CRICKET.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17437, 24 April 1922, Page 10

CRICKET.

TWO-HOUR INNINGS.

TO BBIGHTEN CBICKET.

"Reformer," writing in the Sydney "Sun," suggests a drastio change in the conditions governing grade cricket. By allowing -each side to bat two hours each Saturday, he says, there would be no drawn games, nnd "weather luck" would be eliminated. It is one of tho. anomalies of sport that while in nearly every branch of it care is .taken to make it as fair and interesting as possible,' cricket is still governed by rules that often havo quite , the reverse effect. JKaoshoraes are weighted according to age, breeding, and past performances, boxers are divided into classes in order that an list man shall not be pitted against an opponent of Bst, and the system of handicapping in running and cycling has been devised to promote keen contests and close finishes. When Beauford meets Eurythmio' the conditions will be precisely the Bame for one horse as for the other. What would the racing public say if, by some freakish rule, BeanloM were, compelled to race over. a heavy, muddy track while Eurythmio had a .beautifully, cp.ring turf under his flying feet? T«t that is exactly what occurs in firstclass cricket many times during a season. It has happened often' during the summer just ending. On a good wicket a strong batting side has been able to score 300 or more. On tho following Saturday on a rain-soaked pitch an equally strong batting Bide has been dismissed for 70 or 80. Four Hours Each. This may be the "luck of. the game," but it does not constitute a real test of merit. Neither does it tend to popularise the sport in the eyes of the people who go to watch it. It does not produce batsmen of tho dashing type that - make the • game really worth while. Let to suppose that the eight hours of the two Saturday afternoons were divided into four quarters of two hours each, and each side had to bat once.each afternoon, what would be the -result ? Would it not do something to even lip chance and provide an incentive to every man to make the most of his time? Batsmen would no longer oc- . cupy the creases as though .they had acquired them under perpetual lease, for no captain could permit stonewalling, which would os fatal to the chances of his side and unpopular with the players still waiting to go in. . Under such a system wet days and fine days, fast wickets and slow wickets, would be toe flams to both teams. There might he , an' advantage in light to the side that batted first each afternoon, but even that could be overcome by arranging that tho team that had the benefit of the early afternoon one- day ahoukjh have its, second innings last on the concluding day.

No Gravna Games. There could be no drawn game* under such a, scheme. Two houre would be the limit of each innings, and whether the score were 200 or 20 it would have to stand. The object of every batsman then would be to make as many runs in as short a time as possible, and there would be infused into the game a. brightness and sparkle that it now eo often lacks. Cricket would be worth going to see, because by reason of the very 'nature of tho rules there would always be •■ebmething doing." • Those who remember the controversy that raged over the question of covered or uncovered wickets, and also the ecorn with which the U.O.C. rejected the Australian suggestion for an oyer of eight balls, need not despair. In inter-state and grade metches eight balls are bowled, and whatever might be the attitude on the scheme just outlined, of the dear old gentlemen who govern big cricket from their armchairs tn the other aide of the world, : there. 1* nothing to prevent its adoption here if it is ctnsidered that cricket will be improved by doing so. The division of playing time is quite possible in test cricket as well as in grade matches, but that phase need not be considered for the moment.

GEEENDALE v "OLD TIMERS."

The annual match "Old-Timers" versus the present ieam of the Greendak' Cricket Club, after ft closely contested game, resulted in a win fox the "Old Timers" by 12 runs on the first innings. Stores: — Present—First innings: W. J. Looker, b C Zi. McOrostie, 14; C L. Bidden, ran out, 0: 0. B. Adorns, run out, 1; F. Cullen, c G. Wilson, b C. L. MdCrostie, 7; W. J. Dean, o T. Kay, b C. J. Morland, 8; T. Kay, c'W. "Watson, b J. W. McOrostie, a- P. Lumb, b J. W. McOrostie, 2; Jont. Rudd, b C. J. Morland, 11; G. E. Dean, not out, 22; F. G. Early (captain), b J. W. McOrostie, 5; G. H. Ridgen, run out, 0; li. H. Adams, b J. W. McOrostie, 3; R. Stevens, c W. Watson, b J. W.-MoCrostie, 19; extras, 5; total, 100. Bowling analysis: .J. W. McOrostie, 5 wickets for 27; C. J. Morland, 2 for 26; C. L. Mc&ostie, 2 for 32; T. Westwood, 0 for 11. Second innings: F. Cullen, b J. W. McOrostie, 1; W. J. Dean, o W. Watson, b T Westwood, 27; G. E. Dean, o G. Wilson, b J. W. McOrostie, 7y W. J. Locker, c C. J. Morland, i> J. W. McOrostie, 0; R. Stephens, b G. MoCrostie 0; Jont. Rudd, o C. J. Morland, b T. Westwood, 6; C. L. Ridgen, o and b C. J. Morland, 12; P. Lumb, o and b O. J. Morland, 1; C. H. Adams, b T. Westwood, 2; T. Kay, o and b C .7. Morland, 1; G. H. Ridgen, b T. Westwood, 2; L. H. Adams, not out, 15; F. G. Early, not out, 4; extras, 6; total for 11 wickets (innings declared closed), TO. Bowling analysis:, J. W. MoCrostie, 3 for 22; G. McOrostie, 1 for 19; C. J. Morland, 8 for 23; T. Westwood, 4 for 4; G. Shipley, 0 for 4. Old Timers—First innings;: T. Westwood, o L. H. Adams, b T. Kay, 2; C J. Morland, o F. Cullen, b O. H. Adame, 11; J. W. McCrostio (captain), b T. Kay, 0; "C.'L. Mc-, Croatia, o G. E. Dean, b C. H. Adams, 3; W. Watson, run. out, 6; G. McOrostie, c T. Kay, b C. H. Adams, 0; L. J. Early, c L. H. Adams, b' W. J. Dean, 11; T. Gough, run out, 16; Geo. Shipley, b R. Stephens, 2; Geo; Wilson, b F. Ctdlen, 17; F._Locke*, not ont, 53; J. A. Adams, o L. H. Adams, b

T. Kay, 7- extras, i; total, 112. Bowling analysisr-F. Kay, 3 for 13; C. H. Adams, 3 for 16; W. J. Dean, 1 for 19; B. Stephens, 1 for 12; F. CiiUen, 1 for 20; C. L. Hidgen, 0 for 2S. Second innings: T. Westwood, not out, 20; W. Watson, o F. G. Early, b T. Kay, 8; C. L. McCrostie, bC. L. Ridgen, 0. J. W. McCTOStie, net out, 18; extra, 1; total for 2 wickets, 47. Bowling analysis: T. Kav, 1 for 25; 0. L. Ttiogen., 1 for 13; 0. H. Adams, 0 for 8.

"It is pleasing to see steps >eing taken for the general improvement of wickets,' said Mr O. G. Wilson, chairman of the 'Wellington Cricket Association, at a izatherin? of-the Midland Cricket Club. He had long striven for this reform, especially in the case of players learning the game. Teaching boys, on rough wicketß was of no use. The "metalled road" bowler could terrorise and' dishearten them so that , they would never make good oricietera. Australia, with Sts excellent wickets, had turned its bowlers' attention aside from muscular prowess' to the exerciso of brains with undoubted advantage to their play. Wellington _ College had turned out many first-class cricketers, but he was glad to be able to impress upon Mr T. E. Cresswell, its principal, the need for good wickets.