NEW ZEALAND CRICKET TEAM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 69, 23 March 1910, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND CRICKET TEAM.

— + FOP, THE SECOND TEST. Mr. D. Hay's team to represent New Zealand in the second test match against the Australians, which begins on Saturday next, does not meet with popular favour in the city. When the personnel of the team was published, correspondents wrote to the papers demanding to know why Midlane was excluded. A correspondent in The Post yesterday advanced some very enlightening figures in support of his contention that the East crack bhould have preference over several chosen. To-day "'Ex-player and Enthusiast" forwards his comments. He considers that Mr. Hay has made Dut a poor attempt to put the best team in the field, and "far from it being of any consequence what province the majority of players represent," he remarks, "I wish to add my protest at the- non-inclusion of Midlane, of Wellington." Our correspondent contends that-, jealousy is at work, and that Midlaue did not, as reported, run two men out in the first test at. Christchufch. "Ex-player and Enthusiast" adds: — "I thank 'Basin Reseive' for his figures. He shows Midlane to have played this season seven completed innings in cup and representative cricket, for an average of 76 runs per innings, and included are four innings against the Australians for an average of 31 per innings (twice stumped). These figures prove Midlane one of tho foremost bastmen in New Zealand cricket this season, yet he is omitted from the team. All I can say is, if this is the way New Zealand born talent is going tn be appreciated, then it is best not to aspire to, and attain, one of the foremost positions in the sport." (By "Half -Volley.") Two ouistuiiding features of the team under discussion are the exclusion of Midlane (Wellington East) and the mostly futile aUack. Midlane's performances speak for themselves. After seeing him play one fine innings in club cricket early in the* season, the writer was satisfied that Midlane was the finest bafc in Wellington, and stated so in these columns. The Wellington Selection Committee omitted him from the team that went to Auckland fov some reason known (or unknov. n) only to themselves. Without having seen quite all the others, 1 the writer has always maintained that Midlane is as sound a bat as the Dominion possesses. This judgment is based not &o much on the runs he gets as the way he gets them. He nas a "finish" to his strokes which so many lack. Added lo this, he is a very sound field — sound and safe, with a good return. In short, his nop-inclusion is a surprise, at least. A detailed criticism of the team is not necessary : the writer cho&e a side in Saturday's Post which he considered a representative one, and gave reasons. That team was : — Reese, llemus, Sale, Midlane, Bennett, Patrick (Wellington), Brice, Lusk, Shn, Oiiff or Howden, and Roberts ('keeper). Cliff, it transpires, was not available. On this reason's form tho above s.ide, in the \\riter's opinion, contained the bes>t batting and bowling strength in the Dominion. The attack in Mr. Hay's team is weak, Ihe bowlers being Brice, Bfnnett, Haddon, Eeese, and Sandman. The last-named is a colt, whose perfoimance in Christchurch club cricket has seldom been equalled : with four Saturdays off, he secured 63 wickets for an aveiage of 9.8. Ue hits hard, and is apparently a colt of promise. Reese is only a change bowler at the best, and Haddon is hardly that. With Brice (advocated by The Post) in, ithere was no need of Auckland s^ alleged fast bowler. All round Haddon is, peihaps, overrated. Anyway, his bowling is a negligible quantity. Bennett is a fine stamp of bowler, who should do best. Patrick (Wellington), who did so well in the opening match against the Australians, and hns done better in club cricket, should hnve strengthened the attack considerably. He is liable to make runs, and ifc, like Midlane, a fine field. In conclusion on Iho point : Mr. Hay, so far as is known, lias not seen Patrick in action. Nor, one thinks, young Roberts, who is developing. Boxshall is a fortunate veteran. As lo the sole selector idea, experience has proved it unsafe, and it, should not be persevered in in New Zealand. This has been said before in these columns.