CORRESPONDENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2003, 12 February 1907, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

“AVILLOAVBY’S AVAIL.”

To the Editor of the Gisborne Times. Sir, —While giving credit to “AVillowliy” for liis rousing contribution in your issue of this morning, I cannot help thinking that his enthusiasm has bolted with his judgment, causing him to make assertions which are entirely at variance with established facts. “Willowby’s” assertion that “Cricketers are now quite content to continue playing on concrete wickets and matting of a poor odor,” is not only inaccurate but ungenerous; for the concrete wicket on Victoria Domain is the best of its kind in Now Zealand, and the matting in use, which was purchased this season, is of the best quality procurable. If your contributor had followed the doings of the local association as recorded in 'the press, he would have been aware that for months past they have been striving,' and have at last succeeded, in getting together sufficient funds to enable them to lay down a turf wicket and improve the outfield. This work is now ill hand, and thirty loads of soil —out of sixty loads with which they propose to topdross portion of the Domain —aro now on the ground. This, Sir, should conclusively prove that the local asst ciation are a live body, and are doing their best to improve present conditions. _ With reference to “Willowby’s” assertion that no outside matches have been arranged this season, surely he must be aware that the Motu Eleven visited Gisborne in December and that recently the local association repaid their visit,_ thereby establishing a go-ahead policy with affiliated clubs, which will most assuredly he followed in future and prove of great benefit to cricket in this district. Fie must also he aware that the strenuous. efforts made by the local association to induce Hawke’s Ray to visit Gisborne have met with success ,our neighbors having promised to play the annual representative matcli here at an early date. Further than this, the executive .are endeavoring to arrange for the visit of an Auckland eleven to Gisborne at Easter, and there is every indication of this object being attained. Regarding the selection of the lo cal representative team, this is a matter which must naturally bo deferred until later in the season, when club form must undoubtedly guide the selectors in making choice. ‘‘Willowby’s” contention that club matches arc uninteresting i,s simply absurd, and is disproved by the oiitlllisiasiu shown by those taking part in the, competition. His proposal to substitute games between the representatives and another eleven for clul) matches is inane in the extreme for what good purpose could he served with the host bowlers and batsmen on the one side?' All the piactico an eleven could obtain would not make them one whit the better collectively, for cricket is not a game such as football, where combination is an essential factor to success. Tt is mainly on individuality that the strength' of a team depends, and it is in club matches that players have more varied and equal opportunities of proving their worth to a team. Whatever qualities “Willowby may possess as tin enthusiast who wishes to sec the game progress in this district, his effort to get to•rother a representative team betravs his utter ineptitude as a judge of the capabilities of the players available,, while his ludicrous and contradictory criticism of liis own selection would do credit to the columns of any humorous journal. I- have considered it mv_ duty to defend the executive against the thoughtless and unwarrantable attacks made, and as I have the welfare of the game at heart I sincerely trust there will not be _ sufficient idiom in “Willowby’s” sting to deter those in authority from continuing the good work they arc at present doing for the betterment of the game in the district . In conclusion, .Sir, it is recognised that cricket has novel* been in a more nourishing condition in the Ray than at the present time, and so far as the executive is concerned, that body is undoubtedly composed of ilie most capable and energetic members who have vet held office. I am, etc., “BTJLLI.”