MINUS SELECTOR, CANTY TRIAL MATCH A FARCE

NZ Truth, Issue 1301, 20 November 1930, Page 16

MINUS SELECTOR, CANTY TRIAL MATCH A FARCE

Bowls

WHITTA FALLS DOWN ON JOB

Cricket Association Has Only Itself To Blame For Inefficiency

LUKEWARM INTEREST RUINS GAME

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) As. sole selector of the Canterbury Cricket Association, Harry Whitta is not doing his job. If Canterbury cricket is to flourish, as it undoubtedly should, then the lukewarm enthusiasm of the selector wants rekindling. A trial match was staged m Christchurch last week, but Whitta's interests, apparently, were elsewhere, for he wasn't at the match.

EXCUSES have been made for Whitta, j but no legitimate ones can be brought forward, m extenuation of the inefficient manner In which he, is carrying out his duties. Canterbury has good cricketing talent coming along. 'It is"Whitta's job to make | himself conversant .with that talent, and when he asks the Association to stage a trial match,- the request should be more than a grand gesture. He should attend the match and see the players- m action. The "half-pie" manner m which he is carrying, out his duties as sole selector ls having-.a damaging effect on Canterbury cricket. Earlier In the season, "Truth" had occasion to criticise the CCA. for Its reappointment of Whitta, after that official's neglect of his duties last season. "Truth" now states emphatically that siniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiimiiiiiiiiiiuiuiuiiiiiiiiimiiiuiiiniiii^ .

Whitta is. not doing his job this year. Anxious to give the impression that he was keen on his position and that he was getting down to work, Whitta requested the C.C.A. to stage a trial match for Saturday of last week. With joy the Association gave the request its benediction. The game was arranged, the teams were selected, and m fine weather and with high hopes, the game was commenced. But the gilt came off the gingerbread when it was whispered round the ground that the head of the outfit, the sole selector, had disappeared. Bravely the players went on, but their enthusiasm was dampened,

and even Bill Merritt, the star slow bowler, could not work any devil Into his deliveries. , Perhaps' Bill was wishing that he could clear out to the races and back his fancy. If ever Canterbury needed a real and capable enthusiast to take charge of the selection of its representative teams and to win the confidence of the players and spectators, that time is to-day. Canterbury cricket is m the doldrums, Although ■. within five weeks the Shield

matches will commence. A selector whose heart and soul is not m his work, cannot hope for success. If Whitta prefers the trots, for it was stated that ' this was where he went to after the commencement of the match, then he should do the right thing and resign. The main fact which the farcical trial match disclosed was that without Cunningham and Read, Canterbury's stock bowling is very poor.