Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review October 1911

Cricket Club

page 71

Cricket Club

In the writing of Club reports it seems to be the custom to sound the note of careless optimism. This is, no doubt, in many ways an admirable thing; but the question naturally presents itself, is it always justified? The history and the condition of many clubs suggest forcibly to the writer the necessity of ceasing this bland optimism, this sleek self-satisfaction, and facing the very real obstacle that is arising to bar the forward march of all athletic clubs.

On 24th December, 1909, "An Act to make better provision for the internal defence of New Zealand" came into force. To this Act, and its amendment in 1910, we in New Zealand are subject; and it is the death-blow, which this Act is even now dealing to sport in the colony, that we must guard ourselves against. It is not the writer's purpose to question the wisdom and intelligence of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand. That, in him, would be gross impertinence. Nor is it his purpose to discuss the, question of colonial defence; but it is his aim to place before those interested in cricket the imminent danger which threatens the very existence of the "King of Games."

The position, most simply stated, is this. If the Defence Act and the regulations made there under are strictly carried out, then in twenty years cricket, so far as New Zealand is concerned, will be a thing of the past. This may seem an over-statement, but, in fact, it is barely the sad, literal truth. Cricket is a game that calls for the perfection of physical and mental condition, and of mechanical accomplishment. Perfect physical and mental health, without a large degree of mechanical skill, will avail a cricketer nothing. It is true, the cricketer is born, but it is also true that without a long course of training, he will never attain to any degree of perfection in even the mechanical side of the game. Practice keen, assiduous and continuous, will produce the cricketer, but nothing else in this world will. Already in New Zealand with out short summer, conditions are sufficiently adverse to cricket, but what will be the position under the state of affairs consequent upon the Defence Act? All males between the ages of 14 and 25 are to be trained. The training regulations have been issued, and it is clear from them that, even if parades were to be held regularly throughout the year, nearly every other Saturday, and certainly every public holiday, would be devoted to drill. But the position is more serious even than this. There can be no reasonable doubt that the bulk of the military training will be done in the summer; and even then, if the drill were confined only to every other Saturday, this would still mean the death of cricket. This, as has been said, is not an over-statement, not a mere hyperbolical expression to heighten effect. Here is an example of the operation of the Defence Act. Some days ago the writer was informed by a member of a senior district club that no young players could be induced to play now, owing to the fact that consistent practice, let alone regular matches, was quite impossible for them under the Defence Act. And cricketers, the colony over, will, sooner or later, recognise the inevitable truth of this. This being so, here is the position. In twenty years those players who are now past the age for military training, will also be past the age for cricket. No young blood can arise to take their places. The Government has seen to that very effectually. And one is forced to the mournful conclusion that in twenty years we shall see no longer cricket, but the spasmodic struggles of a moribund sport.

The question of military training on one side, the Cricket Club has every reason to look forward to a most successful and interesting season. Numerically the club is stronger than it has ever been. The number and the quality of this season's new members is more than satisfactory. The enthusiasm shown by all would gladden the heart of a Job.

Financially—after all, every chain must have its weakest link. There is comfort in that. There is a very especial inducement this year for all players to make the first eleven their objective. Apart from the championship games, we fully expect to meet the other three University Colleges. A trip to Auckland at Christmas time has already been decided on, and every effort is being made to extend the trip to a fortnight's tour, to play, if possible, matches at Palmerston North, Marton, and Rotorua. An attempt was also made in the year to arrange a visit from the Sydney University Club. Negotiations, however, came to nothing. But the Sydney page 72 issued, and it is clear from them that, even if parades were to be held regularly throughout the year, nearly every other Saturday, and certainly every public holiday, would be devoted to drill. But the position is more serious even than this. There can be no reasonable doubt that the bulk of the military training will be done in the summer; and even then, if the drill were confined only to every other Saturday, this would still mean the death of cricket. This, as has been said, is not an over-statement, not a mere hyperbolical expression to heighten effect. Here is an example of the operation of the Defence Act. Some days ago the writer was informed by a member of a senior district club that no young players could be induced to play now, owing to the fact that consistent practice, let alone regular matches, was quite impossible for them under the Defence Act. And cricketers, the colony over, will, sooner or later, recognise the inevitable truth of this. This being so, here is the position. In twenty years those players who are now past the age for military training, will also be past the age for cricket. No young blood can arise to take their places. The Government has seen to that very effectually. And one is forced to the mournful conclusion that in twenty years we shall see no longer cricket, but the spasmodic struggles of a moribund sport.

The question of military training on one side, the Cricket Club has every reason to look forward to a most successful and interesting season. Numerically the club is stronger than it has ever been. The number and the quality of this season's new members is more than satisfactory. The enthusiasm shown by all would gladden the heart of a Job.

Financially—after all, every chain must have its weakest link. There is comfort in that. There is a very especial inducement this year for all players to make the first eleven their objective. Apart from the championship games, we fully expect to meet the other three University Colleges. A trip to Auckland at Christmas time has already been decided on, and every effort is being made to extend the trip to a fortnight's tour, to play, if possible, matches at Palmerston North, Marton, and Rotorua. An attempt was also made in the year to arrange a visit from the Sydney University Club. Negotiations, however, came to nothing. But the Sydney page 73 University Club has stated its willingness, favourably, to consider a tour in January, 1913, and no object can be seen in the way of their visit at that date, Altogether, apart from the military ogre, things promise more than well for us this year. Undergraduates maywell sally forth with confidence in their hearts to court the favour of the gods on the Campus Martius.

P. B. Broad.

Hon. Sec. V.C.C.C.