CRICKET ASSOCIATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11295, 22 August 1922, Page 8

CRICKET ASSOCIATION

ALTERATION OF RULES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS—NEW BASIS ADOPTED. Tho adjourned special meeting of tho Wellington Cricket Association for tne tliacussion of Uie alteration of rules was held at the Chamber of Commerce last nignt, CounciLor ALartin F. Luciiie (vicepresident; in the chair. At tho previous meeting a lengthy discussion took place on rule 3/ with regard to tiui pomte for senior and junior championship matches. The sub-com-mittee on rules proposed that the points should be scored as follow: —An outright win, 4 points; a w.in on the first innings, 2 points; a tie on the two innings, 2 points; a tie in the first innings, 1 po.\nt; a drawn or abandoned game (i.e., where no result is arrived at on tho first innings), 1 point. The chairman suggested that the whole of rule 27, dealing also with club championship points, should be referred to a sub-committee to report on the matter at the next annual meeting. The desire of all'of them, ho said, was to arrive at the fairest possible system, and he thought that that could best be done by a sub-committee. Mr D. McKenzie asked why the present system should be altered. It always produced a fair result. A detailed table exhibited showed no difference great enough, he contended, to make it worth while to throw over the present system of points in favour of any of the suggested systems. Mr J. Read said that grea£ exception, was taken by the clubs to the "minus points" in the existing system. It was most'disheartening. Besides, the preseut system led to so many drawn games; and that was a thing to be avoided. Mr McKenzie objected that under some of the proposed new systems a draw counted as a loss to both sines. A loss -counted nothing, and a draw counted nothing. The chairman: A draw means no result; and, at all events, nothing is deducted for a draw. THE NEW BASIS. On the motion of Mr H. Anderson it was deoided to abolish the minus system in counting points for the championship. Mr W. G. Hughes moved and Mr Read seconded that tho points shall be scored as follow: —An outright win, 4 points; & win on the first inrings, 3 a tie on the two innings, 2. points; a tie on the first innings. 14 points; a drawn game (i.e., where no result is arrived at on the first innings) 1 point. The remainder of Rule 37 was adopted without discussion, as under:—"And the championship in each grade shall be awarded to the team scoring the great" est number of points, provided, however, that if any team has played a less number of matches than the maximum number played in the grade it shall, to bring it in line with the other teams, be allowed for each match it has missed the average number of points scored by it in matches actually played. In the event of two or more teams leading for the championship having an equal number of points at the conclusion of the competition, these teams shall play off, if practicable, but the points scored in the play-off shall not count for the club championships. If a play-off is not practicable, the team which has lost the least number of matches in proportion to the number of matches actually played shall be declared the winner, but if there should still fie a tie, then the average number of runs per wicket scored against each team shall be deducted from the average number of rune per wicket scored by such team, and the team showing the greatest margin shall be declared the victor.

"In computing the points for the club championship, the points gained in the various grades shall be dealt with as follow :

"(Fourth and lower grades divided by 2, third grade multiplied by 1, junior multiplied by 3, and senior multiplied by 4, and the club gaining the highest aggregate shall be declared the winner." Rule 44 was also adopted, providing, inter alia, that —"No player shall play in championship matches for more than one club during any one season; provided that: Any player entering a school or college after having played for another club may play for such school or college firovided he does not play in a grade ower than that in which he played for the other club; any school or college player may, with the consent of the committee, play for another club during vacation, provided he plays in a grade higher than that in which he plays for the school."

Another new Tule was carried, empowering the committee to refuse to allow any player who is in arrears with any moneys due to any cricket club to take part in any matches under tho control of the association until such moneys are paid, and may refuse to allow any player suspended by any other governing athletic body for misconduct to take part in any such matches until such suspension is removed.

It was decided that championship matches on city grounds. should commence at 2 p.m., and on grounds outside the city at 2.15 p.m. Some idinousaion *todk place on the proposed rule that "each representative team shall elect its own captain," which was eventually deleted on the voices. On the motion of Mr P. Laurenson, seconded by Mr P. R. Fulton, it was resolved that the selection committee or the selector, as the case may be, should appoint the captain of each representative team. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Luckie for presiding last night, and on the previous Monday. Mr H. J. Buck moved a hearty vote of thanks to the sub-committee on rules—* Messrs P. B. Broad, j. Read, and B. L. Saimon—for the excellent work they had done. The eet of rules adopted, he stated, was far preferable to any the association bad had before. The vote was carried by acclamation.