CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 25 October 1907, Page 3

CRICKET.

THE STATUS 01' PROFESSIONALS. NEW RULES. Per Press Association. Christchurcli, Last Night. The committee appointed by the New Zealand CrieSfet Council to consider the question of the qualification of players has reported that it has come to the unanimous conclusion that it is desirable that professional cricketers, bona fide engaged for the season by a district for the purpose of advancing the standard of play, should take part in these matches, but that any attempt to enlist the temporary services of prominent cricketers from abroad for the purpose of winning matches for any particular association should be strongly discountenanced. The committee suggested the following additions to the rules of the Council: —

"No one shall be eligible to play in a mateli for the Plunket Shield unless (a) he was liorn within the boundaries of the association district for which it is proposed that lie should play, or (b) he has been resident, within such district for a period of not less than six months immediately preceding the match, or (e) he luus taken up his residence within such district under circumstances sufficient to establish to the satisfaction of the Council tliat he has a bom fide ii\•tention of remaining within such district for a period of not less than four months. 24.—Nd players shall represent more than one affiliated association in the same season without the express sanction of the Council. 25. The Council may deal with and decide the question of the qualification of any player, at the instance of any allUiated association communicated lo the Council in writing, upon such oral, documentary, or other evidence as it thinks (it, and its .decision may be announced by letter or telegram before, during, or after any match in which the question of a player's status has been raised.

The Council may from time to timo delegate the whole or any portion of its functions and powers under the foregoing rules Nos. 23, 24, and 25 to an executive committee of three members, whose decisions shall be final. Note.—The Council trusts that if the qualification of any player is open to reasonable doubt, the association for the district in which such player resides will submit the circumstances for the opinion of the Council before his name is included in any representative team. The report of the subcommittee is to be referred to the various cricket associations throughout the Dominion for their consideration before the matter is finally dealt ivith at a special meeting of the Council to be held on. 20th November. The first round of the North Taranaki Association championship matches commences on Thursday next, and in view of this the local clubs put in solid practice yesterday. A match was played on Thursday afternoon between two teams representing the East and West divisions of the New Plymouth Cricket Club. The West had the best of the East being without the services of Braund, and having to field during the latter stages of the game with three men short. The scores were as follows: East.—E. 0. Lightband, b Fewster, 5; Jack, h Fewster, 0; 11. Baker, 1) Fewster, 10; \\. IJ.1 J . Nieoll, b Lash, 21; 11. J. Price, b Ingram, 15; H. Cook, run out, 8; 15. Whittle, b Archer, 0; T. Anderson, b Archer, 0; P. Whitcombe, b Lash, 1; A. Steeds, e Williams, b Archer, 1; L, B. Webster, b Lash, 4; extras, o—total VI. W est.—j. 11. Muldoon, b Outfield, 23; E. Lash, c Steeds, b Nicoll, 14; —Archer, c and b Nicoll, !); Fewster, e Jack, b Steeds, 12; W. Brerctoii, c L. Webster, 1) Baker, 1; M, G. Williams, not out, 28; T. Cooke, l.b.w. Price, 20; extras, 10—six wickets for 122. The town teams, senior and junior, will be picked to-morrow night. The Carrington-road Club report a good practice yesterday, some very good form being shown. The following are Ahc senioy fixtures for Thursday next:—Urenui v. Waitara, at Waitara; New Plymouth A v.'lnglewood, at Inglewood; New Plymouth B v. Carrington-road, at New Plymouth.