Four Selectors Could Cause Problems

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30916, 24 November 1965, Page 19

Four Selectors Could Cause Problems

TT was principally the x difficulty of finding men able to spend sufficient time to cover the Plunket Shield programme that led the New Zealand Cricket Council’s Board of Control to replace its retiring panel of three national selectors with a group of four. The new selection panel —Messrs W. A. Hadlee (convener), J. L. Kerr, M. E. Chapple and K. R. Deas —is rich in experience and cricketing wisdom, but it may be a minor flaw that

of the four only Chapple is still playing first-class cricket. It may be easier to cover the country with four men than with three, but round the table it can become an awkward number —and a straight division of opinion would place a great deal of responsibility on Mr Hadlee, who will have a casting vote. Not many chairmen of committees like exercising casting votes —but in this instance it may have to be used on occasions.

One of the first duties of the selection committee will probably be deciding on a recommendation for the captaincy of New Zealand, and one of its own number, Chapple, will probably be given that distinction. He will have to demonstrate that he is again in the good form of the last few seasons, but there is no player in New Zealand better qualified for the post. Chapple is highly regarded as a tactician by cricketers throughout the country, and nowhere is his reputation stronger than with the Central Districts cricketers with whom he has played.

Mr Hadlee has a tremendous knowledge of cricket, and so has Mr Kerr. They both played their cricket assertively, and no doubt

they propose to see that New Zealand teams this season challenge their oppo- * nents at every opportunity, i Mr Deas is not so well I known in the South Island, | but he was a capable repre- | sentative cricketer, and a I man who has done much for | the game as an adminiistra- | tor.