No Change In Cricket Set-Up

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30495, 17 July 1964, Page 17

No Change In Cricket Set-Up

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, July 16. The question of South Africa’s membership of the governing body of cricket was not raised at yesterday’s meeting at Lord’s of the Imperial Cricket conference.

Mr S. C. Griffith, secretary of M.C.C. said afterwards there was a substantial body of opinion in favour of opening the I.C.C. to all cricketing countries where the game was “firmly established and organised.”

Present members of the conference are England, Australia, New Zealand. India, Pakistan and the West Indies.

South Africa expected that the conference would, decide to alter its title to the International Cricket Conference, throwing open membership to non-Commonwealth countries. Mr Griffith said that no decisions were taken, because one or two representatives were not in a position to express their countries’ opinion on a number of points. Cut The Line The M.C.C. secretary said there was a substantial measure of agreement on almost all points discussed, covering various experimental laws being tried out at present.

On the front foot no balling there was a feeling in some quarters, said Mr Griffith, that the bowler might be allowed to cut the line with his toe instead of having to land the foot wholly behind the line.

There was general agreement on the worth of the limitation of on-side fielders. Mr Griffith said in his personal view the present experiment could become law in two years. Excessive polishing of the ball was considered by all to be time wasting, and most delegates wanted to do something about it. The problem was the difficulty of legislating against such a practice. Bowlers’ Follow-Through

Delegates would recommend to their various boards the adoption, of the M.C.C. experimental rule on prevent; ing bowlers running on to the pitch in their follow-through. The question of when the new ball should be taken—whether after so many overs, or when a certain number of runs have been scored—was discussed, and it was hoped to ' reach some universal agreement next year. Australia’s tour to India arid Pakistan this year and West Indies' visit to Australia in 1968-69 were approved.