REPLY TO MR. REESE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 137, 14 June 1927, Page 9

REPLY TO MR. REESE

AN OTAGO CRITICISM

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "Th« Evenlno Put.")

DUNEDIN, This Day. The cricket writer in the "Star" saj-B:— .■•■■• .

"The big majority of cricketers hero will agree with Mr. Wi S./Briee .rather, than -with/Mr. D. Reese concerning the practice adopted by the English counties in 'resting 1 their leading players in matches against the New Zealandera. Mr. Brice takes the commonsense view of the matter, for the advantage of sending a team to England will be lost, or very largely discounted, if our men. are debarred the experience of playing against the best bowlers and the best batsmen in the counties. Almost as much benefit would be gained by an extensive tour of the Dominion itself if weak teams are to be met every time. "I am not surprised at Mr. Heese's pronouncement on the question, howovcr. It simply expresses the attitude, where English teams or authorities are concerned, assumed by the New Zealand Cricket Council, most of the members of which hold up their hands in horror when anything is said or written that the powers that be in England 'might not like.' Wo.are supposed to be ■'nice' to the representatives of English cricket, though few of them have condescended to be nice, or even courteous, to the .Dominion cricketers, whose guests they have been from time to time. However, let us be mannerly by all means, but let us as cricketers bo manly also, and let us as colonial sportsmen think for ourselves and express our opinions, even though they may not coincide with the opinions of the M.C.C., Lord Harris, or any other English authority. Mr. Reese's fear that 'it would be savouring a little of presumption on New Zealand 's part to make any definite request to the English counties on the matter' to my mind itself savours strongly of obsequiousness.

"Why should we not make a reasonable and courteous request if we think that the granting of such a request will benefit New Zealand cricket? In the existing circumstance the-e is little credit in winning, and I-repeat that the money subscribed by the supporters of the game to pay the expenses of the tour is largely wasted while the attitude- of the counties townrds the visiting team is, to soy the very '-ast, uncomplimentary."