CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25160, 16 April 1947, Page 5

CRICKET

SENIOR COMPETITION CHANGES IN CONDITIONS PROPOSED Changes proposed In the conditions governing the senior cricket competition, and drafted by the competitions sub-commit-tee were discussed at a meeting last evening of the management committee of the Canterbury Cricket Association.

Mr W. J. V. Hamilton, for the subcommittee) said it was felt that the number of teams in the grade should be reduced, bv eliminating Technical Old Boys. This side, he thought, was not strong enough, and its inclusion in the senior grade was not fair to the team or to opposing teams. He understood that Technical had gone into the senior grade to help the management committee, as much as by inclination. If nine teams were left, a bye would occur, but there was much a senior team could do to help the game when not playing in the competition. Matches against country sides could be arranged, and senior players could do good work by taking a greater interest in their clubs’ junior teams. They could help in the umpiring and exert the supervision of lower grade matches which was badly needed. It was unfortunate if Technical had to go. but the position h»d to be faced

The question of points for outright wins had also been discussed. Mr Hamilton said. He feit that a premium should be placed on outright wins The public had "had" drawn games and first innings decisions. Young cricketers should be trained to the idea of always trying to win outright. The visit of the M.C.C. team had set a good example.

The chairman, Mr D. A. Colville, said he was strongly in favour of an alteration in the points system which would make teams go for outright wins. The English team had shown how attractively the game could be played without resort to slogging tactics. Much of New Zealand's

club and Plunket Shield cricket was necative. They would have to consider something such as four points for a first Innings win and 10 for an outright win. Mr E. K. Phillips: It may be trite, but we will have to get our players into a frame of mind to play the game for the game's sake. Until this is done the allocation of extra points will not do very much good. Cricket may never be greatly attractive to the spectator—it Is a game designed chiefly for the player—and the getting of a few extra spectators is a side issue. Players should be taught to play the game in the right spirit. Mr R. H. North said he agreed that the player was the chief issue, but the proposed extra points might make captains declare to get outright wins. It was decided that further recommendations regarding points be brought down by a sub-committee.