CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1933, Page 6

CRICKET

DOMINION PLAYERS AT HOME,

LOSS TO OWN COUNTRIES

.SYDNEY, July 10,

The other day cables from England recorded the success of isever'al prominent Australian cricketers at Home. Fairfax and Hird, Macdonald and A. Richardson have all been doing well lately, and there is no doubt, not only that they are valuable, acquisitions to Lancashire club cricket, but that their loss is severely felt here.

One cannot complain that men who have given so much to cricket should be prepared to capitalise their skill and make a living out of' t-he game to which have devoted, .in-some: cases, the best years of their lives. But- it is a. question whether: it is fair to the . Dominions that British clubs and associations shou'd 3l Tnake a practice of skimming the erelulto off' Colonial cricket in this way. Constantine; tlre-'AVcst' Indian; possibly the best all-rounder in the world to-day,’ is also peffoiTniiig brilliant feats for his Lancashire club, and the cable message-that gave us news of ■the successes of Australians 'at Home last week also told of .great, performances by GTonib and Merritt, the Canterbury players; -..with bat and ball. Now this Tweak .conies; news, of Dempster, of Wellington, I iyifh three-, consecutive three-figure* ■ not-ouf. ■ in. nings 'to his-'credit. And amost ' 011 the same day -w$ .hear that-. Dacre, of Auckland, has helped Ha mratud: -Up , break another record by securing with him' ‘a thi y eg-figrtre.-seoife -in : each,. ...in-., nings of q.ne match.

These last -two pcrfofina'ncos-- : ofDempstcr and' Dacre—arc : quit* wonderful, and' every -New : Zealander 1 will join in the congratulations showered upon them. But, still, is it fair that the young countries should lose their bc»st players in this • way, just when they -are developing into champions like this?