“N.Z. PITCHES NOT GOOD ENOUGH” Test Captains Opposing 4-Day Shield Cricket

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31124, 29 July 1966, Page 15

“N.Z. PITCHES NOT GOOD ENOUGH” Test Captains Opposing 4-Day Shield Cricket

(Ncu> Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. Three prominent New Zealand cricket personalities yesterday disagreed with a move to extend Plunket Shield matches from three to four davs.

I he Auckland Cricket Association this week decided to ask the New Zealand Cricket Council to consider extending playing hours and to include Sundays in the four-day period.

The chairman of the i Wellington Cricket Association (Mr R. Vance) and the former New Zealand test captain, J. R. Reid, disagreed with both , Auckland proposals. The current New Zealand captain, B. W. ; Sinclair, agreed only with the suggestion to include Sunday play. Mr Vance, a former Wellington Plunket Shield captain, said: “I would not have

-any part in holding represent-; [ative or competition matches on Sundays. “1 don’t think it is right for any player who wants to be a representative to have to concede a principle, which could be a religious one, or the only day in the week he has to be with his family. “I don’t think it is practical, I either."

Mr Vance added: “A few years ago when the question of playing Plunket Shield matches on Christmas Day was being discussed the majority of associations were against even that.

“To come back so soon and ask the council for cricket to be played on Sundays is, in my opinion, a waste of time. “If a cricket team starts off with a plan for the whole three days it has been proved that a game can be finished in that time and be exciting too.

“But if a side is not prepared to be constructive over the first two days I suppose four days would be needed.” Reid said that New Zealand needed better pitches if it were to start playing four-day Plunket Shield matches.

“If pitches could be Improved. then I think we’d probably need longer playing hours,” he said. “As for Sunday play, my personal view is that you've got to spend some time with

your family. ~ I wouldn't say Sunday play was necessary.” Sinclair said that playing on Sundays was “a good idea from an economic point of view.

“Let’s face it, the game hasn’t got much money and it

would probably be better to play Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” he said. “However, I can’t really see it coming. I can’t see what purpose would be achieved by going into four-day Plunket Shield matches with the pitches we’ve got now. “The pitches are not conducive to four-day cricket. Now and then you get a good wicket but, over-all, the consistency just isn’t there. “The important thing at the moment is to improve the pitches, then think about fourday cricket. I think Auckland is getting the cart before the horse.”