introduced in the Eastern Counties cricket competition when the first round is held tomorrow.

Resisting the call for limited overs to be implemented, the Eastern Counties Cricket Association have decided to enforce a minimum of 118 overs to be bowled during the day.

At the same time, the game will be broken up into three sessions which means for the first time there will be a tea break in the long running competition which rivals Cup Match for tradition.

The first session will be from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., with lunch being taken from 12.30 to 1.10. The first afternoon session will run from 1.10 to 3.40 when there will be another break for tea and then from 4.00 to 6.50 will be the final session.

"Even though people are complaining about not going into limited overs we are still getting results,'' said Steven Douglas, match committee chairman and a member of the Constitution and Regulations committee.

"Sometimes it is difficult to change tradition.'' Douglas explained that the tea break was welcomed by the umpires who now won't have to remain on the field from 1.40 p.m. until after 7.00 p.m. without a break.

Another decision made with the umpires in mind is the speed in which the ECCA has vowed to deal with any disciplinary matters involving players.

They intend to have all disciplinary issues dealt with within a week after the match, and certainly before the next round is played.

This year marks the first year that all three matches will be played at a ground `neutral' to the champions, with all the games taking place at St.

David's even though Bailey's Bay are the holders. Next year all three games will switch back to Sea Breeze Oval regardless of who are crowned champions this year.

Bailey's Bay begin the defence of their title tomorrow against Flatts, who are expected to include Western Stars pair Treadwell Gibbons and Gary Brangman and Dwayne Leverock of Police as guest players.

Bay have remained unbeaten since regaining the cup in the 1993 final against St. David's.