Cricket BOWLER'S DRAG

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28434, 14 November 1957, Page 5

Cricket BOWLER'S DRAG

Tests By M.C.C. To Continue

(NZ Press Association—Copyright) : 'Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. November 12. The M.C.C. had decided to continue experiments on the problem of bowler’s drag, it was announced after a meeting of the Advisory County Cricket Committee at Lord’s today. The M.C.C. admitted that the question still remained a big problem and it was not considered likely that any solution would be forthcoming in time for the M.C.C. s Australian tour. The M.C.C. admitted, too. that the law <No. 26), as it stood at the moment, was impossible for the umpire to interpret. It reads: “The umpire at the bowlers wicket shall call and signal ‘noball’ if he is not satisfied that at the instant of delivery the bowler has at least some part of one foot behind the bowling crease and within the return crease, and not touching or grounded over either crease.” The M.C.C. has conducted experiments on the position of the front foot in relation to the popping crease, but while these show it is simple for young cricketers to attune themselves, older ones find it virtually impossible to change. Umpires, too, experience difficulty in re-focusing after looking at the front foot and then looking back. The general opinion of cricketers in .England is that if the position of the back foot in the delivery stride is to continue as the guiding factor, this is merely legalising drag and not solving the problem, though Australia supports this method. The system generally adopted in England of making offending bowlers bring down the back foot well behind the bowling crease is also not in line with the present law No Knock-out Contest i The committee decided to abanIdon the proposed county knockout cup competition. Reasons for shelving yet again a cricket cup are that no practical solution has been found for the rain-ruined and drawn matches and that difficulties abound in fitting in such a competition with the present county championship. Also, doubts exist as to whether a knock-out cup would be a financial success. However, experimental championship laws dealing with the standardisation of boundaries, limitation of on-side fielders, and bonus points are to be continued. Bonus points will be decided at the actual moment the first innings is settled. Limitation of on-side fielders to five with only two behind the lopping crease did not meet wi h the same measure of approval ibut the counties decided this exI periment should continue for at least another year. It was agreed that this rule had proved severe on the off-spin bowlers and it was not the original intention to handicap them. Any likelihood of the old lbw. law being reintroduced was ruled out by the committee. This had one proposer, but no seconder, could be found. Emphasis on the importance of striving for victory and fast scoring was given impetus by the i following decision: In future 'when two counties finished equal j •on points in the championship | title, the team with most wins; to lake the hi vher place and if j the position still remains equal then the team with most bonus points will gel the verdict. i | The actual championship cou'd 1 jbe decided this way. It was also (stressed that the M.C.C. had the i right to award the championship.