PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 54, 7 March 1929, Page 10

PLUNKET SHIELD

; (To the Editor.) ! Sir, —Until a change in the rules govern* ing the awarding of the shield is an actuality,' it is, in my opinion, advisable to stress the necessity for an-alteration that will take into consideration losses' as well as wins. This season might have presented an even greater absurdity if the Otago team had beaten-Auckland. ■ The actual results of the Otago-Auckland-game was: Auckland five wickets for 384, Otago first innings 188, second innings three wickets for 94. If the result bad been Auckland 384 for two completed innings, and Otago first innings 188, second 19/ for nine wickets (win for Otago by one wicket), the shield, under the interpretation tho New Zealand Cricket Association of the rules, would still place Auckland as (.lie winner of the shield, although they had one win and two losses as against Otago ami Wellington each one win and unueieated m the other two games. Under the average per wicket, for and against, they would still. have slightly the best showing, although twice defeated. ' A recent correspondent referred to this season's results in the local championship as evidence of. tho difference in position that would result if championship points were estimated by the numj ber oi runs scored per wicket, and the average per wicket scored against the teams. Working out the results up to date, I find that the result under such system would mean the following teams at tne head m the order named:—lnstitute Old Boys, Midland, and University. Wellington, instead of tieing for second place at the head, would drop to seventh pcX,,, actl]al championship points ?i' e: T T- Boys 18 ' Midland and Wellington 10, University 15, and Institute 11.—I am. i etc., , .' ; CD.