Three weeks ago we witnessed the annual meetings of two of the major sports councils of New Zealand, namely cricket and rugby.

It has been said that most New Zealand sports administrators are in the running for 'ostrich' of the year award, and there was nothing that came out of these meetings that made me change my opinion.

From the Cricket Council, the stubborness in failing to accept a 'two round' concept for the New Zealand first class season prevailed. Instead we got a re-hash of the two formulae already tried, both of which were unsuccessful. How the Council expects interest to be sustained during the second round of the competition when there is a two month gap between the semi-finals and the final, God only knows.

Until New Zealand cricket is based on a system which gives our first class players more regular play at provincial level, more consideration given to the needs of the players in terms of pay and conditions, and pitches that are prepared for cricket rather than something that is a band-aid job from the scars of a seven-month rugby season, New Zealand is never likely to perform consistently well at international level.

The 'head in the sand' mentality prevailed when it came to the selection of the national cricket selecters panel. Despite the appalling mistakes made over the selection of the team to tour India and Pakistan (a tour that the council should never have accepted in the first place,) later to be repeated in the second Test against Australia, no change in the panel was made.

The mistakes made on the Indian tour were many. Firstly they took only two spinners on the tour, and Brian McKechnie was on the receiving end of some shabby treatment when he was dropped on the pretext that he had an injured finger after it was realised by the selecters that he wasn't up to standard. Then there was the replacement of Dayle Hadlee by a fast bowler who had difficulty in picking up wickets in New Zealand let alone on India's dust-bowls. With this background the selectors showed their masterly control over the situation when it came to the 2nd Test against Australia. Jeremy Coney was hauled out of his sick bed to fly to Auckland for the match. Of course he wasn't fit enough to act as 12th man in the end. Dayle Hadlee was then dropped for Petherick on a pitch on which Lillee had a field day and Petherick bowled just four overs.

Then it was the turn of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. They even surpassed the Cricket Council for closed minds. First there was the shabby treatment of J.J. Stewart. J.J. led the revival of New Zealand rugby fortunes after the disasters against England and the tour to Britain early in the 70s. He was one of the few inventive coaches in New Zealand. He actually had the players enjoying rugby, obviously he was ahead of his time. However, because of his coaching failure in South Africa he was unceremoniously axed from convenership of the national selection panel and failed to gain a place as a North Island Councillor on the NZRFU.

Rather than blaming Stewart for the failure of team, the Rugby Union should be slamming itself. Firstly for accepting a tour which politically should never have been undertaken, secondly for accepting South African Referees in the Test Matches, and thirdly for failing to conduct a serious survey of the allegations of rough play, cheating, and the morale of a team that had been subject to immense tension at the height of the Soweto uprisings. Of course the question of South Africa was not even raised let alone discussed in detail by the NZRFU.

One suspects that the dumping of Stewart was more because of some of his political statements that he had made about South Africa, than because of his 'lack' of coaching success.

However, now let's look at some of the brighter moments of sport. Firstly there was the brilliant victory in the inter-dominions by the New Zealand pacer Stanley Rio. Certainly he got a dream run, but most of the field was burnt off at the straight entrance including the Australian champion Paleface Adios.

Then there are the TV arrangements announced by TV and NZRFU recently. For once I can give some praise to the Rugby Union for I think the coverage is one of the most comprehensive ever given to rugby in this country. Looking further afield there is the coverage of the FA Cup to look forward to. While I am a United supporter through and through, they'll be doing well to beat the amazing Liverpool.

There is the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final between Widnes and Leeds. Then there is the tour of England by the 'dirty Aussies' although minus Dennis Lillee. With Thompson and Walker they still have a useful pace attack but it may be at batting that Australia's problems arise. Lacking experience at handling English pitches, much will depend on Chappell and McCosker. Walters has never handled England very well. The development of Cosier, Seargent, Hookes and Hughes will also be crucial. England must have a very real chance of victory this time with the rise of such new stars as Athey, Millar, Barlow, Randall and Willey.

Finally, I must express sympathy for Geoff Wheel who had to withdraw from the Lions tour to New Zealand at the last moment. However the Welsh still manage to provide a full team with 15 players still in the party.