ENGLISH CRICKET

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19455, 14 October 1937, Page 7

ENGLISH CRICKET

OBTAINING A FOOTING POSITION OF PLAYERS COUNTIES RECRUITING AREAS N.Z. SYSTEM COMPARED (From a Special Correspondent with the Team) (By Air Mail) LONDON, Sept. 1. English cricket has at least one characteristic akin to New Zealand, according to observations made on their tour by the New Zealanders. In England, just as in New Zealand, it appears very difficult for a player of obtaining, recognition outside his own district, no matter how great his capabilities, unless he plays in first class cricket, • and socomes under the notice of the authorities at Lord’s. Entiy to English teams, it seems, can be gained only by prior qualification for Middlesex or Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire, or one of the other first class counties, just as in New Zealand it is almost impossible to be chosen for New Zealand without first, representing Auckland. Wellington, Canterbury or Otago. A player may bat or bowl with remarkable success for Norfolk or Durham or Stafford or Wiltshire without gaining any recognition for it, just as in New Zealand many players have spent the best of their playing lives in unrewarded endeavour for Taranaki, or Southland or Poverty Bay or South Canterbury. A Striking Illustration A striking case of illustrating that fact is that of W. J. Edrich, now playing for Middlesex. He formerly appeared with Norfolk in the minor county championship competition. England’s equivalent of New Zealand’s tournament for the Hawke Cup. For Norfolk, starting just after leaving primary school, he had an imposing record .including some fine performances against touring overseas sides. In five seasons- he made over 1800 runs at an average of over 30. To appreciate these figures it has to be remembered that the minor counties play very few games in a season, seldom more than a dozen and often several less than that, and also that the wickets are not always the “runmakers’ dream’’ generally enjoyed by the players in first-class cricket. The Norfolk youngster was fortunate in that his record was noticed by a very discerning first-class pro-

fessional who agitated for and secured his engagement by Middlesex. For that county he has been making runs heavily and there were strong advocates of his claims to inclusion in the English team to meet New Zealand in the tests. It is doubtful if his name would ever have been mentioned in that connection if he had continued to play for Norfolk. Kerr’s Similar Experience An almost exactly similar instance is provided in New Zeaand by J. L. Kerr. He was an exceptionally promising schoolboy when in Wanganui and had excellent figures in matches for the Hawke Cup. If lie had remained in Wanganui he would probably never have represented New Zealand. However, his occupation took him to Christchurch, where, after some big scores in club games, he was quickly chosen for Canterbury, progressing rapidly to membership of the New Zealand team which visited England in 1931. M. P. Donnelly has been one of the most successful players in the New Zealand team in England. It is doubtful, however, if he would have been chosen had his previous experience been restricted to playing for Taranaki, althought he was described as “already a finished cricketer” bjf Errol Holmes two years'ago" and his right to inclusion was strongly championed by C. C. Dacre. What won him his place was his batting success for Wellington against Nelson last December and his fine fielding for Wellington against Auckland at Eden Park.

Wellington’s Example The Wellington Cricket Association, in fact, can with some right claim tc have set an example to other major associations in New Zealand. Its annual Town v. Country match has given minor association players some opportunity to show their ability outside their own districts, and the Wellington selectors have chosen many players from Manawatu, Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay in matches for '.he Plunket Shield. Auckland, by contrast, has seldom included players from South Auckland, North Auckland or Poverty Bay, giving only a brief trial to M. Sharp when he was living in Gisborne, although the same player has been given better opportunities since lie has been playing in Christchurch. Canterbury has not chosen a minor association player since I. M. Hamilton represented that province when he was living in Ashburton, and his -(election was helped by the fact that he had already established a good reputation in Christchurch. Otago has given only few and brief trials to players from Southland, the only one to be given mucli encouragement in recent years being E. J. Scandrett.

Changing Trend in England English counties, however, are showing an increasing disposition tc use second-class counties as recruiting grounds. The New Zealanders have met several players who have been engaged by first-class counties from second-class county districts. An outstanding instance was that of E. Emmett, who scored an excellent half-century and bowled slow lefthand very promisingly for Gloucester against the New Zealanders. Pie is a young player who had an excellent record for Devonshire and he is at present on the ground staff at Bristol fulfilling.- the residential qualifications to play regularly for Gloucester.

J. Arnold, of Hamshire, is in a like category. He first gained his cricket reputation with Oxfordshire. There he was sighted by one of the firstclass county “talent scouts” and induced to qualify for Hampshire. Since doing so he has never failed lo make 1000 runs in a season.

Even J. B. Hobbs, greatest of all modern opening batsmen, first began making big scores for a second-class county, Cambridgeshire, but he would never have been seen in all his glories on the great fields of England, Australia and South Africa if he had not linked his future with Surrey. The practice of “buying” secondclass players for first-class counties appears to be very satisfactory to the counties offering the inducement and also very satisfying to the player as an individual. It is not, however, in the best interests of the second-class counties, which by this system lose their best players to their stronger and wealthier rivals. They are effected in much the same way as New Zealand has been by O. S. Dempster, R. C. Blunt, W. E. Merritt and K. C. James Deing recipients of attractive offers to play professional cricket in England. Their players receive some reward for their outstanding capabilities, but the cricket organisations which first gave them their opportunity lose their services for ever.

C. C. Dacre provides an exception to this rule, for he returned to New Zealand after playing for several seasons for Gloucester in England. Sidney Barnes, the great Staffordshire bowler who represented England, also returned to Staffordshire after playing for Lancashire. Generally, however, players no not rejoin their old sides after receiving better engagements, at least in England. In England there is no disposition, even among the minor counties wmch suffer, to blame the players for rtCcepting lucrative engagements when these are offered. The criticism which is heard is of the system which makes it necessary for a cricketer anxious to advance in the game to leave his home town and the cricket club whi£h first gave him his chance to receive a fair opportunity in the cricket of his country. There appears, however, to be resignation to the consequences. It seems to be taken for granted that the system will never be altered and that young players anxious to advance will always have to catch the attention of a first-class county first, just as in New Zealand a minor association player has first of all to secure selection for one of the Plunket Shield teams before he can hope to play for New Zealand.