Proposals to be aired on cricket series

Press, 23 March 1985, Page 80

Proposals to be aired on cricket series

By

JOHN COFFEY

It is inevitable that some diverse proposals will be presented when delegates from New Zealand’s major cricket associations convene for a special meeting in Wellington next Friday. The subject will be the national Shell Series competitions, and, in particular, the future of the three-day trophy championship. It is a cricketing fact of life that first-class matches below test level — whether they be on a county (England), state (Australia) or district (New Zealand) basis — do not attract sufficient spectator support to cover costs.

Administrators in various countries have sought in vain a remedy for a type of cricket that in the modern era has fallen between two ideals, represented by the limited-over game, and all of its associated type, and the traditional appeal and drama of a test match. Not surprisingly, some contrasting suggested cures have come forward. The Northern Districts delegate is expected to recommend the representative series to be expanded to comprise home-and-away fixtures in both the trophy (three-day) and cup (limitedover) contests. That would

increase the season by 11 playing days, adding two trophy and five cup matches to the present system. Central Districts is reported to have taken a different tack altogether. There is support in its area for trophy games to be of four days duration, but with only one complete round. Cup ties would still precede or follow the trophy matches. However, Central might find itself off-side with other promoters of four-day cricket by asking for the reintroduction of bonus points in the first 100 overs of each team’s first innings. Canterbury has not yet decided its preference, but the association’s chairman, Alby Duckmanton, is not satisfied with either Northern’s or Central’s plans. Mr Duckmanton said he did not believe Northern’s extended first-class season would be viable, either financially or from the point of view of players who are already having difficulty arranging leave from their employment. •“I think the idea Of a full home-and-away series is flying a kite. Financially, there is probably no faster way of sending us down the tubes. Apart from the Christmas and New Year holidays, trophy matches are a dead loss and it won’t get better next season with the Australians here in February and March,” said Mr Duckmanton. It would be “a retrograde step” to bring back bonus points, said Mr Duckmanton. “No-one could understand them last time they were used. Anyway, if Cen-

tral succeeds in getting four-day games then bonus points should not be necessary to obtain results.” Mr Duckmanton admitted that he personally favoured the four-day concept and only one complete round of trophy competition. The meeting in Wellington next Friday will make a recommendation to the national board of control. It is possible, too, that the board will receive some thoughts on the Shell Series from a meeting of the national players’ committee, also in Wellington, two days later. Unless the itinerary for the Australian tour of New Zealand clouds the issue, the board might be able to announce the Shell Series format at its meeting in mid-April.