New Zealand: Plan for late Test starts (14 January 1999)

14 January 1999

New Zealand: Plan for late Test starts

The Christchurch Press

Cricket tests could start as late as 1pm in New Zealand next season, as a way of drawing bigger crowds to matches.

New Zealand Cricket had planned to introduce the later start time for the upcoming South African series, but was only thwarted because of its television contract.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Chris Doig said yesterday the South Africans had agreed to a later start time, but TVNZ needed to accommodate its 6pm news.

Pay television operator Sky takes over the contract to screen cricket from next season.

"In the years ahead you might well find us timetabling our test matches so that two of the sessions, the last two sessions, will be played at times when people can actually get along and see the game," said Doig.

He said NZC, which introduced the highly-successful Boxing Day test this season, was looking carefully at times when people could attend tests.

With New Zealand's late twilights, the matches could still be completed in daylight if they started at 1pm, said Doig.

Meanwhile, Christchurch could be the first city in New Zealand to host a test match under lights.

South African cricket boss Dr Ali Bacher said in Christchurch yesterday that the Proteas would be happy to make up for lost time if bad weather or bad light interrupted play in the upcoming series.

South Africa plays New Zealand at Jade Stadium from March 11-15. Its other two tests, at Wellington and Auckland, are at venues which do not have lights.

"In Christchurch, if it's dark at 3pm, turn on the lights and if the lighting is good, our chaps will play. No problem," Dr Bacher said.

The Indian cricket team was criticised for not agreeing to experimental laws to make up for lost time in the recent test series against New Zealand.

They refused to play under lights or play for longer on other days if bad weather disrupted the match.

They claimed it put too much pressure on the players.

Dr Bacher, who has been in New Zealand for the International Cricket Council meeting, took an entirely different attitude yesterday.

At a press conference to preview the upcoming series, Dr Bacher spoke confidently of his side, saying it was emerging as the best South African team of the decade.

He attributed this to several factors, including the middle-order batting of Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje. and Jonty Rhodes, the increasing promise of No. 3 Jacques Kallis, and the potent bowling of Allan Donald.

The South African squad, which arrives in New Zealand on February 11, will be named in less than three weeks.

Dr Bacher also saved praise for the New Zealand cricket team and authorities, saying he believed the sport was on the "up" in this country.

There was no way, he said, that New Zealand was the worst test cricketing nation - which the Wisden rankings would continue to let us believe.

Dr Bacher picked New Zealand to make the final six of the World Cup in England later this year.

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