ONE-DAY MATCHES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21089, 14 February 1934, Page 6

ONE-DAY MATCHES

INNOVATION FOR CRICKETERS SCHEME TO BE TRIED NEXT SEASON One-day cricket matches will be played by teams affiliated to the Canterbury Cricket Association for a period during the next season. This was decided at a general meeting of delegates to the association last evening, when, after a long discussion, it was agreed that at the end of the first competition round of the 1934-35 season, one-day matches be played in all grades. The proposal to play under the oneday system was originally made by Mr W. H. Winsor, and has been debated for some months by cricketers and administrators of the game. It has been referred more than once from the association to the clubs for discussion, and was not agreed to last evening without some opposition. Next year the competition will close at tiie end of the first round, and the new system will be tried out. Its main advantage, it is claimed, will be that one-day cricket will brighten up the play considerably. To Brighten Up Play Mr Winsor, wno presided at the meeting, menliomd thai there had already been several discussions on his proposal. To his mind there were three main points in favour of oneday cricket. Those were: Brighter play, improved finance under proper conditions of the control of matches, and more attraction to the spectators, ensuring larger attendances. Against those issues was the bogey that some players would perhaps not have the chance to bat on each Saturday. "A good deal of the value of one of the arguments for one-day cricket has been taken away Oecause of ttie substantially brighter piny this season. The play recently in Canterbury has been much better, and that takes away some of the use of my argument for more 1 attractive play," Mr Winsor taid. "But it does not remove the fact that every Saturday we ceiuld have thrilling finishes. Now we have one or two Infilling' finishes on every second Saturday."

Mr J. Prosper said lliat his club (Lancaster Park* had decided in favour of (lie suggestion. Me moved thai one-day cricket be adopted during the 193-1-35 season. Mr J. JacK seconded the motion. Mr S. J. Yates then moved the amendment which was later adopted, to the ell'ect that Hie association adopt the system of one-day cricket for play after the end of Ihe tirst round in the 1934-3f> season in all grades. Mr W. J. V. Hamilton seconded the amendment. "I am personally not in favour of one-day cricket, but I think that it is absurd for us to discuss the matter when we have not seen the scheme working. To allow us to get such a chance I will support the amendment,'' said Mr P. C. Burns. Mr Prosper mentioned that he favoured the scheme suggested in the amendment, but had been obliged to put his motion for his club. Mr Burns was told that the one-day gair.es would not affect the competition, which would close at the end of the first round. Kffrct on Players Mr C. S. Thompson opposed both suggestions, stating that he would very much like to sec any brighter and bettor cricket than had been played recently in Christchurch. If the scoring was going to be faster, then the quality of the play would be sacrificed. The bogey mentioned by Mr ' Winsor would become an actuality, for a batsman went in In the wicket to remain there as long as he could. Every batsman ought to have a fair chance at the wicket. Under the one-day system only the fast hitter, generally, woidd get a turn with the bat. Mr Thompson's opinions were endorsed by Mr R. 11. North. He said he though) that the one-day system ' would result in the club's losing players. Mr North's club (St. Albans) believed, however, that if the scheme was to be adopted the present season offered the best opportunity. Mr Thompson raised the question of the effect of one-day play on representative matches. One-day cricket was going to inculcate a habit which might not suit Plunket Shield play, j he claimed. " i "Vigorous Cricket" "Only .11 men would be all'eeled in I the case of Plunket Shield matches," | replied Mr Winsor. "The olhersi woidd be receiving training in vigor- I ous cricket. The quality of play would right itself/' The Old Collegians' Club opposed the suggestion as put forward in the motion, said Mr S. G. Lester; but he was in favour of the amendment. To play the one-day matches on such a basis would probably give the end-of-the season cricket the encouragement which it needed. The East Christchurch Club had discussed the proposal very fully, and felt much along the lines of the opinions expressed by Mr Thompson, Mr J. Rollinson said. Club members feared that the scheme would make hitters out of the players. 1 • ■ i i 1

Chairman's Instance "Bradman and many others of the back-country men who have played big cricket in New South Wales learned the game in one-day matches" Mr Winsor replied. "It has not affocted them." BeCore the amendment was put, Mr E. R. Caygill raised a point whether it would not be advisable for the association to wait until the annual meeting of delegates, to allow the players and clubs the opportunity to discuss the matter further. Mr Lester opposed the . suggestion, on the grounds that the proposal had been so much before the clubs and the association that a decision was due to Mr Winsor. The amendment was then put 20 delegates voting for one-day cricket after the end of the first round next season, and eight voting against Mr A. Byrne asked whether the meeting had the power to make a decision affecting the next season's Play, but Mr Winsor ruled that the procedure was in order. When the amendment was put as a motion it SK Sa? 0