THE SECOND TEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11030, 19 March 1914, Page 4

THE SECOND TEST.

PRESIDENT TAKES A HAND. ATTACK ON THE SELECTOR. CAPS FOR THE" BACKBLOCKERS." (By SQUARE LEG.) Mr E. IT. William*, of Napier, this year's president of tho New Zealand Cricket Council, is the latest to tako a hand in seeking to guido tho solo selector into right paths, f d'o not suppose for one moment that ho- foresaw that the effect of his letter to the Council would be virtually a vote of want of confidence in the selector, And from one occupying his high position in the Council it must be considered a nasty knock. However, ib is well known that at no time in the history of New Zealand cricket lias the dominion been so thoroughly searched for talent as it has been this year. Ail the provinces, small and largej were asked to nominate candidates for inclusion in New Zealand's team, and quite a huge list of names was compiled, and the merits of each man were fully considered.

Since that time wo have had the experience of the Now Zealand'ers in Australia, and of tho Australians in New Zealand, and there is not the slightest doubt that every performance has been duly noticed by the selector. However, Mr Williams has only the choice of the last team to go upon, and ho may he excused if he has formed the opinion that better men could havo boon included from tho minor provinces than were included in that team. A much better team could certainly have been chosen from the major provinces. * * * « , ft The important point, however, is that Mr "Williams should have thought it necessary to address the Council in the matter. Surely he must know that the matter is. or should be, entirely in tho hands of tho selector. This gentleman is appointed, presumably, because of his wide knowledge of New Zealand cricket, and his duty is obviously to choose what in his opinion is the best team, no matter in what province the players may happen to reside. Any deviation from this straight duty will bring disaster on the head of the selector, and prosti. tutc the honour of the game, and trample it under foot. The whole episode, the receipt of the letter and the forwarding of the letter to the selector, lend's vivid colour to the opinion that has been expressed, that the policy of the committee of the Cricket Council is to keen everything, even the selection of 'Sew Zealand teams, in their own hands. I venture to sav that had the onnlincntions required in a selector of teams been given greater weight than the fact that thfTselector must be a committeeman, we should have heard very much less dissatisfaction.

A solo selector for New Zealand teams is in any case a blunder. Almost as absurd as tbe appointment of that other fearful and wonderful committee, composed- of five. To deal Avith Mr Williams's opinions. He evidently thinks that some players from minor Associations are good enough for the New Zealand team. And' he may have wood grounds for Id's opinion. "What we do know is that for the most part the cricket they play is second-class, and it is extremely dangerous to select men to represent New Zealand because of their success in second-class cricket. All tho trials that have been given in the past have proved to be failures, and it is inevitable that there would be more failures than successes. Mr Williams, however, points out that several have bowled and batted well against tbe Australian team. On lookine; down the list, I find that most of them are well-known names who would have great difficulty in getting; into Canterbury's team —some of them could not get into the Sydenham team. The games of _ tlie Australians against minor provinces must not be taken too seriously. Wo know how much superior the Australians are to Canterbury, and' we have this year demonstrated our superiority over the other provinces. It must, therefore, have been a, real difficulty on the part of the Australians to make a frame against some of these minor districts. Tn the North Island Crawford has not yet appeared. The comparison between North and South Island doings against the Australians cannot, therefore, be considered, as the Australian attack is vastly superior with Crawford in the team, as we know to our cost.

This is no time for playing the benevolent Father Christmas, by a free distribution of New Zealand caps and blazers. Neither is it a guessing competition. Our cricket prestige is at stake. We shall be judged throughout the world by the results of the New Zealand' matches. It is to be hoped that the last one will not deteriorate into a farce.

In appointing the honorary secretary to go to Auckland to look after the Council's interests, the Council is following its usual policy of keeping matters entirely in its own hands. The Council avcll knows that, through its bad financial arrangements, it will have to face a heavy loss on the Now Zealand matches, yet it deliberately incurs an expense which could easily be avoided. Tt is simply inconceivable that there should bo any matter in connection with the match that could not well bo looked after by the local people, if they were properly and fully instructed'. However, this course would probably moan that some closely guarded information might leak out, which, of course, from the Council's point of view, would be simply terrible. However, if the honorary secretary can succeed in placating the irate Aueklanders over that, balance-sheet his journey will not be \ in vain. I