SHIELD CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 219, 10 June 1921, Page 7

SHIELD CRICKET

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL'S SUGGESTIONS REVIEWED BY THE WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION ! Ths executive of the Wellington Cricket Association was occupied last evening with consideration of the amendment© to rules governing Plunket Shield i wud intei-provincial matches, compiled by tho Now Zealand Cricket Council, in Christchurch. Tho council suggested amendments to certain other rules existing after the amendments of 1913; but •of primary importance aro those relating to th© Plunket Shield. There were present last evening Jicßsru. C. G. Wilson, K. Tucker, R. J. Murphy, B. L. Salmon, H. J. Buck, W. iG. Hughes, R, S. Johnston, and M, J. ’Crombie. . Before considering the question of the Plunket Shield rules, it was decided tc support tho proposals of the council rotating to tho method of procedure in ’"Rcdpath Cup" matches, rules for which were framed this month. Tho trophy was presented by Mr. I>. Redpnth for tho batsman with tho best performance in the Dominion In each season. Tho council had suggested that there should bo issued to th© winner each year a miniature cup, to beoomo his property; but tho association's proposal was that tho trophy shculd be held for one wear, pa tho council had suggested, without the issuing of a miniature. . Hours of Play. Thera was some discussion on tho question of hours of play for Plunket Shield and interprovincial matches. Tho council had suggested ithat all inatchiea should bo played to a finish; other intarprovincial matches by mutual arrangement. It suggested that the hours of play should bo mutually arranged before th© commencement of play <ach day, failing this, tho hours to be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with an adjournment hot exceeding one hour for lunch, and ten minutes for afternoon tea. The association did not agree with the hours as proposed, and the proposal it will send to tho council will omit the clause concerning "mutual arrangement of hours." Specified hours are proposed by the association as follow: —11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; 4.15 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will support tho council's amendment, providing for tho cancellation of an afternoon tea adjournment in the case of an innings closing between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Members emphasised the importance of

the amendment, which they thought would materially help tho game. The association was unanimous on this point.

The council had only one recommendation to make in clause 5 of tho 1912 amendments, which provided that no one should be eligible to play in a shield or interprovlnoial match unless: (a) ho was born within the boundaries of the association district for which ho intended to play; or (b) he had been rest, dent in a district for a period of not less than six months immediately preceding the match.

The association favoured tho deletion of clause (a) in its entirety, and considered that "six" months, in clause (b), should be amended to "three.* The council’s recommendation regarding tho clause was that no player should bo eligible to play unless "lie has taken up his residence within a district under circumstances sufficient to establish to the management committee that he has a. bona-fide intention of remaining within wuoh district for a period of not less than six months." Tho association favoured the deletion of this clause. Question of Proceeds. On tho question of proceeds, tho council had, in a clause, the association’s amendment of' which will be given below, proposed that 30 per cent, cf the proceeds of matches should bo paid to the • visiting associations, with a minimum of .£3O; and that in the event of u loss on the match, tho loss should be paid by the local association. TLa association's vers on of the clause is as follows ‘ ? Tho proceeds of each Plunket match shall bo divided as follows:—After providing for approved travelling expenses of members of tho local team living at a distance of 20 miles or more from the ground in which the match is played, ground charges, advertising, luncheon, tea, match balls, cartage, and other approved expenses; 5 per eeut. shall be naid to th© New Zealand Cricket Council, and the balance shall be retained by tho local association. The allocation of profits of association matches other than Plunket Shield matches shall bo arranged between tho associations concerned provided that the proportion of tho council's share bo the same as in Plunket Shield matches. A correct and properly certified bal-ance-sheet together with a cheque for tho council's share of the proceeds (if any) shall be supplied to tho New Zealand Cricket Council within one month of the conclusion of the match. Other Amendments. Tho council's recommendations that were supported by the association are as follow: — , (1) The shield shall bo known as "The Plunket Shield," and shall bo open for competition by teams representing the major associations. (3) The Plunket Shield shall ba hold by the team winning tho greatest number of matches in a competition for same. In the event of an equal numbe? of wins, tho competition shall be decided on tho rules governing tho Sheffield Shield competition in Australia. The competition shall be played on the following lines:—(a) It shall bo confined to tho Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otugo Associations; (b) each : team shall play every other team each i season; (c) the competition shall bo in- ’ augurated by all competing teams excepting Auckland travelling north during tho 1921-22 season. In the following season all competing teams excepting Otago shall travel south. (6) No player shall represent moro than one affiliated association in th© same Beason, without tho express sanction of the Management Committee.

(10) Tho Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, rind Otago Associations shall bo classified as major associations, and all other associations shall bo classified as minor associations, but in .any Plunket Shield match th® Auckland Association shall bo entitled to play any player resident within the provincial district of Auckland. Tho Wellington Association shall bo entitled to play any player resident within the provincial districts of Hawke’s Bay. Taranaki, Wellington, 'Nelson, or Marlborough, and the Canterbury Association shall be entitled to ■play any player resident in tho provincial districts of Weatland or Canterbury, and Otago shall bo entitled to play afU player resident in tho provincial districts of Southland and Otago. The ipclusfon of any player unaef this rule shall not debar him from playing in any Hawke Cup competition for which ho would be otherwise eligible. The council. or its committee, shall have tho right to ro-classify any association. (11) The council or its Management Committee shall havo power to impose nny penalty that it may think fit for any infringement of any of the foregoing rules.

Tho association approved of tho connail's action in deleting clause (2), which provided that: "All matches played by tho association holding the shield with any other first grade association must bo os shield nmtoheg.** Ths cotmoil'tf amendments to "Hawke Cxit) 1 ’ match, rules were supported by tho

association, and also those for Heath-cote-Williams Shield matches. Tt was decided th-at Mr. R. S. Johnston should bo a delegate to tho meeting of tho council and delegates in Christchurch next week.