Cricket Reforms

Manawatu Herald, 31 January 1903, Page 2

Cricket Reforms

WIDER T-E'sT MiTCHEg; At a meeting of the captains- of the 15 first-classr. ; cricket/ iounties, held at l&fdfe, oh’Mbnday; Bth "Deb, a resolution was proposed by Mr A O- v. Maelaren Lancashire > - and seconded by Mr C. L. Joseph* (Gloucestershire), to the effect that in future only three test matches shall be played in one year between England and Australia, and that a week shall be reserved in which to play each of them. This %as carried, and a recommendation embodying, it will consequently be made both he the M.O.C. and the

. ~.y 'Board governing the teat matches. ;:i|Tli«|sßcommendation that only three tesff , matches shall be played, i and' i fpt y a week shall be devoted if necessary, will undoubtedly meet with popular support, as the experiences of the last two Aus- . traiian tours were most unsatisfactory to all the parties concerned. We ‘understand; that the country captains were practically unanimous in'their recommendation, and there is little doubt that the M.C.C and the Board of Control will adopt their suggestion. Another recommendation, proposed by Mr G. MacGregor (Middlesex), and seconded by Mr C. B. Fry (Sussex), was also carried—to increase the width of the wicket from eight to nine inches. The method suggested to be adopted is to increase the circumference of the stumps. It is not proposed to alter the height of the wicket. The proposed alteration in the width of the stumps is of coarse a concession to the bowlers, who complain bitterly that in these days of carefully prepared wickets it is practically limppsaibie tp bowl %fi®l|claps bataiman.'otit f '* dlvS; of the 15 county captains who made the recommendations are regular bowlers they cannot be accused of prejudice g- w *m »|#j| * *^Tirlfr Trade on the Nile, J ; * : i M /Brlgl '■ *A tion under the leadership of Mr McMillan, an .but .ppj?n% tena'need by'the ’British and-Egy]j-| I tian Governments, is starting from! England to navigate the Blue ..Nile and open a commercial route from Adis Abeba to Khartoum, with the object of diverting trade from Jibutil.