Legacies from a tour

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 42

Legacies from a tour

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) LONDON. England paid a savage cost for cricket glory in Australia, its Ashes-win-ning captain, R. Illingworth says, according to the “Daily Express.” He told the newspaper’s cricket ■■ writer, Crawford White, that members of the England side were still getting acute mental and physical reaction from the Australian tour. “We rarely get more than four hour, sleep a night," the England captain said in the article headed, "Weary cricketers of England—savage price of glory.” "It-might sound silly, but it is true and unpleasant,’’ Illingworth said. “In fact, the whole England side is still counting the savage cost of that mad, mad Ashes victory tour. "You have only to look round at what has happened to England’s Australia party I to see something is wrong.

"John Snow, the best fast bowler in the world, his hardly played at. all since he got back. And don’t let anyone scoff at Snowy when I’m around. . He gave me. a lot out there, and did England proud.” 1 But Illingworth emphasised he was not . complaining or making excuses —< “test cricket; is a tough business, and :'l take the rough with the smooth.” I • Below best ! Illingworth said that Snow has been way below best form-this season and has not even been in contention for a test position. His four for :>5 against Essex this week was easily his best.performance of the season. Illingworth said that, the young fast bowler, R. Willis, who also-gave such a lot, was in much the same boat. The top batsman G. Boycott, was affected by nervous exhaustion, although he was now batting superbly. “I’ve had this shin soreness for the first time in my life, and this worrying inability to sleep after 4 a.m. And

Peter Lever is the same,” said Illingworth. , "I tell you something odd is going on. These things haven’t happened by accident.”'. ’' ” ’ ' ■ Lever, the hew MU bowler, Said that if he had not experienced the ■ reaction he would not have believed it. “It’s got m.e down so much that at time I’ve felt like packing the whole game in,” he said. ■ .. , “I don’t supppsA/for A minute that I will. But as one who loves the game, it Shakes me that T; even have moments when I think that way.” i He said he had' never known tensions like those in Australia. Lever said he,also had difficulty in sleeping, and added that lie would just “have to work through” the Md period. “Snowy has copped-it hardest. But all the lads are feeling it one way or another. Even Alan Knott, the fittest man in cricket, is below his usual brilliant form,” Lever said. Illingworth said it was mad-

hess playing four tests in five- weeks bn the Australian tour. “Then we had two more in New Zealand in the fiext three 1 weeks... "The planners must see to it tMt that never happens kgain,” he said; “Let’s face it, we were jetting around Australia every week and then 1 jumped straight into a 12,000 miles marathon flight around the world as soon as we finished the final match. "I don’t think the system can absorb as- much as we had to take.” Underestimated • White commented that Illingworth and Lever had pinpointed facts that had been completely underestimated. The . effects on England’s Ashes-wiijning heroes had bebn noted With more derision than concern.’ “It should now be treated as a> matter of serious investigation at Lord’s,” he said. “No side in history was eversubjected to the concentration of pressures Illingworth’s men had to. endure. No side must be asked to endure such pressures again.”