Congdon putting on more pressure

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33418, 27 December 1973, Page 18

Congdon putting on more pressure

N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) MELBOURNE.

Pressure, pressure pressure — that will be the message from the New Zealand cricket captain, B. E. Congdon, to his players this week as they prepare for the first test against Australia on Saturday.

Congdon said yesterday i that, one of the problems of: [the tour so far. and especially: [so in the match against] ; South Australia, had been ithe New Zealanders’ inability to consolidate their position after making inroads into the opposition batting. “Against Australia, we must be looking for a breakthrough early,’’ Congdon said. “Then we must ensure ■

that the pressure goes on and stays on to enable us to take advantage of the situation.”

Congdon said he had expected the team to encounter difficulties in the early matches of the tour, but he had been disappointed that so many games had been lost.

“We met Victoria and New South Wales tvhen they were playing confidently after a lot of cricket,” he added. “We had bowling problems against Victoria, fielding problems against New South Wales, and then pitch problems in Brisbane.”

Congdon said that in spite of losing to South Australia by five wickets, he had been reasonably happy with the way the New Zealanders had played. “In many respects I think

iwe performed well." he said. '“Unfortunately, our loweriorder batsmen were unable to consolidate the innings, particularly in the first when Ken Wadsworth was going well.

“It meant that we did not have enough runs on the board to bowl South Australia out on the second innings. I could have given Mike Shrimpton a try but we did not have, enough runs to play with to use both he and David O’Sullivan.”

Congdon said the next two days tyould be important to the side, to tie the batting, bowling and fielding together before the start of the test.

"It is important that we get in the right frame of mind for the match and to have a good look at their plavers.” he added. The New Zealanders prac-

itised in Melbourne yesterday: afternoon soon after their: arrival from Adelaide, and will train again this morning] and afternoon. The players] would also have a team meet- j. ing to discuss each of the! Australian batsmen and where their weaknesses lay. Congdon said that another problem facing the New Zealanders before the first test was the fitness of G. M. Turner. “We have left it entirely up to Glenn to decide whe-; ther or not he plays. Even if] he does play, I think we will j ] be expecting a lot from him; ito go straight into a test; ]match without having played: ifor three weeks.” ] Congdon said the presents [New Zealand team had had. [more injury and other prob-; dems than most he had been' associated with,

“We have not gone as well las we would have liked be [cause these problems have ]made it extremely difficult to [get any organisation or pattern established,” he added. "However, I think some good has emerged already. John Morrison and Jeremy Coney, two of the younger players, have looked capable of lifting their games to the requirements, and Richard iHadlee has also performed [well. i “We recognise that we will jhave to work hard to bowl ithe Australians out, for their itop six batsmen are proven [competitors around the. [world. “We have not had much Huck on this tour so far, with [injuries and losing important [tosses. Perhaps our turn will I come in the test.”