The Eastern Counties risks losing its attraction as a result of the three draws recorded in this year's competition, according to an Island cricket coach.

And unless limited overs is implemented, the popularity of the event could dwindle over the next few years, claims of Randy Raynor, coach of Western Counties champions Southampton Rangers.

Rangers last week challenged the perception that the Eastern were the "best of the counties.'' "The Eastern Counties need to go to overs cricket, it's the only way that the cricket loving public would be guaranteed of a result,'' said Raynor.

"Three matches and nothing but draws is doing nothing for their event.'' He blasted the slow batting by key members of champions St. David's, saying it was a pity spectators were being denied a result.

And Flatts, he said, were the only opposition to give a spirited batting display in a series that would probably go down as one of the poorest in the history of the event.

He reckoned that the Eastern Counties' was based solely on that history, not the standard of cricket.

"The truth of the matter is if it wasn't for the mature women who take their children to the game for a picnic, there wouldn't be much of a county game there,'' he said.

"When you walk around the field you see a lot of people who just come out for the occasion, regardless who is playing. They are not really going to the cricket.'' He questioned how long those cricket enthusiasts who did show up for a good, exciting game would continue to bother to go if the trend continued.

While the Western and Central Counties lack the same popularity they have both produced results in their matches because of their limited overs policy, he noted.

Although the Eastern Counties implemented a policy that required a maximum of 118 overs to be bowled, Raynor said this did nothing to produce a result.

"When you play overs cricket the game is on the line at all times. The captain has to be on the ball because it could come down to the rain and a faster run rate could be the deciding factor, so you have to be on the alert and use a progressive approach at all times,'' he said.

"In addition to making the skipper stay on the alert, the crowd is in tune and kept excited by adventurous play.

"You certainly won't have a team batting for four hours, content to take a single here and there like they do in the Eastern Counties. Playing progressive strokes from the beginning is the way people want to see the game played, not seeing a top batsmen going there with a dead bat and content to block the ball for long periods.'' Raynor's challenge for the representatives of the Central and Eastern Counties to come prepared for a tough battle against Southampton Rangers in the TBI Champion of Champions competition on September 12, 13 remained unchanged.

"Naturally we have to get over Somerset Bridge in Saturday's Western Counties final at Southampton Oval, but we are confident that we will conquer them and then prove to be the best in the counties by beating all opposition in the Champion of Champions.'' If Southampton advance with a victory against Bridge they will enter the Champion of Champions competition with St. David's and Central Counties champions Police