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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 323, 24 February 1910, Page 4

TARANAKI'S FIFTEEN. .We are sure all lovers of cricket will regret exceedingly that the Association has so far misjudged public opinion as v to decide on playing fifteen against the •Australian eleven. - To our mind, the .decieion is regrettable in the extreme. While we believe a section of the majority was actuated by quite disinterested motives, we are inclined to think that there were amongst those contributing to the decision some whose principal object was to ensure for themselves a chance fof inclusion in the expended "tail:" It the playing of tne four additional players was likely to improve cricket in Tarauaki there might be something in the argum<j;t, Jbut no one would presume to affirm that such will be the result. If as we said yesterday the object is to educate players, why not play 25 men? Cricket would be more likely to benefit by bat.ting an extra fourteen players than only four additional. The rules of cricket proviffe for eleven players a-side, and while no local cricketer is foolish enough to look upon the forthcoming match as a trial of strength between Australia and Taranaki, it would provide a very fair indication of Taranaki's ability to meet other provincial teams .that have not yet tried conclusions •with Taranaki. We hope it is not too late to re-coueider the ill-advised decision of the Association, which will certainly not meet with any measure of public endorsement.