rowland, who said that conditions during the war had to be framed to provide as much cricket s possible for all players. ft was necessary that the competitive spirit should be maintained.

The seconder of the motion was Mr L. J. Groves.

The difficulty that would be faced by clubs, Mr V. S. Armitage said, was to know from time to time how their teams were gome to be constituted. Probably nany players would have their season marred by military duties. “ Our job primarily is to see that cricketers enjoy their cricket,” he said, and he suggested that it might be wise to abandon competitive cricket, with championships as prizes, and arrange a fixture programme on a friendly basis. One-day matches would give all players a “ fair go,” for the duration cf war. A letter from the North-East Valley Club protesting against the proposal to restrict all grades other than First Grade to one-day matches and submitting that if First Grade matches were to be of two days there was no reason why the Intermediate and Second Grades should not also be of two, days, was supported by Mr T. Hughes. He said he could sec no reason whatever to differentiate at any rate between First and Intermediate Grades. There was no further discussion, and the motion was carried with only one or two voices against it. Plunket Shield The meeting was unanimous in the opinion that Plunket Shield matches should not be played this season, and it was decided, on the motion of Messrs A. G. Valentine and J. A. Robson, to recommend to the New Zealand Cricket Council that the programme be. held in abeyance for this season, but not necessarily for the duration of the war. Along with this recommendation, it was decided to suggest that the council should approve of the playihg of home-and-home matches between the major associations in the respective islands. — The secretary was instructed to open negotiations with the Canterbury Associatibn for home-and-away Otago-Can-terbury matches. Season Begins on October 19 It was decided that grade matches shall sart on October 18 and that October 14 shall be the closing date for entries. Consideration of this subject prompted Mr Valentine to point out that some clubs were well behind with their fees, particularly with their contributions to the Endowment Fund. One club, in fact, was two years behind without any explanation. This state of affairs was not fair to the clubs which did meet their obligations. The meeting decided that clubs in default should be asked to explain their positions and submit reasons why their entries should not be refused. Match With Southland A suggestion from the Southland Association that the Labour Day date' was too early in the season for the Otago-Southland match at Invercargill was received favourably and the opinion was expressed that the match should be of two days instead of one day. as has been the custom for the past few vears. It was decided to advise the Southland Association of this opinion and to express to it the hope that it will be possible to arrange a two-days’ match at a more suitable stage of the season than the Labour Day week-end. Country Week Although it was pointed out that there were many difficulties to the organising of a successful Country Week tournament, it was decided to ask the sub-unions for their opinions on this subject. Representative Selector The appointment of a representative selector or selection committee was discussed and a motion that a sole selector be appointed was successful against an amendment that there be a selection committee of three. There was only one nomination, that of Mr J. M. McMullan, and he was appointed. Team Withdrawn Losses of members to the military services was put forward by the Caversham Enterprise Club as the reason for the withdrawal of its team from the Second Grade B competition this season. The withdrawal was accepted and sympathy was expressed with the Enterprise Club. Sub-committees

Sub-committees were appointed as follows; Grade.—Messrs Rowland, Armitage Hughes, Downes and Holden.

Grounds.—Messrs Robson (convener), Hayes and Ferguson. Coaching.—Messrs McMullan (convener), Austin, Groves and McClymont Finance. —Messrs Valentine (convener). Allen, Brinsley, Solomon, Kerr, Kennedy, Gaylor, Harvey and Armitage.

Emergency Committee.—Messrs Binney. Gaylor. Holden, Austin, Harvey and the conveners of the other committees.