Is This Cricket?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 18, 5 February 1937, Page 7

Is This Cricket?

"CRICKET."

(To the Editor.) Sir, — In Napier cricket circles there is a certain amount of discontent regarding the team chosen to play Poverty Bay at Gisborne to-morrow for the Kirk Cup.. Some enthusiasts are taking the selector, Mr, F. F. Cane, to task regarding the 12th man, and, in the interests of good, clean cricket, I would be glad to hear Mr. Cane's. assurance that his actjon has been warranted. The facts are these: The team seleeted to meet Poverty Bay included the name of D. Rees (Technical O.B.), with E. Simpson ((United) as 12th man. Some time after the publication of the team, Rees notified that he was not available, whereupon Mr. Cane, instoad of putting Simpson in the eleven, kept him as 12th man, and, "roped in" McCann (Hastings) to replace Rees. Now, unless Mr. Cane had a special reason for this aetion, I consider that he has tshown a deplorable want of consideration for the feelings of Simpson, who was entitled to fe-el that because he was offered 12th position hc was available for tbe team in the event of any mishap. As it it, he can only presume that his position is an honorary one and that, barring accidents to players on the field, he can never get a game. I want to be perfectly understood that I have no axes to grind in this matter. McCann, I believe, is a splendid ericketer and will probably justify his inclusion, but that is beside (the point when one considers how the cfficial 12th man has been slighted. TJnless the senior selector has a good excuse to offer, I shall never cease to wonder whether Cane is Able. — Yours,

CtCij

Napier, January 5, 1937.