Doig pushes case for test match reserve day (22 December 1998)

22 December 1998

Doig pushes case for test match reserve day

The Christchurch Press

Having a reserve day for test matches will be pushed by New Zealand Cricket chief executive Christopher Doig.

"We do it for one-dayers, I don't see why it can't be done for the five-day game. Losing a day in a test match can often compromise the result."

The situation has been highlighted by the washed out New Zealand-India test in Dunedin -- and there have been dozens of other weather-affected series around the world.

When New Zealand last played India on the sub-continent in 1995-96, two tests were badly affected by monsoon rains.

Doig said he would take the idea of a reserve day to the International Cricket Council's next cricket committee meeting in Dubai in February.

Doig said the suggestion is that the reserve day could be played at any time a day is lost to bad weather during a game.

"This year the South Africans were compromised when they lost a day when on the verge of winning against England."

Doig said the move would take some thought and planning, but he felt the game's best interests would be served.

"That way we can get the game to a natural conclusion. I believe we need to do all we can to promote test match cricket."

Doig said players were concerned at congestion on the cricketing calender, but he thought the extra day would help alleviate that by allowing three clear days between tests.

"That will give the players some more of the space they are asking for."

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

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