CRICKET BENAUD BLAMED FOR DRAWN TEST

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 11

CRICKET BENAUD BLAMED FOR DRAWN TEST

(N2. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, January 30. Australia's captain. Richie Benaud. nut take a lot of the blame for the drawn fourth teat, the "Evening Standard'* cricket writer, John

Clarke, said today. Benaud "showed little intereat’* in forcing a win, taking 148 minutes over his own 48 runs as Australia "pottered on” for nearly two hour* this morning, Clarke said.

Clarke described Barrington's century for England as “magnificent.” He said Benaud was much more afraid of losing the match than hopeful of winning, “so much so it was surprising that as Australia plugged along making 68 runs in two hours the crowd did not shout ‘chicken’.”

In the "Evening News,” E. M. Wellings said Barrington's aggression in making 132 not out was a contrast to the captaincy of Benaud, who refused the chance of an Australian victory. Benaud had again revealed his fear of Dexter by hia refusal to take the slightest risk on the final day of the test, the "Melbourne Herald” cricket writer, John Priestley, said.

"Benaud was instrumental in turning brighter cricket promises into meaningless platitudes when he set England a target of 356 runs and left them only four hours’ batting,” he said. "While no-one expected Benaud to hand England a victory, the fact that he did not give them any encouragement to chase quick runs brought about the most disappointing day of test cricket in Australia for yean.” Priestley said: “Benaud’s excuse that he did not have the fast bowler, Alan Davidson, is only one side of his reasoning. Uppermost in his mind surely was the thought

that Dexter might have played a blazing, match-winning

innings. “This is the second time Dexter's presence in opposition has led Benaud to waste valuable mhfiutec' batting that would have been better used by his bowlers. "The most disappointing feature of the drawn fourth test was the impression given by both captains that neither of them set out to win.”

Keith Miller, cricket writer for the Melbourne “Sun News-Pictorial.” said the fourth test “must go down in history as the 'battle of the spineless skippers’.”