LATE STARTING OF CRICKET MATCHES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 8 October 1936, Page 8

LATE STARTING OF CRICKET MATCHES

ADD LOST TIME AT END OF DAY

ASSOCIATION’S POSSIBLE DECISION

Once again the City Cricket Association has discussed the question of the late starting of matches under its iurisaiction, complaints being made by various delegates at the annual meeting last evening.

The rule on the matter reads that the hours of play shall be from 2 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., and the sides must take the field at 2 p.m. with such men as are available, or the offending team is rendered liable to forfeit the match.

The Hospital delegates, Mr A. S. Thomas, said that teams frequently arrived out at Stoke late, and last season Hospital was prevented from winning several matches because time was short. The fact that Hospital had been empowered to claim the game at 2 p.m. if the other side had not arrived was of no assistance for it was not the sporting thing to do, depriving Hospital of-its afternoon sport as well, penalising players that were not to blame.

A delegate remarked that in such cases the side in the right could claim the match and then have a friendly game when the rest arrived. However other delegates expressed doubt as to whether, such a match would be “friendly.” The question of inflicting a fine on the offending team was also discussed; and finally Mr R. H. Methven gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting that in the case where a team is late in taking the field the other team can if it desires demand that play go on for an equivalent time at the end of the day, thus making up for the lost time.

The Wakatu delegate gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting that the hours of play be 1.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.