Somerset Cricket Club president Reginald Pearman yesterday hit out at Test legend Sir Garfield Sobers' suggestion that the format of Cup Match needed to be changed.

Said Pearman: "I am tired of people coming here and telling us how to do things. Cup Match has been going on for nearly a century and there have been more results than draws.'' Mansfield Smith, president of Cup holders St. George's, was more guarded but admitted: "Some of Sobers' remarks have merit.'' Both Smith and Pearman felt it was important and vital at this stage to give the new year-about format, which came into effect only this year, a chance to succeed before other major changes were introduced.

Sobers, who watched this year's Classic, mentioned that something needed to be done to ensure a Cup Match winner each year. He was speaking at a news conference which revealed details for a four-team tournament in Barbados next year which will also involve Bermuda, Canada and the United States.

The draw at Wellington Oval last week was the seventh in Cup Match in the past 10 seasons, prompting calls for changes in the match.

"The Cup Match I know is a tradition, and therefore tradition dies hard, but if they're going to improve cricket they have to look at the competition,'' Sobers said.

"They must change it in some form or fashion, maybe make it overs in the first innings and then everybody goes for the win in the second.'' Said Smith: "If there was anything changed right now I would support prolonging the first day's play to 7.30 (instead of 6.30).'' Both Pearman and Smith earlier this week expressed concern about falling attendances, but neither appeared ready to press the panic button.

Restoring attendances at all Bermuda cricket matches had been a concern for some time and those closely connected to the sport would endeavour to find the solution to getting the fans back, they have said.

"Cup Match attendance was down this year with only about 9,000 turning out over the two days, but there is no need to change the year-about format, we must give it time to work,'' said Smith.

"The gates have been going down for a while because of the number of draws over the last 10 years, but we are hopeful that the fans will come back.'' He said it was no secret that more and more people were travelling, heading to the beach and camping during the holidays rather than gambling on going to Cup Match and hoping to see a positive result.

Although this year's match fizzled out into a tame draw, Smith said he felt the game could have produced a winner if both sides had held their catches and if they had fielded better overall.

"Catches win matches and look at all of those that were put down, the game was drawn because of dropped catches. If half of the catches were held there would have been a result,'' said Smith.

Somerset's Shannon Warner was the chief culprit, dropping four first innings catches, including three offered by Glenn Smith while Somerset's top batsman over the two days and the game's Most Valuable Player, Albert Steede, was also the beneficiary of dropped catches.

Pearman said he liked the year-about system and had supported attempts to have it adopted some time ago when he first became involved in deliberations.

"I am a strong proponent of the format having advocated it since I became involved about 10 years ago. But we are asking that it be given a chance because nothing is going to happen in just a few years. Let's try it and then take another look at it further down the road,'' he said.

"Actually a lot depends on the cricketers to have this work also. They have to go out there and play positive cricket. Players have got to take the chance and make the game interesting. This will certainly help to get the crowds back.''