If tabled again, there is a strong likelihood that the Western Counties will return to a one-day final.

That was the disclosure of the Western Counties secretary, Wayne Raynor, in response to comments made by Willow Cuts captain Dexter Basden after yet another draw in the final.

Basden spoke on the weekend of the need to introduce some changes to the format so as to make it more appealing for the fans. He suggested bringing the final in line with the other two Counties matches which are limited overs.

Since 1988 seven of the eight finals have finished in a draw, the exception being in 1991 when Southampton Rangers beat Warwick by an innings and 70 runs.

"It's been brought up several times but the only time someone has tabled a change was this season, but timewise it was too late,'' said Raynor, a former player with Southampton Rangers.

"Over the years the competition has lost some of its appeal, perhaps because the teams are not as strong as those in the past.'' The two-day final attracted only a handful of fans on the second day, and as such few were privileged to see the first double century in a counties match since Tyrone Smith's 214 for Police in 1988. That competition also had a double century in 1976 when Englishman Paul Ross of Nationals scored 207 not out.

Sunday saw Cuts batsman Gladwin Edness amass 206 in his side's total of 436.

"Basically the clubs involved have to stand behind the competition and give it their support,'' Raynor said.

"If the clubs and their members supported the competition there would be no lack of spectator participation. If we had that alone we would be a lot better off.

"There is great cricket being played. The champions really had to fight to hang on to the trophy in the first two rounds, but the competition is not getting the support of the clubs themselves. If they are not playing that day they don't support the game.'' The Western Counties will hold a regular meeting tomorrow night and if the proposed change is tabled again then it is expected to be looked into soon.

"It is up to the full committee,'' said Raynor. "Whether or not Willow Cuts are going to table it again at the meeting tomorrow evening is yet to be seen but if it is tabled, a special meeting will be called. The following meeting it could be dealt with.'' Expressing his own view, Raynor said he "had no qualms with a format change'' with regards to the two-day final.

One thing the two-day final has produced is the two highest scores in the competition, with Jeff Richardson breaking the previously high total of 156 not out scored by Sheridan Raynor in 1965 with 186 two years ago on his debut.

That record went crashing on Sunday when Edness hit the first double century in the competition, a record which will probably never be beaten if the two-day final is eliminated.

"I didn't see it but from what I heard on the radio it was quite impressive,'' said Raynor, who had to attend a family function. "They (Somerset Bridge) did have some good bowlers in Perry Maybury, Brian Gibbons and Francis Richardson but they were limited in attack as far as seasoned bowlers.

"You can't take too much away from Edness with that 206, it was a very solid knock.'' Cuts will get the chance this weekend to test their strength against Western Stars and Bailey's Bay -- if Bay beat St. David's on Saturday -- in the Champion of Champions which is also scheduled for White Hill Field on Sunday and Monday.

Cuts will play Stars in the semi-final on Sunday with the Eastern Counties champions taking on the winners the following day.

"We'll have to start off from scratch because we'll be in a different position next week,'' said double centurion Edness.

"Hopefully we can get better recognition for the guys in the west. We have a strong team but we never get the recognition. Hopefully we can do something against the big boys.''