CRICKET CONTROL.

Evening Star, Issue 22475, 21 October 1936, Page 18

CRICKET CONTROL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I wish to endorse the remarks of Mr H. Herbert on the attitude of the Otago Cricket Association in regard to junior cricket. The claims of the North-east Valley Club for entry to the senior competition were fully justified, and should have received preference to Carishrook B. Albion was as much entitled to another team in the senior competition as Carisbrook, and sooner than have the Valley Club shut out of the competition again it would have been better to increase the teams to 10 by admitting Carisbrook B, Albion B. and Northeast Valley. There are those who think that this would be too many teams in the senior grade, and it would lower the standard of play. On the other hand, I contend that it would bring many a coming player into the limelight who would otherwise never get a chance to prove his worth in senior cricket. I remember when in Wellington a few years ago the Kilbirnie Club, which was then playing in the junior competition, applied for recognition as a senior team. This was at first refused, but eventually the claims of the Kilbirnie Club for promotion were recognised, and it was not long before it was successful in winning the senior competition. One objection that has been raised against the North-east Valley Club being granted senior status is that there are already two north end teams in the competition. Those who raise this objection need to be reminded that there were three north end teams in the senior comptition 30 years ago until the Opoho Club dropped out. As there are many more cricketers in the north end now, surely the time is ripe for the resuscitation of the other north end senior team. I have written this principally to show that the North-east Valley Club was not treated fairly by not being promoted to the senior grade. I am just as convinced that the Y.M.C.A. Club was not treated right by being refused promotion to the intermediate grade.—l am, etc., Disappointed. October 19.