BRIGHTER CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17570, 22 June 1925, Page 12

BRIGHTER CRICKET.

LORD HAWKE’S PROPOSALS ONE INNINGS MATCHES. LONDON, June'6. The “News of the World” says that the highest cricketing circles are eagerly discussing several radical proposals sponsored by the president of the Yorkshire club, Lord Ilawke, with a view to brightening cricket and remedying present defects in the game. It is suggested that the winner of the toss must bat first, and that in the return match the opposition shall bat first; that each match shall be confined to one innings, also that there shall be a time limit, and if a side is dismissed before that time has expired the balance of time shall be added to their opponents’ allowance. Pitches shall be marked for a certain breadth, says another of Lord Hawke’s proposals, and any ball pitching outside, or breaking away outside, shall l>e considered a wide, thus preventing a bowler from keeping down runs by bowling off the wicket. Although the drastic nature of these proposals allows them little chance of adoption, says the paper, if they were modified and adopted they might do much to brighten cricket. Lord Ilawke, who, as the Hon M. Hawke, brought an English team to Australia in ISS7, and had to leave earl yin the. tour, when thev were in Sydney, owing t-> the death of his father, was a dashing batsman himself. Therefore, lie would be the last, to have the slightest sympathy with the cautious methods which are adopted by batsmen in tests nowadays. The suggestions Lord Hawke makes are bound to attract attention, because not only is lie president of the Yorkshire County Club, but has been president of the M.C.C., which governs English cricket. The mere fact that a recognised leader in the game thinks that there should be special rules for test matches suggests the probability* of the M.C.C. trying some means to give the public more satisfaction than is derived from the long drawn out struggles in Australia and the drawn games in England.