Kassem Ibadulla makes debut for Southland cricket in 1983.........

Kassem Ibadulla

It is 1983 and the first game for Southland cricket against Metropolitan in Dunedin.
This was a good lead up to the Hawke Cup and Southland looked in good shape to win it.  The selectors overlooked Peter Skelt, Roger Verall and Neil McArthur, with the former player being the unluckiest as he has been one of the inform batsman for Southland.

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The selection was interesting with Reece Pewhairangi and Norris Tait being included for bowlers and Ross Murdoch as a batsman.  Lynn McConnell said that Kassem Ibadulla's selection was never in doubt, while Peter Domigan, in the absence of Brendan Ward, had the chance to cement a more permanent place in the team.  
It looked like the selectors were looking for strength in the batting and that is why they had gone for the likes of; Garth Dawson, Richard Hoskin, Kevin Burns, Steve Harrop, John Lindsay, Ross Murdoch, Brendan Ward and John Lindsay.
In the club scene, Old Boys were looking to take outright points, after dismissing Gore for 64 runs, it is 77 in front with eight wickets in hand.
McConnell reported that there had been a great upsurge in the number of young players  with a record 66 teams, up 22 from 1982.
This meant that there were 726 players registered. With the influx of players, a demand was put on coaches and some of those that put their hands up were;
Denis Murcott, John Petre, Peter Howarth, Neville Hoskin, Ron Cardno, Phillip Mahoney and Owen Ramsay.  

Reference:  McConnell, L. First Game For Southland On Sunday.  The Southland                           Times November 1983.