DOUBTS ABOUT PITCH Test captains face difficult decision

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33779, 27 February 1975, Page 28

DOUBTS ABOUT PITCH Test captains face difficult decision

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

Unless there is warm sunshine or a drying wind today, the second cricket test between England and New Zealand at Lancaster Park will begin on a distinctly damp pitch.

The week-end rain would have been welcome — if it had come in moderation. But it was a very heavy downfall, and it may well affect what would have been a splendid batting pitch.

It is very well and evenly grassed; it is firm beneath the surface but soft on top. Given warm weather, and a close cutting, it would undoubtedly have produced a pitch for the winning captain to bat on. This may still apply, for if the forecast eventuates, there will not be much drying today. And the side batting last may well find, in those conditions, a pitch pitted by ball marks. First is better No one can tell whether the ball will fly at the start of the game: it may come through slowly. But the prospect is that each time it will take away a little of the top. so batting first will possibly be better than batting last.

New Zealand had a net practice yesterday afternoon, without John Morrison, whose arrival was delayed through an airport closure. All the players reported fit, except for Hedley Howarth, who has a nagging shoulder muscle injury. He will have treatment again today, and there is little chance that he will not be restored to full health by tomorrow morning. Private net The M.C.C. party will not have a full practice, although the captain, Mike Denness, said yesterday that one or two of the team might have a private net today. The New Zealand party, now reduced to 12, will not be resolved into a playing eleven until the morning of the match, although it seems certain that Barry Hadlee will again be the twelfth man. His batting rivals — Morrison, John Parker, and Geoffrey Howarth — all confirmed their places with their performances at Auckland. Lever may go The England team for the test will be announced this morning, after a meeting of the selection committee. There must be a possibility that Peter Lever, the unhappy bowled who felled Ewen Chatfield on Tuesday morning at Eden Park will give way to Mike Hendricks — but not because® of that mishap. Lever was able to move the ball a little now and t' n — he had Glen Turner caught from a fine out-swinger — but he dependend largely on hi. pace, and the ball pitched a little short of a length. On

a damp, and possibly slow. Lancaster Park pitch, he might be disarmed. Titmus likely If Chris Old is fit — and he seems very injury-prone — he might well retain his place, although there is a prospect that England will include Fred Titmus, a third spinner, at the expense of one of the pace bowlers, because of the state of the pitch. Old showed at Leeds in 1973 a distinct ability to cut the ball back from a moist surface, and he is a very handy and aggressive batsman.