CRICKET SELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 16

CRICKET SELECTION.

THE AUCKLAND* ELEVEN. OMISSION OF fnIORSPOOL. STATEMENT Bijf HRk E. C. BE ALE. An explanation,; of tjici reason why E. Horspool, the GvpStph- cricketer, was cot included in the .Aupiilatjid representative team which will go on tour next week was given yesterday- by Mr. 12. C. Beale, one of the three selectors. Surprise at the attitude taken by Korsppcl in his letter 1 in yesterday's Hera;ud was expressed by Mr. Beaks. Horspool had denied that lie wajs physically unfit for the tour. Replying to this statement, Mr. Beale saidij he told Horspool that it did not appear, probable that lie would be selected to -got South owing to the state of his health., Mr, Beajie suggested that it would be enjoyable and beneficial to .ilorspool's health if ly. went with the either team tcr the East Coast, as on that to»fir he could play as much or as little crivket as he desired. Mr. pointed out' that there .is no interprovincial supremacy or Shield involved in the tour of the team vrhich will visit the East Coast, and that,, hjad Horspool been a member of it, it would have mattered very little, whether He had played in all, any or none of its, matches, as ample reserves will, be takei*. Efcrfipool's statement that Mr. Beale askad him to play six matches in three weeks is, Mr. B<tiaje contends, incorrect and unfair. HorEjpool's claim as to his physical fitness at i the present time to do his province and himself justice in PJunWl Shield malcShes is, in Mr. Bealo's opinion, due to his. ®,i]Rutable pluck, which has always his cricket. Referring tp tlws sa.me subject, Mr. A. C. Gallagher, of Moiuit Albert, writes:— " There is no doa.bt the cricket have /lone E. Horspool a grave injustice by noft selecting him in this year's repteseutatiW3 team. The • excuse offered, namely, that he is not in a lit condition after his illness, is* ridiculous, and I have no doubt, if Hcifspool were medically examined, he watjJd pass any doctor's test. This is what»should have, been done. It is the procedure followed when ing football representatives, and I think all supporters of crric.ket, will agree that Messrs. Beale and Company rather overstepped the mark in deciding themselves that Horspool was physically unfit, especially as he has been at hard work for five months. " When one thinks of his great batting last season, easily topping the averages for Auckland, and his, bright displays this season, it makes cue wonder |f the same spirit is creeping inito the selection .of Auckland teams as is well known to exist in selecting t}he New Zealand teams. On last year's performances, and also those ' of this year, how could any fair-minded "person plaice the following cricketers ahead of Horspocfi/jilli»piiß, Gerraird, Irving and Frater'?"