DISTRICT CRICKET.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15693, 12 September 1916, Page 5

DISTRICT CRICKET.

TO THK XDITOR OK "THE PRESS." Sir, —I regret to notice that according to jour report of the annual meeting of the St. Albans Cricket Club, the president (Mr F. C. Raphael) expressed the opinion that it was time that district cricket was "knocked on the head," and that the coming year was the most suitable time for doing away with district cricket. There were, he said, many old players standing down who were quite willing to play this season if given the opportunity of playing with their old friends.

Mr Raphael also moved tho adoption of tho annual report, which contained much more than the usual panegyric on our absent soldi<?r boys, claimed that the position of the senior team was duo to the fact that eight prominent members of the original team are playing the greater game, and also stated that the club must see. to it that the old associations, so dearly lovec'. by their comrades, are kept alive, and the places they so cheerfully resigned arc ready for them to resume on their return.

Ever since the institution of district cricket, there has been a small number of disgruntled people who have done their best to overthrow the newsystem. These have now, apparently, come to the conclusion that the present weak state of the Hubs, duo to • the loyalty and self-sacrifice of a large proportion of the players, givps the opportunity they havo b°on 'oik'ncr for for to mpnv vca*"s. .What do they ea r e for the dosir« to 'io, loyal to on- absent members? Wo are in th<> midst of a Wost terrible war: mnny of our players Vrc fitting- <111r battles on the other

side of the world; the game has been upset by war conditions; thero were no representative matches; little or no interest was taken in the local _ listurcs; therefore district cricket is a failure, and this is our opportunity to settle it once for all. I have no doubt that any old player who comeg to keep the game going will find his services appreciated by the clubs, but to dictate terms a s to the principles on which the clubs are to be conducted robs them of any credit 'there might be in their action. The players must be allowed to play cricket under that system which they desire, whether district or club, but to b'amo district cricket foi\ the present slump is as unfair as it is absurd; and to mako any decision on the matter when so many of our lads are away doin<r their bit, is one of tho most heartless things which I have ever heard of in connexion with the game.. Last season, retired players were specially invited by the Association to give their assistance by taking part in the games, and were allowed the privilege of playing during the season for any club thev chose. How many camc along? Is'this talk of the sympathy of old players any more genuine now than it was then? —Yours, e'c., RURAL.