Cricket Max Not A Threat To Tests (15 May 1997)

15 May 1997

Cricket Max Not A Threat To Tests

by John Coffey

New Zealand Cricket yesterday issued a press release which claimed the very abbreviated Cricket Max variation of the game was as popular as traditional five-day test matches.

Its statement said "a random telephone survey of 102 people across the country" had disclosed that one-day international cricket was the most popular with a 61 per cent rating.

"Test match cricket was preferred by 19 per cent while a further 19 per cent named Cricket Max as their favourite brand of cricket," said the statement, issued by John Reid, the NZC operations manager.

Devised by former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe, Cricket Max was added to the representative programme last summer, and often played on the eve of four-day Shell Trophy matches.

There was widespread criticism that Max's hit-or-miss nature was detrimental to the development of first-class batsmen.

Because of the poor ground attendances at Cricket Max, it seemed remarkable that "a random telephone survey of 102 people across the country" should hit upon 102 people who had all seen Cricket Max.

Reid, when contacted, admitted the Colmar Brunton market research poll, taken this month, had actually been commissioned by Sky Television, the pay channel which has the rights to Max, but does not have coverage "across the country". In defence of the figures, Reid said Sky Television viewers had access to New Zealand one-day internationals and test matches on free-to-air channels.

Reid said Sky was keen to switch from Sunday to Friday nights next season, continuing the Friday sports-night theme established by its rugby league and rugby union telecasts. Costs and a very full representative programme would mean Cricket Max would still be played in conjunction with the Shell Trophy, he said.

The statement describes Cricket Max's main attraction as "the action factor".

Some members of last summer's England touring team could offer NZC suggestions on how to increase that, having devised their own "Cricket Min" during their spare time.

"Min" had such variations as two wicket-keepers, one stationed at point and the other at square leg, who start their own run-ups with that of the bowler.

A New Zealand flavour was added by attaching the cover and mid-wicket fieldsmen to stakes with rubber bungy ropes. The lowest-scoring side would win "Min". Traditionalists would suggest the NZC statement itself gives the best clue to Cricket Max's future. It says the International Cricket Council has expressed an interest in Cricket Max -- after an approach by the Disney Corporation.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz)