CRICKET SCORES MAY END HAIR-SPLITTING; MODIFY AN OLD CUSTOM

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1949, Page 6

CRICKET SCORES MAY END HAIR-SPLITTING; MODIFY AN OLD CUSTOM

If a suggestion made by Frank Mooney, Test ’keeper, to Wellington umpires is put- into effect, local and other New Zealand cricket scorers may be able to simplify their work by modifying an old custom, reports the “Evening Post.” Mooney’s proposal was that the English practice of umpires—and usually the fielding side also—taking the field up to five minutes prior to the commencement or resumption of play should be adopted here. He said that it was customary in England for a bell to be rung in the dressing rooms live minutes before play was due to commence, by which time the umpires would be on the field. All concerned had adequate warning of their presence being required. and he had known instances of all the players waiting for a minute or so on the field ufTtil the exact time set down for starting. CUTTING IT FINE, In this country the usual procedure is for the umpires to walk out a minute or so before play is due to start. The fielding side follows with less time to spare, and frequently the batsmen appear at the actual starting time, or perhaps a little later. The field is then organised, and the first ball may be bowled two or three minutes after the stipulated time. The scorers generally count the time from the first delivery. No one seems to have given much thought to the inconsistency of this practice. For example, the time spent in placing the field for the opening bowler is not charged against the batsmen, yet the rearrangement for the secondary delivery is included in the playing time. Even when breaks occur to provide, perhaps, for the serving of drinks to the field, the playing time is regarded a.s proceeding uninterrupted. Furthermore. 4 hnv'i nlay frequently proceeds for a minute or at the commence—-.i. adjournment while an over is completed the break is entered as having begun at 1 p.m., 3.45 p.m., or whatever else the official time may be. The writer has on occasions endeavoured to persuade the scorers to simplify their own job regarding the playing time as occupying the official periods, but so far old habits have tended to die hard. ‘.ended to die hard. FAVOURABLE COMPARISON. Mooney s talk last night was of great interest and was further evidence of the extent to which this year’s touring team set out to observe, study, and learn. The local umpires were heartened by his assurance that they at least lost nothing in comparison with their English contemporaries, despite the high reputations of the latter. The speaker mentioned that. Englisn umpires, when at the bowler’s end, usually stand closer to the stumps than is customary in New Zealand. Some of the local officials .contended that their own practice was the better, especially when it came to sighting the bait

There was a lengthy round-table discussion regarding the lbw. rule after Mooney had mentioned that it was only a.s recently as 1943 that English umpires changed from their previous tendency to give a batsman out lbw. regardless of how far down the wicket he might be. providing the other provisions of the law had been complied with. Particularly in dispute was the question of whether an lbw. decision should he given immediately or whether the umpire should take a moment or two to debate in his mind whether an appeal is sound. Mooney said that, unlike other members of the New Zealand team, he did not think highly of the habit of English umpires of deliberating an appreciable while before giving their decisions. His own impression was that if an umpire needed to chew the position over, then a doubt must exist in his mind and should be given to thg batsman. EVEN MR. ( HESTER Speaking of Mr. Frank Chester, England's most famous umpire, Mooney said that he knew frbm his own experience that, though Mr. Chester’s reputation was well founded. even he was not above making a mistake. He said, moreover, that Mr. Chester did not regard himself as bound by technicalities. If the letter of the law said that a batsman must be given out and Mr. Chester decided that the batsman was morally not out. the batsman would be allowed to continue his innings. Later in the evening Mr. J B. Watson, a member of the association gave a talk on his own trip to England while the New Zeoland cricketers were there. Mr. Chester had told him and others, he said, that the New Zealanders were regarded as tops among touring sides so far as English umpir.es were concerned. Messrs. T. W. Dick and M. F. Pengelly have been appointed to act as umpires in lhe Plunket Shield cricket match between Wellington and Otago, commencing at thp Basin Reserve tomorrow.