VITAL TOSS FOR N.Z. CAPTAIN Congdon may gamble on putting Australia in

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33425, 5 January 1974, Page 30

VITAL TOSS FOR N.Z. CAPTAIN Congdon may gamble on putting Australia in

From L). CAMERON)

SYDNEY.

Even if he does not have many high cards in his hand, B. E. Congdon, the New Zealand captain, will probably gamble on sending Australia in to bat if he wins the toss before the second test at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

Xustraiia holds all the aces, hut it Congdon is to take the offensive in this test, New Zealand must bowl rather than bat first. The gamble may have some chance of success for the Sydney pitch promises to help the quicker bowlers, at least for the first three hours.

The rain on Thursday hampered the preparation of the test pitch, and although there was sun shine and a drying wind yesterday, it is expected to be a little soft at the start.

There is also an interesting amount of grass on the pitch—and this might lend some weight to Congdon s gamble His reasoning may well be that the Hadlee brothers and B Andrews arc his sharpest attacking weapon, and if the pitch would help them at the start, thev should be put on then Protect bateiiirn Conversely, Congdon might want to protect his fragile batting from an early assault from whoever leads the Australian new-ball attack.

With the sad news that G. M. Turner’s hand is not sufficiently healed to allow him to give a test-quality performance. New Zealand has made one change from its first test side, with J. V Coney taking Turner’s place.

G. D Alabaster could not be considered because of his broken rib, K. O. Campbell has not seen action for more than a fortnight, and B. L. Cairns could not challenge Andrews for a new-ball position.

During and since the first test, Congdon has been deluged with unsolicited advice, much of it concerned wtth possihle changes to the

batting order—with special emphasis on the promotion of K. J Wadsworth to some higher point. Planned order All the advice is not likely to have much effect. The present batting order is organised in the hope that B. F. Hastings and M. J. F. Shrimpton, who look safer against quicker bowling, are not exposed too much to spin. This is the main reason why Congdon, one of the better players of spin, has dropped from No. 3 to No. 5. Coney, too, looks happier against medium-fast bowling, but he may be eased into his 1 first test at No. 6, rather than his favourite position of No. 3. where Shrimpton has superior claims. This would place Wads- ! worth at No. 7, although if >the spinners are operating, iCongdon might have the option of putting Wadsworth [above Coney. So much for theories, i Whether facing speed or ispin, whether bowling or fielding, the New Zealanders face the cold hard fact that they will have to improve dramatically if they are to survive in this test.

The brave words of Wednesday evening were translated into only one, admittedly vigorous, training session on Thursday. However, there is a stronger feeling among the players, and Congdon said yesterday that he felt sure his team would improve.

“We have had a look at the Australians, at how they > play, and this must help us in the second test,” he said. “Although it might be hard to change the batting techniques of a lifetime, our players are learning what shots can be played on these ! pitches.” , Walker now lit The Australians, in the meantime, had a quiet day yesterday—but this was hardly a show of complacency. Their practise pitches were too damp to be useful, so they had a teamtalk. The only man to train was M. H. Walker, the medium-fast bowler, who tried out—with every sign of success—the injured knee which kept him out of the first test. As one of the most successful Australian seamers of recent times, Walker seems sure to regain his test place, and rightly so for he is a very clever bowler. A. Dell, the huge left-arm j medium-fast bowler, was re- ■ duced to life-size by the unhelpful Melbourne pitch, and his fielding is so laboured that he sometimes looks like a New Zealander having a bad day. Choice of bowlers If the Australians think that the pitch demands three j quicker bowlers, they may) retain Dell at the expense ofi I. Davis, the young batsman. There is even the theory) that as A. A. Mallett, the) off-spinner, has shown his) class, and that he is a prime)

candidate for the tour of, New Zealand, he might be! rested. It is a theory the i New Zealanders would' enjoy. b The teams are:— AUSTRALIA.— I. JI. Chappell, :K. R. Stackpole, A. P. Sheahan. G. S. Chappell, K. D. Walters, I. Davis, G. D. Marsh, G. Gilmour, K. J. O’Keeffe, A. Dell. A. A. Mallett. M. H. Walker (one to be omitted). NEW ZEALAND.— B. E. Congdon, J. M. Parker, J. F. Morrison. M. J. F. Shrimpton, B. F. Hastings, J. V. Coney, K. J. Wadsworth, R. J. Hadlee. D. R. Hadlee, D. R. O’Sullivan, B Andrews.