Congdon says Australia can expect tough tests

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33450, 4 February 1974, Page 19

Congdon says Australia can expect tough tests

tX.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondentt ADELAIDE. Australia could expect the three test matches in New Zealand to be tough, said B. E. Congdon, the captain of the New Zealand cricket team, in Adelaide on Thursday evening after the third test.

Congdon said he believed the tests the Australians would play in New Zealand would be a tighter series than the one just completed in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. New Zealand lost the first test in Melbourne by an innings and 25 runs, drew the second when rain prevented the tourists from picking up eight wickets on the final day, and lost the last match, which ended on Thursday, by an innings and 57 runs. Congdon said the

. difference in the teams in ' the third test was that Aus- < tralia possessed the spin i bowlers best equipped to i take advantage of the vari- i ations in the Adelaide pitch. “We, unfortunately, were , unable to produce the type . 1 of spin bowlers necessary in , Australia,” Congdon said. , : “Our spin bowlers meet New . ■ Zealand requirements, but ■ have not been as successful jj I under the different condi- i tions in Australia. [, However, he believed the! , home series would be easier j, . for his side. ! Congdon, who has not yet ■decided whether he will be available for the series [against Australia, said the [New Zealanders would be I going back to their natural game on their home grounds, whereas the Australians, as New Zealand had , to do on its tour, would , [have to adapt to new conditions. [ “I have given up predicting test results, but I think the series in New Zealand will be very comIpetitive,” he said. EARLY MATCHES i The main disappointment [of the tour had been in the , | poor performances of the ’[side in the matches leading Jup to the second test, said Congdon. [ , “However, we did well' [ after that, in spite of the i keen standard of competition ' which is widely spread ' , throughout Australia.” ' Congdon said he had been slightly disappointed with [ his batting form on the tour, although the fact that he was not scoring runs did not: . bother him unduly. [ “I don’t rate myself highly ’ as a batsman, so that it ■ [ doesn’t particularly worry ' me when I am not scoring ’ runs.” i TEST UMPIRES In the “Sydney Morning t Herald” yesterday, Phil Wil- : kins wrote that Australia i had received the benefit of “home-town justice” in the J third test when the umpires insisted that New Zealand bat in conditions “unsuitable [ : for first-class cricket.” I In an article illustrated ■ with large photographs of ! the test umpires, Mr P. En- ■ right and Mr J. Collins, i under the caption, “did they ■ give New Zealand a Fair : :|Go?“ Wilkins said Australia [had won the test with the i

wicket table muddy and sodden after rain had compelled players to leave the field three times during the afternoon. “The New Zealand captain, Bevan Congdon, who defied Australia for 260 minutes for an unbeaten 71, was entitled to question the safety of the wicket surrounds after the third interruption. | “I an) sure that had it [been a test between Australia and England it would [have ended then and there .; “MODEL OF VIRTUE’’ “Congdon was a model of virtue at his press conference, refusing to blame or criticise the umpires, Peter Enright and Jack Collins. But his actions on the field certainly suggested that he' did not agree with them.” i “While batting, Congdon

had the bottoms of his boots scraped clean of mud by Mr Enright, while gazing at the drizzle . . . “lan Chappell refused to use the fast bowler, Alan Hurst, during the last period because he considered the approach too slippery. “There is a fine line of distinction in this matter. On too many occasions firstclass matches are halted for trifling weather changes. But I feel New Zealand was entitled to think it deserved a draw in this game,” wrote Wilkins.