M.C.C. OR ENGLAND?

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 303, 23 December 1929, Page 16

M.C.C. OR ENGLAND?

The Marylebone Cricket Club has condom-

/ players. ton is very plainly put in an m by P. G. Fender, the Surmd an amateur), who played in 1921. Mr. Fender, writing ;t of selecting teams to repre1, states: — foremost I must say that I > no player for any reason icketing ability. 8 time one must remember ) while containing as much 'lity as possible, must also ther conditions required of \ side representing the > those who take the view eg a team to represent of amateur or not arise. - b in the' field, and I t the man who would ■"d say that our prove capable as any I England off the

* of the M.C.C. •em to consider club on tour ' amateurs. -'' interesting etween an <de. It is ■ce. No 'lat the jstralia talent n by anal ;hat inst /igr ,naan jp- £ a Wes i of full ve 'na i '

4 ImpsrtiTi>nce Jtlss Marco Crossbow . . Meitui ... . The remains programme is tl seven furlonps

, to jy a .o govern time, no .nation of all icket by the -al , 'shows the its in these days '.ompetition. In i decided that .gland shall be esentative of the ;ree from the re--ee it, hamper those , epresent the M.C.C. other great national tennis has the L.T.A.;

-i its' Football Association; Rugger its Rugger Union, and so on. All of them strong representative and impartial boards of control. Yet cricket remains under the arbitrary domination of a private club—the M.C.C. Can it be wondered at that Lancashire advise a change in the direction most other sports have already taken? Can it be wondered at that this proposal has, in spite of its rejection, wide and sincere support in first-class' cricket? It is said that this movement is stark Bolshevism. If that is so, then I fear I am a Bolshevist. It has my support, for what that may be worth. I am well aware that when Lancashire's proposal was brought forward it failed to find a seconder among the other counties. In my belief this was due to the fact that their alternative suggestion was not acceptable, and not to a desire that the old methods should be conUu.ugd, „ -

Choice of Teams For Cricket Tests—Where English Custom Diverges From Colonial Ideas—Control By a Club —England Holds to Tradition— The Challenge of a Democrat. The fact that the team of English cricketers, which opened a tour of New Zealand this week, does not contain players, such as Hobbs, Hammond, Larwood and Tate, who played against Australia last season, has caused persons recently from Britain to protest against the colonial newspapers designating the team "England." They would have it called "M.C.C. team," apparently unaware, or deeming the colonials ignorant of the fact, that the title "M.C.C. team" may be applied equally to the eleven that defeated Australia for the "Ashes." Herein cricket control in England differs from lawn tennis, Soccer football, Rugby football. Cricket is a monarchy in this respect, not a republic. During the past year the Lancashire County Cricket Club endeavoured without avail to have this system of control changed to one less autocratic.

It is dangerous to dethrone a king before you have someone acceptable to take his place. Lancashire's alternative pro-'--I for superseding the M.C.C. was not le. The whole movement failed 'uence. 1 the change is hound to 'Jand will send her own frill be selected only with ! ng in the field England's cricketing machine, tions with the Dominion! ray disturbed by such ar iins overseas will be only to welcome our full i brave opponent," eays Cardus, "is worthy of yout rnoco kriilng steel; he expects no quarter." On each of the two occasions when ] have been abroad for an M.C.C. side w« have been warned in a farewell speed not to forget that we were England'f ambassadors. ■ I cannot believe that the full strength of England would be likely to forget their obligations in this direction. Experience has shown that in an eight months' tour of Australia, illness and accident has involved a great strair upon the personnel of the side. The conditions of climate and travelling are not only exhausting, but frequently they are entirely new to many mem' bers of the side, entailing great physical strain. Under this there ar« always one or two who break down. The history of every tour is filled with chapters of illness and accident Ever since the series first began. Certainly since the number of matches, and the amount of travelling, was increased to its present proportions. This only emphasises the necessity for looking well to the'reserves. '!' It is true, of course, that "you cannoi please everybody." But there can be nc denying the fact that had post-wai touring sides been chosen by a body ol practical present-day cricketers, with a knowledge of the particular local conditions involved, whose only aim was tc place England's greatest cricket strengtl in the field, the personnel of those sides would have been slightly different froir those whom the M.C.C. have chosen. Ir every case. Another question of the greatest importance in connection with this subject concerns the selectors. Are they selecting for England or for Marylebone? They have to face the music if thing; go wrong, and one ' never hears abflui the restrictions which (in my opinion] frequently hamper them in their work despite their honest intentions. It is obvious that in order to carry out their very difficult task with rca sonable satisfaction they must be pro perly equipped themselves. They musi have had practical experience of, th< conditions under which they are goinj to send their men to play. They shoulc have more than a ring-side knowledgf of the players between whom they haf< to discriminate. If they are not abl< to obtain this by playing actually against them in the course of our county championship, they should be constantly in touch with their play throughout th< season, under all the varying conditions They should form their opinions upor what they actually see. Hearsay is nol hvays trustworthy. It is no use making a , selector, foi for instance, out of a mar > only knows Africa, and vice versa. I is there any sense in barring a who has every necessary qualifica- • because he happens to be, say, a dist, a member of Parliament, 01 £ (be it said) a journalist. I feel .t iu the selection of teams foi . ;oad the M.C.C. should say definitely tlier the side is meant to represent VI.C.C. or England. jey should publish the names of al players invited, including those unto accept. And they should state i'er or not their selectors have beep fucted by the M.C.C. or country to visited, to take a certain numbei amateurs. This may be necessary »or financial reasons. If the M.C.C. fail to do this, the public may be misled into believing that then side and England's best are supposed to be one and the same thing. This, in my view, has not been the case in postwar tours. As I see it, it frequently happened that reasons other, than cricketing ability have been allowed to influence the selectors of such'sides. _ Either the existing state of affaire should be corrected or the demand foi some other controlling body will become more justifiably insistent. Lack of success for English sides since the war has not entirely been due to talent in this country. If the M.C.O. ignore the demands of public opinion, they will have to give way to others who will not so refuse. In writing as I do, I hope not to giv& offence to any individual. I realise, 01 course, that there will be many to disagree with me. That is as it . Ag long as I live I shall always give my support to any scheme likely to result in England's best being seen in the field, chosen without fear or favour. My only motive in saying what I have is that the game's highest interests may be served. , For my views I ask no indulgence this—a "belief iu their sincerity.

Here is how Lord March, in the year 1753 Avon his bet that he would send a letter 100 miles in an hour. He engagea 20 cricketers, who were expert catchers. The letter was enclosed in a cricket ban, and at the appointed time the α-icketew stood in a circle, and then the ball « tossed from one to another for W specified time. After that the grouna was measured, and the distancijoyett 0, proved, tg be ISO mUeSj "j^"""