a return to the one-day final -- 19 years after the switch was made.

Robin Swan of champions Somerset Bridge and Dexter Basden of Willow Cuts yesterday admitted they favoured a return to the one-day final instead of two days and said they would support having a limited overs match.

Following this year's dull draw at White Hill the skippers agreed changes were needed to guarantee a result and also help restore the waning interest of spectators who have been staying away from the game in droves in recent years.

Ironically the Western Counties organisers made a switch to the two-day final in 1974 for that same reason, to make the competition more attractive. The first and second round matches were also switched to limited overs.

Both Swan and Basden felt that cricket locally was suffering from a lack of spectator support because of boring draws -- referring to the island's two biggest events, Cup Match and the Eastern Counties, which did not use limited overs.

Their comments followed severe criticism from the public after the final which saw champions Somerset Bridge score 98 from 53 overs in their first innings and then bat a marathon 90 overs in their second after trailing by 132 runs.

"These open games are deteriorating with the spectators becoming bored from tactics like blocking and slow scoring from batsmen who are aware that they can retain a cup by drawing. It's sad to see this happening in big competitions like Cup Match, the Eastern Counties and the Western Counties final,'' said Basden.

"I really feel that the Western Counties should consider changing their format altogether. The majority of people say that the competition is not exciting as it is, so why continue to give it two days.'' Basden said that he does not blame the public for wanting to see a clear-cut winner when they attend matches, claiming that a limited overs final of 60 overs would probably be the only solution to revitalising the event.

Swan, who has strongly defended Bridge's defensive tactics in the Western Counties final on Sunday, also noted that the public wanted to see a clear-cut winner at these matches and reckoned that a one-day final with 60 overs was the answer.

But Swan did not hide the fact that the rules and regulations of the competition were outdated and needed a changing -- one that would regain the interest of the spectators.

"I don't like the two-day format at all, it's a lot of cricket. As far as I am concerned the people want to see exciting cricket and a winner after paying their money,'' said Swan.

"It's clear that you have to take steps to play the game at a high standard and keep the spectators happy and these changes could help.''