Burgess Hits Century In India

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31657, 18 April 1968, Page 10

Burgess Hits Century In India

The former England test player, J. H. Wardle, is probably still one of the best slow left-arm bowlers in England, G. T. Dowling, the New Zealand cricket captain, said yesterday. Dowling, who has just returned with M. G. Burgess (Auckland) from India where they played in two festival matches, said that Wardle, an other of the invited players, “bowled exceptionally well for a man of 45.” “In fact,” said Dowling, “Freddit Trueman (who was another invited player) con-

siders Wardle to be still the best left-armer in England.’’ Burgess was the best performed of the seven overseas players, hitting 102— his highest first-class scorein the match between the Prime Minister’s XI and the President’s at the Braybourne Stadium in Bombay. This match was for the Koyna Earthquake Rehabilitation Fund and the Prime Minister’s XI (including Dowl--5 ing, Burgess. Trueman and > N. C. O’Neill) won by nine I runs, scoring 291 for nine declared and 249 against the President’s Xi’s 329 for nine • declared and 302. I The President’s XI included Wardle, J. B- Statham , (who broke a finger) and K. i Subba Row. Dowling said • the original intention was to

>, play an invitation team against ’ India but the shortage of overseas funds meant only • seven players could be in- ■ vited. However, he was told - that the fund would profit by > about £17,500 from the two j matches played. j The two New Zealanders were the only visitors to play • in the second match, at • Rajendra Prasad Stadium in > Marmagao, one of three small • towns in the new state of I Goa. This three-day game be- ; tween the Goa Chief Minis- • ter’s XI and the Maharashta ■ Finance Minister’s XI was, ! said Dowling, “played on a make-shift wicket. “The whole ground did not 1 have a blade of grass, and the pitch was earth and sand covI ered by green coir matting. • it was rolled out by steam-

rollers on the morning of the match. “The ball cut all the time, it could be quite quick, and was a bit unpredictable,” said Dowling. He and Burgess played for the Chief Minister’s XI, which won by 146 runs, scoring 291 and 314 for nine declared. The Finance Minister's XI scored 264 and 195, the second innings including 104 by D. S. Sardesai, who played only one match in New Zealand on the recent tour. Burgess’s scores were 11, 102, 34 and 13, and he also took two catches and two wickets. Dowling made 20, 0 (batting at No. 5), 7 and 10. In his second-last innings, Dowling was given out lbw, by the former test player, P. R. Umrigar.