COVERING THE WICKETS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 53, 4 March 1939, Page 4

COVERING THE WICKETS

NEW PRACTICE IN SOUTH AFRICA . SAFETY OF THE PLAYERS . REASONS FOR INTRODUCING To save bowlers from suffering pos£>ibie jjroKen anKies and io permit batsmen to play with a certain uegree oi saiety are two ol the reasons which nave Liompteu me iransvaal uricxei Union* to introduce the new regulation governing tnc covering oi wieners in Lire event of rain.

“We are omy week-end in inis country, ’ said Mr. S. J. rills, chairman oi me Transvaal Cricket union, when asneu for ms views on the matter, “anu now tnav turi wickets are becoming more general, ram might mean a very considerable curtailment of piay uunng me course oj. a season, ine position is uiiierenl in mis country to mat obtaining in England and our cricket is bouiiu to sunei n our players get even less piay man they have been doing. “m passing this by-law," continued Mr. ruts, “we nave to consider the possibility of danger to bowlers anu oatsmen necessitated by a wet run-up and a wet piten. We nave, therefore, asked clubs to protect the run-up ant. three-anu-a-haiJL leet in front ul the popping creases, which we consider sumcient to save the batsmen being hit by a flying ball from ah angles on a sticky wicket.

“If ciubs desire to do so they can protect the whole oi the wicket, ■ went on Mr. Fitts, “but most oi tne ciuos axe unable to anoru the expense oi complete coverings. “If finances permit, the union may, at a later date contribute towards tne cost of coverings at clubs, but at present we feel that what we are asking should not entail much expense. A Lot to Learn. “We in this country have a great deal to learn about wnat are playable and whai are unplayable tun wickets in wet conditions, rew players, umpires, or officials in the rransvaai nave sufficient experience on the point and what we are now proposing win enable us to gain a litue experience.

“Another very importan. point whicn critics ot the new regulation overlook is the danger of damage not only to the actual playing pitch, bm to the surrounding pitches. “Our turi wickets are very youn to and so precious that we cannot alloru to risk having them permanently damaged. "11 i remember rightly, one of the wickets on lhe wanuerers back ground, wnich was a very good turi wicket, was rendered unplayable lor several weeks, one season, oecause a maten was continued on it in rainy conditions.

“1 personally," continued Mr. Pitt., “think that a tricky wicket actus L the interest of the game; i tnink i will be a long time oerore jungian, will follow me example ot Ausmam

and cover wickets tor an importaii matenes and our batsmen anu uowier should be given opportunities to pia, on difficult wicketo.

“The wnoie tning is, of course, botinu up with tn-j policy of preparing ‘doped' wickets, whicn are an ii, favour oi the batsman, inis is something wmen is exercising me minus cricket legislators throughout the world, but there is no nine ot a solution so far.

“if we could get standard tui. wickets, wmen would make things more even lor tne bowler, then puhaps, we could get general agreement on tne covering ot wickets ana as little curtailment of play as possiblethrough rain. Board’s Aim. "We on the Board of the Transvaa. Cricket Union, ' concluded Mr. Pitts, “have examined me problem iron, every possible angle, vve at least, nave ensured that 11 there has uecu heavy rain tne uay uetore a match u scneuuie to sum, it will, if line, be possible to start the match anu we nope we nave reasonably ensured tnc saiety of players and avoided the danger ot irreparable damage io valuable young pitches, by passing this regulation. , The new regulation which nas given rise to considerable controversy m the local cricket world reads as tonows:

"The wicket, and extending trom the wicket not less than seven yards of the bowler's run, shall be completely protected against rain for 24 h< urs before the time of commencement of any match or until play begins. After lhe first ball has been bow'tu covers must be used in the event of rain to protect the bowler's run and extending not less than three ana a-halt feet in front of the poiying ciease at each end. The whole wicket may be covered if desired by the home team.”