Playing Two “Pros” in Shield Cricket

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 255, 18 January 1928, Page 11

Playing Two “Pros” in Shield Cricket

WELLINGTON CRITICISED “NOT THE SPIRIT OF GAME” The action of Wellington in including J. Taylor, the Australian professional coach to the Nelson Cricket Association, as well as its own resident coach, F. T. Badcock, in its city’s Plunket Shield team against Otago, was warmly criticised at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Cricket Association last evening. Mr. E. C. Beale said he doubted if the recent ruling of the New Zealand Cricket Association gave Wellington the right to play Taylor as well as Badcock. It was a bit over the odds playing a professional employed by another association, he thought, and it would be very much better if Wellington did not play him. Mr. N. C. Snedden agreed that Wellington’s action in playing a coach not employed by its own association was questionable. WITHIN THE LAW Mr. W. S. Smeeton; It seems to me that Wellington is within the letter of the law in this matter, although it most certainly is not playing up to the spirit of cricket. Mr. Beale: Wellington is making every effort to defeat Otago and then Auckland, and as it considers Taylor good enough he has been included. Wellington evidently considers it has a right to reach out to outside provinces. Mr. N. C. Snedden: The provinces are specially defined for the Plunket Shield contests, and Nelson comes under Wellington. Mr. Beale: You can’t make Nelson Province part of Wellington Province, but you can make the Nelson Association come under the Wellington Association. That is where the New Zealand Council’s ruling is not quite clear, and that is where I question Wellington’s right to play Taylor. Mr.. G. Jackson: That is to say, if Taylor were employed by the Wellington Association itself, it would be quite within the law in playing him. Mr. Beale: Yes. Mr. E. E. Nalder (chairman): The Otago Association has discussed this matter, and protested to the New Zealand Council. I don’t think there is anything we can do. Accordingly the matter was dropped.