LARGER WICKETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 667, 20 May 1929, Page 13

LARGER WICKETS

OPINION IN AUSTRALIA . EXPERTS' DIFFERENT VIEWS 1 When tlio AI.C.C. proposals to increase the height and width of the (Stumps were first announced there were divergent opinions as to the effect such an alteration would have on the game. The opinions of experts and first-class cricketers who participated in the first games played under the new experimental rule were also dissimilar (says the Sydney “Herald”). There can be no doubt England was faced with a crisis. Scoring had become far too heavy to suit the season’s fixture lists of the first-clas% counties, the backbone; of English cricket. It is not possible from 14,000 miles away to judge the effect of the new experimental law. It may be found that the English authorities eventually view with favour the per-

manent introduction or the present proposals to make the game brighter. What is of concern to Australia, however, is the effect such an introduction would have on our own play. Heavy scoring is the vogue here now. Annually records are smashed. There has been no official expression as to whether the game has suffered from the marked increase in batsmen’s averages and the decline in bowling as judged by modern figures. The views of some former Austra-* lian XI men on the M.C.C.’s enlarge- ■ ment for the season of the stumps and the effect its introduction would have on our game were ascertained by the “Herald.” H. H. Massie’s (1882) opinion is: A very good experiment, but I would have gone a bit further. I would have reduced the widtn of the bat. Something should certainly be done to prevent the colossal scoring of today. M. A. Noble (ISS9-1909): I think it is all wrong. There is nothing wrong with the game. The real solution is to leave the game alone and concen-

trate on the development of bowlers— j spin bowlers. T. W. Garrett (1878) : A good idea — as an experiment. It will help the j bowler. But the real remedy is to j limit the time for the preparation of • tlio pitch. P. C. Charlton (1890): Ido not think j the enlargement of the stumps would make much difference on Australian ) wickets. The tendency would be to j make the batsmen play more care- j fully. On English wickets, which ‘ have more grass, it will give the spin j bowler a better chance. On our pitches it is hard to make the ball get aup and harder to turn it. If we had a TTurner or a Howell the difference "might be noticeable. But without good spin bowlers the difference would be little. English climate and conditions are different from ours. No, I do not tiling it would make our game faster. That's the reason for the experiment in England. Our batsmen • would get in front —get behind the ball j more. Of course, I am speaking of ! big games.