CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20509, 10 January 1935, Page 7

CRICKET.

The New lbw Rule at Home. A MIXED RECEPTION*. LONDON, December 2. The decision to change the lbw rule has met with a mixed reception. Few of the batsmen favour it, and I do not think their judgment has been influenced entirely by their own interests. Bowlers, too, are doubtful about the wisdom of the alteration. The new rule will prevent batsmen “ covering up ” with their pads against balls pitched outside the off stump, because it is laid down that if such a ball, when impeded, would have struck the stumps, the batsmen will be given out. Thus another considerable responsibility has been put on the umpires, and it is not surprising that their immediate response has been to ask for higher fees. At the present time they receive £2O for two matches a week, and from this they have to pay their expenses. Under these conditions they can earn only about £230 a season, and the sum does not seem adequate. One criticism of the rule, which is to be tried as an experiment next season in the county championship but not in other branches of the game, is that the leg break bowler should be entitled to the advantage which is to be conferred on the man who turns the ball in from the off. “ Why,” it is asked, “ should a bowler of the type of \ eritv be favoured, and Freeman be left to have his leg breaks played with the pads?” I do not suppose the authorities overlooked this point and I imagine they decided that to lav the batsman open to balls turning in on both sides would be conceding too much power to the bowler. There is no doubt that the new rule will make a tremendous difference to batsmanship. The square stance will. I think, have to go, and there is bound to be considerably more offside play.

! The long view is that batting will im- ' prove, but players will require time to j become familiar with the altered con- ! ditions, and in the meantime innings J are likely'- to be shorter and scores smaller In fact, the counties are afraid that matches may be decided within two days and that they will lose the receipts from the third. Veterans v. H.M.A.S. Australia. A friendly match between the Veterans’ Club and a team from H.M.A.S. Australia was played at. Hagiey Park yesterday afternoon. After hard struggle at the finish, Veterans won by a wicket and 10 runs. Scores:— H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA. L. Banner, b Hot* 1 F. Purvis, lbw b Harvey 0 W. Ross, b Lawrence ’ 20 1\ Evans, lbw b Hotz (1 A'. E. Kennedy, b Harvey 6 iw. A. Bradley, c Wedd b Harris .. 36 •1- Madden, b Harris 26 T. Synott, st Mansell b Harris .... 20 : P- O. L. Owen, c and b Harris .... 0 C. r. Baldwin, run out r> ' W. Lintott, not out 16 , Extras l 3 ] Total 157 * C. Harris took four wickets for 34 . runs. ' VETERANS. H. Lawrence, c Purvis b Evans . . S C. Harris, lbw b Madden 1 P- Harvey, run out 5 TV. H. M-Menamin, b Banner 25 C. Hotz. c Bradley b Evans 0 A. F. Stacey, b Owen 13 F. Wedd. b Banner 0 < IT. Wilson, c and b Banner S .7, Fleming, b Madden 5 * P. D. Mansell, not out 21 1 H. F. Foster, not out 31 ; Extras 3 2 1 Total 167 L. Banner took three wickets for 27 ■ g ; ■■ - 1