Dominant Aussies plan extra entertainment for fans

Greg Buckle

Australian crowds at one-day internationals could be treated to mini-knockout competitions if Steve Waugh's side continue to roll over their opponents, the Australian Cricket Board said on Wednesday.

Officials considered the plan to appease a sell-out holiday crowd at the Adelaide Oval on January 26 after the West Indies collapsed to 10 for four and it appeared Australia would win before the scheduled meal break.

"It (the two-wicket competition) was proposed by the South Australian Cricket Association but in terms of being (ACB) board policy it was never really discussed," an ACB spokesman said.

"It was a possible scenario at that stage (10-4) of the game. Would we consider it again? I suppose yes," he added.

Australia, who eventually won the match by 10 wickets after a slight West Indies revival, have won all seven of their matches so far in the limited-overs series against West Indies and Zimbabwe.

The ACB spokesman said the two-wicket competition concept raised several grey areas and would require the agreement of both competing teams.

SACA chief executive Michael Deare said he would pursue the idea with the ACB for future cases.

"It was just an idea, obviously from the point of view of the 27,500 people that were in the ground, we were concerned when the West Indies started to bat so poorly," Deare said.

"We thought, 'what are we going to do if the match is over before the meal break?' "

Under the plan, two teams of two Australian players would be matched for four overs each with the winner going through to a final against the victor from a match between two West Indian two-man teams. Each man would bowl two overs apiece. The players not involved would field.

"The bottom line is it didn't happen, but we'd be happy to look at any alternatives should this situation arise which would offer the public value for money," the ACB said.

Mail Cricket Editor