CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 208, 28 May 1921, Page 5

CRICKET

P LUNKET SHIELD AND INTER PRO VINCIAL MATCHES SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO RULES

Copies of new rules and suggested amendments to the rules of tho New Zealand Cricket Council were placed before the members of the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association at its meeting on Thursday night. Tn view of the importance of these new and suggested rules it was decide dto hold a special meeting of the council early in J une. It was mentioned thnt if the new rules are carried at the meeting of delegates to be held shortly it would greatly affect the financial position of the Wellington association.. It was therefore necessary that members of the committee should study the proposed alterations very closely. Important changes are proposed regarding the playing of Plunket Shield matches and interprovincial games. The new rules are as follow: — The shield shall bo known as “The Plunket Shield," and shall be open for competition by teams representing the major associations.

The Plunket Shield shall be held by the team winning the greatest number of matches in a competition for same. In the event of an equal number of wins, the competition shall be decided on the rules governing the Sheffield Shield competition in Australia. The competition shall be played on the following lines: —(aj It shall be confined to the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Associations. (b) Each team shall play e.very other team each season. (c) The competition shall be inaugurated by all competing teams excepting Auckland travelling North during the 19211922 season. In the following season all competing teams excepting Otago ehall travel south. All Plunket Shield matches shall be played to a finish; other interprovincial matches by mutual arrangement. The hours of play should be mutually arranged before the commencement of each day’s play, but failing such arrangement, the hours shall be from 11 a.m. to 6 p,m., with an adjournment not exceeding one hour for lunch and ton minutes for afternoon tea. In the event of an innings closing between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., there shall be no afternoon tea adjournment. The proceeds of each Plunket match shall be divided as follow.—After providing for approved travelling expenses of members of the local team living at a distance of twenty miles or more from the ground in which the match is played, ground charges, advertising, luncheon, tea, match balls, cartage, and other approved expenses; 30 per cent, shall be paid to the visiting associations with a minimum of .£3O, 5 per cent, shall be paid to the New Zealand Cricket Council, and the balance shall be retained by the local association: In the event of a loss on the match, such loss shall be paid by the local association. The allocation of profits of association matches either \than Plunket Shield matches shall be arranged between the associations concerned, provided that the proportion of the council's share be tho same as in Plunket Shield matches. A correct and proper-ly-certified balance-sheet ■ together with a cheque for the council’s share of the proceeds (if any) shall be supplied to tho New Zealand Cricket Council within one month of the conclusion of the match.

The Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago associations shall be classified as major associations, and all other associations shall be classified as minor associations, but in any Plunket Shield match the Auckland association shall be entitled to play any player resident within tho provincial district of Auckland. The Wellington Association shall be entitled to play any player resident within the provincial districts of Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, or Marlborough, and the Canterbury association shall be entitled to play any player resident in the provincial districts of Westland or Canterbury, and Otago shall be entitled to play any player resident in the provincial districts of Southland and Otago. The inclusion of any player under this rule shall not debar him from playing in any Hawke Cup competition for which he would be otherwise eligible. The council. or its committee, shall have the right to reclassify any association. It is proposed that the Red path Cup be awarded to the batsman in a major association whoso performances during the season have been, in the opinion of the management committee, th© most meritorious. The trophy shall be held for one.year by the player to whom it is awarded, and a, miniature cup shall be issued by the council, which shall become the property of the holder.

The classification of associations is laid down as follows:—"The Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Associations shall be classified as major associations, and all other associations shall be classified as minor associations. Tile council, or its committee, shall have the right to reclavf’fy any association for the purpose '.I competition in matches."

The remaining proposals do not affect the ’Wellington association to any great extent.