MAY NEED HIM

NZ Truth, Issue 1204, 27 December 1928, Page 12

MAY NEED HIM

; Bill Patrick Stands Down* . -.'.; .-■ ;:, : . TFronii: "N.Z. Truth's" Ghristchurch :■?■.■•'■'■.;•.. '\ ■'■:■ "■ -./Rep.) . " '•'■%- : 'z^, :'r Though he has not beenMneluded 1 m the first team to, represent Can- , terbury for the Plunkjat Shield,, Bill Patrick has not definitely re- ;' : .tired from representative cricket. / AWITH the responsibility of assisting -vW^o select "the provincial team, Bill has ' taken ■ up • . the .'. game only halfheartedly this season, and perhaps,' ■when it came to selecting; the: eJeVeri to set but for the s.hield, he felt sorry he was riot .thoroughly into it and up to *his. usiaal forth. • .VyiJ :"V v\ .}■ ':■' . Though Bill may hold "his own views 'of his increasing- age arid rotundity, and the demand that ;age. should . give way to youth, there is not a shadow of '- doubt that his knowledge of the game is unexcelled' :lri';.^he' prpviricei arid Canterbury may yet require hte leadership before the Elunket Shield series are completed.; <' : v ' : , Any player-selector, unless he is the actual star of his province, is in' an i invidious position. v ; "-' ■>'' Though J3)11., Patrick hg's not proved the star J m 'Ghristchurcli > cricket this season, it is primarily . due to^ the fact that he. has not ; .given the playing of the game ; ;.'. : v.much serious attention^ ; „ On these grounds,. : prpbably, he , did . not "i.cell disposed to^adyance higjclaiiris : when the selectiori committee, of which ■he is .a member, were drawing up .the . tea,Tni .:'-.' - ■ ;• teyl' '''■'■-.'p':. y: ,i-\>'. ''■[{_'■ ./• ; Tlie first match with Auckland will 1 giv^ some indication . or the province's strength, but if it pro Vies that, \visdorri . arid experience, are' required, there 'should be no hesitation m ihyiting Bill 1 to leadi the side agairist Wellirigtbn. .:•"

'4 Fact^'speak ! Ayres' Gnampionship ''Stitchi^ss Balls have been selectedby '-:■■■ Auckland, - Wellington, ,' Canterbury, -'Otago,' North Qtago, *^outh Canter^- • -buryi • Nelson, : West Coast,. Marl-. bpi-ough, Wairairapaj^and^ ; r "Waikatp Provincial Associations tliiif "season,* '