Illingworth Rebuffed At TCCB Meeting (15 Dec 1995)

Electronic Telegraph Friday 15 December 1995

TCCB meeting: Resting of England players is put on hold

By Charles Randall

RAY Illingworth was yesterday rebuffed, in the nicest possible way, by the counties in his attempt to take more control over his England players.

The England manager, backed by apparently influential voices at Lord`s, had hoped that he would be given the right to protect international players from wear and tear by withdrawing them from championship or one-day matches at his discretion.

At the Test and County Cricket Board gathering the counties were "sympathetic" to Illingworth, but they could promise only "discussion" and no action.

Alan Smith, the TCCB`s chief executive, said: "In practice, if he really wanted to do something he could talk to the county chairman involved, who would be sympathetic."

With Illingworth out in Durban, he was easily fobbed off over an issue that blew up last summer with Yorkshire`s handling of Darren Gough, whose fitness, Illingworth felt, was put at risk.

There was more `no action` when yet another working party was formed - this time with Glamorgan`s David Morgan as chairman - to analyse the proposals to set up what is called the England Cricket Board (no agreement, yet, even on the name).

The TCCB meeting, scheduled for two days, finished in one day on Wednesday, and the impression of hustle and bustle at Lord`s was heightened when Terry Blake, the marketing manager, collided full tilt in a corridor with Richard Little, in charge of public relations, cutting his forehead and splitting Little`s right eye. But then marketing excesses do occasionally clash with England cricket`s public face.

The four-day championship remains one league, and Benson and Hedges overs shrink from 55 to 50 overs

The TCCB cricket committee, chaired by Essex`s David Acfield, made their recommendations and only the Illingworth one was rejected outright.

The four-day championship remains one league, and Benson and Hedges overs shrink from 55 to 50 overs. Wednesday starts will be considered for 1997 while bonus points for a draw will be assessed in March.

Splitting the championship into two seemed a strong possibility, but Acfield`s committee said there was "no evidence" that the competition was uncompetitive. This view had been handily endorsed by England`s fighting draw in Johannesburg.

Surprisingly, the committe recommended banning all overseas players from 1999 onwards, but this proposal was watered down to a possible moratorium during that World Cup year.

Championship prize money will be increased by about a third to a total of #155,000, awarded down to nine places rather than five. Coloured clothing on Sundays will continue for another five years.

The TCCB also agreed to donate #1.9 million from this year`s revenue to the Cricket Foundation for distribution to the grass-roots sector.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)