NEW ZEALAND CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20981, 21 December 1931, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND CRICKET

COUNCIL TAKES ACTION MERRITT NOT TO PLAY IN FUTURE [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 21. An official announcement by the Management Committee of tho New Zealand Cricket Council states that Merritt will not in future be invited to play for New Zealand. This is in consequence of Merritt breaking his undertaking to the council by signing an agreement with the Rishton Club (Lancashire) to play for it in 1932 and 1933. The official communication from the Now Zealand Cricket Council to the newspapers reads:—Prior to tho departure for England of the New Zealand cricket team tho committee decided, as a matter of policy, that no member of the team should bo allowed to accept a cricketing engagement in England for a period of two years after his return to New Zealand. Each member of the team gave an undertaking to tho council that he would not accept any such engagement. On August 1, 1931, while on tour Merritt signed an agreement with the Rishton Club, in the Lancashire League, under which he has agreed to play for that club during the seasons 1932 and 1933. Merritt did not inform the manager of tho team nor the council of either tho negotiation or the agreement. -He has admitted to the committee that he has broken tho undertaking lie’ gave to the council above referred to. The committee has given careful consideratipn to tbo unfortunate position which has been created by Merritt’s breach of the undertaking, and with great regret tho committee has decided that the breach of the undertaking cannot bo passed over, and has therefore decided that Merritt will not in future, bo invited to play for New Zealand. Merritt loaves on February 28 to fulfil bis engagement with the Rishton Club. He will return in September, 1932. In the meantime the ban does not affect his eligibility' for his club and province. Interviewed, he made no comment beyond saying that ho would abide by tho council’s decision..