CRICKET IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1931, Page 9

CRICKET IN TARANAKI

IS IT DETERIORATING? PROBLEM OF TEAM COHESION. RANKING LIST SUGGESTED. The captain’s lot in cricket is, as everybody knows, not a happy one. Nor is the selectors’. But in Taranaki in the future the lot of the selectors is goino- to be more ticklish than ever. Not°only will they have the unenviable task of choosing an eleven to represent the province, but they will have the more unenviable one of explaining in writing to the association why they made such a selection. either in sorrow nor in anger ’ has this decision been made, for it is merely an attempt to assist the captain in his work. It is in nc way meant as a reflection on the selectors’ past services, but such is cricket that the bowler included for his bowling as often as not takes no wickets and makes 20 runs. Perhaps that is why the selectors’ comments on their choice will be for the association and the captain only, and “not for publication.” \ The matter had its origin in an informal discussion at a meeting of the Taranaki Cricket Association in New Plymouth last night. Taking as an example the recent Taranaki-Wanganui Hawke Cup elimination match at New Plymouth, Mr. C. G. Bottrili said it seemed to him that there had been a falling-off in the standard of representative cricket. The fielding, for instance, had been bad, and other faults in the play seemed to indicate a lack of cohesion in the team that arose largely from lack of practice together and knowledge of one another’s play. He thought it was a mistake not to hold the North v. South Taranaki match early in the season, as that at any. rate afforded one opportunity of the players getting together." Mr. W. P. Nicoll, in supporting what M-‘. Bottrili had said, pointed out that the task of the captain of the Taranaki team was a very difficult one. Owina to the diversity of the clubs from which the players were drawn it was difficult for the captain to use his men to the- best advantage,; as he had probably not seen some of them in action at all. Without wishing to criticise the handling of the team in the last Tara-naki-Wanganui match, he drew attention to the fact that Crawford, a South Taranaki bowler allegedly included in the- team for his bowling, was not given a' turn with the ball in the first innings, and Morrison, a High School boy supposedly included for Ins ’slow bowling, was given one over in the whole match. Mr. C. E. Betts: There was a lot of comment in South- Taranaki on the same lines. Mr. L. A. Jennings suggested that the difficulty might be very largely overcome by collaboration between the selectors and the captain. Mr. Bottrili offered the suggestion that a ranking list for both North and Sduth Taranaki might be compiled by the selectors, the best batsmen and best bowlers at each end of the province to be listed in order of usefulness. The scheme worked well in tennis and other sports, and would no doubt create a spirit of friendly rivalry in cricket. ■ • . . After further discussion in which several members of the association spoke in favour of the scheme it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Nicoll, that in making future selections the selectors be asked to submit to the 'association for the private information of the captain comments on the qualifications' of each player that influenced the selectors in making their choice.