(Decimal) points on the Plunket Shield

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33728, 28 December 1974, Page 4

(Decimal) points on the Plunket Shield

(By a contributor whose 20-hour watch caused him to miss the dead-line for yesterday’s page on 1974 sporting highlights.)

The most unusual Plunket Shield season in the history of the country’s major cricketing competition stared at Lancaster Park yestered at Lancaster Park on Thursday. Almost the only traditional feature of the ancient ground reshaped circular rather than oval—was that Canterbury was playing Otago. The demands of progress, the insistence of the Government — thinly disguised as the Metrics Advisory Board — have wrought startling changes. Old William Clarke and the other ghosts of Hambledon would have writhed in their graves had they been present, with the 100 spectators to which the match was limited. True, there should have been ample entertainment for those privileged guests at this historic day. The match started, as required, at 10 a.m. and went on into the balmy evening as required by the statutory 10 hours play a day. But for the 10 members of the fielding team, Canterbury, it must have been a long hard day. The change to 10-ball overs — and no new ball until after 100 overs — was introduced in a desire to bring spinners back into the game. No-one was more pleased than the 92-year-old president of the Canterbury association, Mr Frank Crumb. Mr Crumb said he had given the new captain, Cong Don Bev — the first Malaysian to captain Canterbury —a full hand of five spinners and he was pleased all had been used extensively. “It doesn’t really concern me that Snarl Prickle, the leg-spinner, should take none for 200 from his 10 overs,” said Mr Crumb. "What most pleased me is that this new game gives Prickle, Turk. Bracefield and the rest a decent go with the ball.” His opening bowlers were less pleased. Wail Madlee commented tersely: “The only decent feature of these decimals and metrics is that I can still bowl at 100— km/h maybe, but it’s still 100.” Another reason for his drop in speed — aside from the physical demands of bowling 10-ball overs — according to Madlee was the dimensions of the ball. Once it was required to be between 155.92 g and 163.01 g in weight; now it is only 150 g with no variation allowed. And the variation in circumference —22.38 cm to 22.86 cm — has been wiped: it is now 25cm. “It is a very unusual sen-

sation,” said Madlee. “The bigger, but lighter bail means reduced control and I found by my fiftieth over that I had no hope of getting past the 20cm-wide bat of Ken Learner.” The Otago computer programmer and opening batsman was 402 not out at stumps, but that score must be put into perspective: he hit four tens and 50 fives in his chanceless innings — the increased value of boundaries added 66 to his score—but against that must be weighed the statutory 100 m boundaries. Although Learner’s masterful batting—which brought back memories of his wonderful pair of doublecenturies against the Phillip-

pines in New Zealand’s first victory against that country — would suggest mastery of bat over ball and computer, this was not entirely the case. The bat. true, is 1.20 cm wider and, at 100 cm, 3.48 cm longer. But the bowler has some points in his favour. The pitch has been shortened to 20m from 20.1168 m, the set of five stumps are 30cm in width instead of the archaic 22.86 cm, and Im high—-a severe increase on the old 71.12 cm.

With all these drastic changes, it was not surprising the Otago scoreboard wore a lop-sided look. The 27-year-old schoolboy, Am Rudderless, Bobbin Andyson and O. K. Campbell, were all out for zero, before Wallie Eels blasted 100 exactly in 20min. It was later calculated that this was the fastest century in New Zealand history, shading the 52min taken by Mick Gotz of fond memory. Then there was another slump. Hennie Stumpsome, Mac Cockkneed and Grin Abalaster all went cheaply before Gray Bowell helped his operator add another 200. Otago was 753 for seven at stumps — Eeven Book was batting — but Learner said he would probably bat on. “It would be nice to have six or 700 myself before the next game, but I am thinking of the team,” said Learner. “There are still nine days to go and there is a solid look to the Canterbury batting. “If Pewter Coalman, Hasty and all the Madlee brothers get going, we could have an awkward time of it next week . . . or the week after.” Learner also said he expected Kent WordslesS to be smarting under the 73 byes he conceded and to try to make up for it with the bat. It is not usual in a match report to pay more than passing mention of the two gentlemen formerly called umpires. The pair who officiated yesterday were both new to first-class games. lan Brackenbury Channell, who also adjudicates on other matters, was brought in at the last moment to replace Mr Red Goodwell, who was called on to play for the West Coast. Proph. Channell, a real wiz at this job. is said to be a friend of one of the Canterbury selectors, Mr Gray Hampton, but Mr Crumb said this did not have any influence on his appointment. The other technician was Petty Officer Mathie Hobbs Wilson-Fielding, seconded from the Royal Navy (electronics and communications) for his specialised knowledge of the computers used to control the game. This box was positioned at square-leg — soon to be renamed. perhaps decimal limb — throughout the match and was not, as some spectators obviously imagined, a concession to the calls of nature made on the players in the course of a hard day. The match continues tomorrow, and Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday . . ■