Council to decide Shell format

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 60

Council to decide Shell format

By

RAY CAIRNS

The New Zealand Cricket! (Council’s board of control is (likely to decide on the for- ' mat" of next season’s Shell 'series at its meeting this week-end.

The board is aware that none of the variations of the Shell Cup-Shell Trophy format have been universally accepted. The “grand finals” for the trophv have more often than not ' been anything but “grand” affairs and overseas tours have also resulted in intrusions into the continuity of the first-class domes-

tic programme and a con sequential drop-off in interest.

A committee of experienced players has expressed its views on the competition, and the firstclass associations have also been making known their thoughts. Canterbury, only this week, agreed to the abolition of performance points and over limites — though retaining penalties for slow over-rates — and restoring first innings wins. The country — and no doubt the board — is verydivided on the style of the competition, and tfyere must

be a certain reluctance to; change it again. The most favoured concept is of a single round of four-day games, the winner taking the Shell Cup and a play-off between the top two for the Shell Trophy. The over-riding reason for the format being set is that this meeting decides the 1979-80 programme. and there are the usual difficulties associated with touring teams. The England team which will tour Australia next season will spend 10 days in New Zealand late in December probably t$ play a

I couple of one-day games and a test.

In January-February, the West Indies will be making its tour, and a single-round Shell competition would enable the domestic season to be completed without that counter-attraction.

Another important matter facing the board is that of under-age tours. A planned tour to India two or three vears ago was cancelled because of breakdowns at India’s end; while the prohibitive cost of such tours will remain the main problem facing the New Zealand board.