LORDS_COUNTY_REFORM_06MAR1996

Lord's Ponder County Reform

English cricket chiefs will press the 18 counties to award points for a draw in a bid to toughen up the championship program and therefore help breed a better Test team.

A recommendation of three points for a draw will be proposed by former Northamptonshire captain Tim Lamb`s cricket committee when the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB) hold their spring meeting during the next two days.

The counties will be asked to consider the draw incentive of three or maybe even four points, as ways of getting more out of the premier county competition.

They believe too many sides fight too little for a draw -- only 29 of last summer`s 153 championship fixtures were drawn.

Discussion of England`s failures in South Africa and in the World Cup, and whether Ray Illingworth should stay on as team boss, is not on the agenda.

County chairmen and executives still have at least a month to decide whether to keep the England team`s current management structure and its personnel or to go back to a team manager working with a chairman of selectors.

The TCCB`s executive committee, headed by retiring Board chief Alan Smith, meets on March 26 -- and it is this body that has the power to terminate Illingworth`s reign.

Source:: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)