TUESDAY, 11.00AM:
THE United Cricket Board of South Africa has announced its support for the Australian proposal to allow international series matches to be played under lights.
Floodlights have been used to eliminate poor visibility and to finish the overs in one-day cricket, and the rule may soon be extended to series matches, if the world cricketing body, the International Cricket Council, gives the new proposal the go-ahead.
UCB managing director Ali Bacher said: “If the ICC gives the go-ahead to turning on the lights in tests in the event of bad light, the series between Australia and South Africa later this year [in December] could be the first to be played under the new dispensation.”
MEANWHILE, the UCB has altered the rules in the Standard Bank one-day Test matches, to allow fast bowlers more of a chance. From the 1997/1998 season, fast bowlers in domestic one-day matches will be allowed to deliver one short-pitched bouncer per over. This will introduce an element of unpredictability. Bacher said: “The limited overs game has always been a batsman’s playground and we aren’t looking to change that, but we feel the time has come to level the playing fields slightly.”