BRIGHTER CRICKET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 9, 8 December 1937, Page 9

BRIGHTER CRICKET.

IN COUNTY MATCHES. COMMISSION’S REPORT. LONDON, Dec. 7. Important recommendations dealing with various problems in county cricket are made by a Marylebone commission, consisting of Messrs Findlay, Palairet. and Mallet, assisted by Mr H. D. Bessemer, financial expert. The report states that inter-county cricket from 1934 to. 1936 lost £26,873 a year. The receipts in county cricket in 1935 declined by £2600 as compared with 1934, while 1936 showed a further decrease of £I6OO. The recommendations include the reduction of first-class counties from 17 to 15, which will allow extra representative matches, permitting the best players to play together in preparation for the Tests, “and thus raising the standard of English cricket. The report recommends a different method of championship scoring to produce more finished games. The commission contends that much dull play is due tot the bowlers rather than to the batsmen. It condemns fast bowlers bowling persistently short with only two fieldsmen in front of the wicket, and belie'ves it would be beneficial if captains agreed to discourage negative bowling. If there is no improvement it may be necessary to resort' to a line or lines across the' wicket beyond which bowlers will be required under penalty to pitch the ball. The commission suggests that the county authorities instruct groundsmen to provide wicket conditions more equal for batsmen and bowlers without being dangerous.