MODERN CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 16

MODERN CRICKET

WHAT IS WRONG ?

DISCUSSION IN ENGLAND

BOUNDARY LIMITATION

During a discussion on "What is wrong with modern cricket?" a controversy "vvhich, front its inception in llio London "Daily Telegraph," aroused •widespread public interest in England, Lord Abcrdurc agreed thiit cricket was losing its attractiveness, but lie did not attach all the blame to batsmen. Lord Aberdare, who, as the Hon. C. K. Bruce, gained his Bluo at Oxford, and for many years played for Middlesex, made some.* illuminating comments on present-day cricket, and some suggestions for'brightening tho game. One of his suggestions was the limitation of boundary lines to a set distance from tho wickets ou both sides, thus avoiding the. lengthening of a boundary as the wicket is moved. CHANCE ALMOST ELIMINATED. "I have every sympathy with tho batsmen of to-day," said Lord Aberdare. "It is more difficult to attack modern bowlers, who are mastering to a greater and greater extent ball control. Formerly the batsman had a fairly even chance with the bowler, given other things equal, for the defects of the pitch affected one as much as the other. Batsmen .then, paid less attention to solid defence, for they were as likely to be beaten by an inequality in. the pitch as by- the bowler. But with the advent of the highly cultivated pitch tho element of chance was almost eliminated; the bowler took a wicket every time- he beat tho bat with a wcll-pHch-ed, straight Mil, and the .batsman found that ho could rely on accurate anticipation and defence.. Thus tho clay. oi short, bright innings passed, making way for tho era.of defensive batting. ■■"DEARTH, OF FAST BOWLERS. Th.c bowler's task of getting wickets, Lord Aberdare. added, becamo more difficult as. the. cultivation of grounds became more intensive, but it was dimcult to lay down rules to govern the treatment of. pitches because thc_ soil differs-to a very great extent in difler■ent" localities. "Another factor contributing to the slowing up of the game is the dearth of fast bowlers," continued Lord Aberdare "It is a mistake in my opinion to- say that the excessive programmes of the first-class clubs to-day have caused'this shortage. It is true that our best fast, bowlers, notably Larwooci, have been appreciably slowed down by overwork,' but the real trouble is that tho youths of to-day do not seem able to bowl fast." ■.. ' There had been undoubtedly too many -first-class matches during recent seasons, due to the heavy championship programme added to the games with the Various touring sides. Our great players were worked to an extent winch only extraordinary physical powers «ould stand. . OVERWORKED PLAYEES. "Many of our best men play .through in exhausting season here, then, with *carc6ly a break, go abroad to pay through the winter. Often they luvo Uttle or no rest before resuming the following season. The highest ski] and keenest enthusiasm cannot prevail against such ■ •continual strain. "There seems to me to.be only one way of remedying the situation, and that is to curtail tho championship pro-. gramme in such a way as not to u,flcet| gates. This sounds dilheult, but I think it can bo done. "I suggest that the first eight clubs in tho championship table should com-; pete for the title among themselves, the remainder playing each other tor tho right of promotion, the two winners to -displace the two bottom clubs of the senior section. ''Matches would be played between the senior and junior class, the totures being adjusted so. that each jun-ior-dub had the same number o± home ana away games with senior clubs, but these tottches would not count in cither ""Inch matches would offer opportunities to clubs to rest their leading players, in turn, so that during the season each man would get an occasional rest. "GATE" PROBLEM; '-■ "It might, be supposed that some teams without all their famous _ players wouM not prove a gate attraction, but 'this has not proved the casern my ex■perience.- Again, the junior clubs ■might protest on the score that then attendances would suffer if «*«° ™" -no competition games with the leading believe, however, that the championship complex is not a deep one with cricket lovers. Our famous clubs are attractions even if there are no points ■' in. the balance. "If the junior dubs should by any chance lose financially they might be ■.-helped, say, by adjusting the distribution of. Test match profits: in their favour. The revenue of the leading clubs should, go up under the new arrangement and perhaps they could subsidise the iuniors in necessary cases. _ . Lord;. Aberdaro's next suggestionaimed directly at brightening cricket, tt was that boundary lines should never be more than'a fixed distance from_ the •wicket, thus avoiding, when the pitch •was moved, having a long boundary on ono side. ■ ... ' "I ■•"have noticed when playing m county cricket," said Lord Aberdare, ♦'that tho short boundary invariably tempts batsmen to hit out. This moans that the .spectators are provided cither ■with a.bright innings or quick wickets. INDUCEMENT TO BATSMEN. "It is not only the prospect ofa six ■which induces the batsmen to hit out with the short boundary. With less area to guard, the out-field, can bo brought in nearer to the wickets, and nearer together, and consequently tho number of short scoring strokes is considerably reduced. "I have discussed this suggestion, with county captains, and they agreed that the short boundary makes for brighter cricket. Incidentally, cricket is more attractive to the spectator if he is nearer tho wicket. This he can getrif allowed to sit-up to the edge of the shortened boundary. Moreover, towards the close oC a match tho rate cf scoring might be increased enormously if the risk is taken." Lord Aberdaro said that the question of limiting the preparation of pitches and the weight of rollers had been considered, but the difficulty of framing any rulo fairly applicable to all clubs seemed insurmountable. Tho M.C.C. were constantly socking means of brightening cricket and had many proposals before them for consideration or experiment, and would welcome others. Their lank was 1o cut out impracticable schemes and to try out any that showed hope. Progress was necessarily slow.