1 SYDNEY. Aug 7 (Internet report): Cricket fans will

I be given more | chances to see J their Test heroes

under plans to be unveiled next

Part of the focus of the Australian Cricket Board’s first strategic plan, "putting runs on the board", is to provide Test cricketers with more chances to play Sheffield Shield cricket and the Mercantile Mutual Cup outside their Test commitments.

The move will necessitate a change in programming to also include more appearances on the cricket calendar for the Australia A team.

The plan will provide a bonus for cricket fans and help boost small attendance at domestic first-class games.

The 48-page document is a revised and distilled version of the ACB's strategic..plan for,. 1999-2001. released in April.

It will be released: oh‘Monday among; local cricket associations and numerous noncricket sporting groups.

Built on last year's extensive consultations and surveys

among players and cricket administrators, the ACB plan stresses the need to maintain the health of the game.

As a result, the board has embarked on a national audit of school cricket. The results are expected next month.

The other aspect is ensuring Test cricketers are given two months’ rest annually, plus support to prolong their appearances at the elite level. Tne document recommends establishing a national remuneration scheme that should be flexible enough to give state players the chance to combine cricket with another job or studying.

But it stresses the need to pay international players enough for them to be full-time professionals. ACB chief executive officer Malcolm Speed told the Herald Sun that international cricket in Australia had almost reached its limit.

"I don’t think we can enlarge it mychsljeyond the current format of six Test matches and then the triangular'series with the three teams." he said.

"We know basically how many days of international cricket the market will bear in Australia. We now' need to do

that better to maximise our returns from those days of international cricket."

The document sees growth in new forms of the game, such as the Super Max 8s competition, which it says should be introduced as an interstate competition.

It also advocates "exploring new rules designed to bring ad-ditional excitement to (Mercantile Mutual) matches".

The original strategy document suggested the introduction of a so-called "slog zone", the re-introduction of bouncers with greater restrictions on leg-side field positions, plus awarding more points for an easy win.

But the strategy is also about broadening the cricket community. It recommends established cricket make more formal links with Aboriginal cricketers, women's cricket, ethnic minorities and indoor cricket.

It also recommends developing a. plan for the controversial virtual signs in cricket telecasts and stresses that all ground arrangements must deliver exclusive access to the ACB media rights holders.