"BARTLETT THROWS 97 OUT OF 100” Indian Manager Reviews Tour

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31628, 14 March 1968, Page 15

"BARTLETT THROWS 97 OUT OF 100” Indian Manager Reviews Tour

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. “Of course he throws. He throws 97 balls out of a 100,” said the Indian team manager, Mr Ghulam Ahmed, of G. A. Bartlett after the final cricket test at Eden Park on Tuesday. “He throws javelin style just like Charlie Griffith, only Griffith is worse because he is much faster," said Mr Ahmed. “Barlett’s action allows him to get so much pace off the wicket.

“I don't attack Bartlett’s style because he bowled us to defeat in Christchurch or because he hit some of our men. 1 criticise the New Zealand Cricket Council for allowing such a man to play. “It’s no defence saying he

has never been no-balled. Griffith hasn’t been called either, yet he throws. Why else have so many famous players, Ken Barrington among them, refused to play against him? “There is no place in cricket for chuckers. If I were Motz or Taylor, I’d be insulted that I had to bowl with a chucker.” Mr Ahmed was asked whether he felt that the series of photographs recently taken exonerated Bartlett as a thrower. “Wouldn’t your action be perfect if you had the cameras trained, on you?” he replied. Mr Ahmed willingly offered answers to a multitude of questions on the tour. Why did New Zealand’s batsmen fail against the Indian spinners? “The umpires’ refusal to give front foot l.b.w.s has led your batsmen into a false state of security and encouraged them to sweep and hook instead of drive.

“In India, the same tactics will produce a spate of l.b.w.s —in England, too. Your batsmen will then cry about our umpiring—but that won’t stop them going out. They must learn to use their feet, to drive and to abandon sweeping off the stumps.” What did you think of New Zealand’s batting yesterday (Tuesday)? “Dismally weak. Too many batsmen were content to use their pads. This immediately gives the advantage to the bowler. Our bowling was good, but your batsmen made it better.” Which New Zealand batsmen impressed you? “Only one is technically correct—Graham Dowling. Mark Burgess should develop into another Dowling. He is young yet. Keith Thomson wouldn’t make a club side in India.” How highly do you rate New Zealand’s pace attack? “Not very good. In 1965

Motz, Taylor and Collinge all impressed me with their spe'ed and hostility. They have all lost their speed now. “Tell me once in the series when they broke through our batting? Only Bartlett managed it, because he throws." Did you feel there were weaknesses hi the New Zealand team? “Not from a selection point of view, although your spin attack was weak when Pollard didn’t come off. I felt the left-armer from Canterbury (J. M. Mclntyre) deserved a chance after the way he bowled in the President’s XI match.”

j What surprised you about New Zealand cricket, if anything? “I was amazed to learn your top players have only 20 days of first-class cricket every season. No wonder you struggle to foot it in international play. In India, where admittedly conditions are more favourable, we play representative cricket Saturday and Sunday for 10 months of the year.

“I think you should certainly play four-day Plunket Shield matches for a start —and you should have other big games, like North v. South. “You do these things in Rugby at which you are champions, so why not in cricket?” Were you satisfied with the arrangements for the tour? "In all but one respect. We should have had at least a day’s break before playing in Hamilton at the start of the tour. When Pataudi lost the toss and our men had to field, they just about dropped with dismay. They were exhausted. A tour of Australia takes it out of you, physically and mentally.” Were you happy with the pitches here? “We were. Were you? 1 can’t understand why a country which bases its attack on pace should prepare two such fine spinner’s wickets, as in Wellington and Auckland.” Your attacking cricket has won many friends here. Is this your answer to falling attendances? “Since Pataudi took over captaincy, the team has played bold attacking cricket. He tells every batsman to play his natural game. Their own discretion tells them when to be cautious, but they all enjoy their game. “We stick to attacking cricket, win or lose. 1 think it speaks for itself that we didn't play out a drawn test in Australia or New Zealand.”