IMPERIAL CRICKET.

Evening Star, Issue 12926, 14 April 1908, Page 3

IMPERIAL CRICKET.

M.C.C. SCHEME. [From Our Special Correspondent.] LONDON, March 6. A draft scheme for the proposed test matches between England, Australia, ;m<! South Africa in 1909, drawn up by the M.C.C., was i«med List evening. Copies are being sent to Australia, South Africa, and the first counties for expressions of opinion. A .set of suggested rules governing the qualifications of plavers in Imperial cricket has been drawn tip, and is also submitted for approval. The'draft scheme is as follows : 1. England, Australia, and South Africa .shall play each six test matches in Fur,, land in 1909, each playing the other tlu've matches It is suited that a method should be arranged by which the result of the contest could ho ascertained. It is understood that Australia wou'd like a permanent programme of interna tional cricket to precede an agreement "to play the Imperial enckot contest in 1909 It is suggested that' this will l>e, a diflicult thing to do. but the ineotin- of cricketers of all three countries in °1909 will afford an opportunity of discufwinothe proposal, and an Imperial Cricket Board might then be formed to consider the matter with this view. 2. Each country shall take one-third of the gross gate taken at. the test matches. 5. Each visiting team shall, in addition to the test matches, play, if possible at least one match with each first- class county and with the M.C.C. * 4. The Board of Control shall fix the dates of the test matches from July 31, 1908. to enable the county secretaries to make their programmes "without undue niconvexuence. 5. (a) For the purpose of providing for complimentary and other stand tickets, each contesting party shall receive 100 free stand ticket?, and shall have the option of purchasing 200 additional stand tickets for each test match at the current rates, and that no other provision shall be made ,n this respect. Such option to be exerted at least fourteen davs before uired Which th ° aro *»■ (b) For the convenience of accurately aseertaming the amount of gate money to be divided,.the sale of stent fcicffihaH include the antraaoe fee to tho 6. That the principle of every match being concluded, drawn, or abandoned at the completion of three days be adhered 7. (a) The.price of admission to all test matches shall be one shilling (b) The price of admi &s ion°to all matches other than test matches shall be arrived I *i? 7 **^ rrangei ? en * botwe eJi Australia, South Africa, and the local authorities on whose grounds such matches are played 8. Such matters as (1) hours of play (2) selection of umpires, (3) control of the crowd during matches to be subsequently arranged by agreement, between the parties interested. The suggested rules re qualification run thus: 1. A cricketer who lias dared in a re-

presen-tative match for a country can never play for any other country. 2. Qualification by birth: A cricketer, unices debarred by Rule 1, is always eli gible to play for the countrv of his birth.

3. Qualifications by "residence: A cricketer, unless debarred by Rule 1. may elect to play for any country in which he is residing and has resided for not less than four consecutive years.