CHATFIELD INCIDENT RECALLED Protective gear for tail-enders urged by Greig

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33816, 12 April 1975, Page 48

CHATFIELD INCIDENT RECALLED Protective gear for tail-enders urged by Greig

(Special Correspondent N.Z P A.) LONDON. The England all-rounder. Tony Greig, yesterday denied that he would be wearing protective head shields against the Australian fast bowling in the coming English season.

But he favoured the use of protective gear for lower-order batsmen who did not have the hatting skill to combat the bouncer.

“I have never worn protective gear, even around the chest," he said. “Top-order batsmen should not need protection. “But it’s not a bad idea for tail-enders. Bouncers are going to be bowled at tailend batsmen in test cricket, and one day somebody might get killed.” A British firm is developing protective gear for the head, chest and ribs for batsmen. Lined cap A director of the West Yorkshire firm, St Peter’s Sporting Goods, Mr V. Craven, said that work was started on the head gear after the incident involving the New Zealand pace bowler, Ewen Chatfield, in

lithe test at Auckland earlier .'this year. “'We started to develop a ! I lined cap, with a chin strap ■| holding padding on to the I ; face and chin.” he said. “The J chest protectors also grew from this. v “The whole idea is to allay s The fears of the public and -Ithe players against the posdsibility of injury on the field, II whether in close catching positions or when batting.”; Many inquiries , He added that he knew many county players, facing the possibility of batting against Dennis Lillee or Jeff t Thompson, had inquired > about the protective gear. However, Greig was s anxious to dissociate himr self from any connections ; with the manufacturer of i protective gear who 1 appeared on 8.8. C. television on Tuesday. j “1 watched the show,” i Greig said. “The fellow mentioned me in connection with ; the gear, but he has never i spoken to me about it.” I The South African said I I that most of the England! ! players were in favour of i protective head shields for > tail-enders, particularly after ’ seeing Chatfield felled and » almost killed by a Peter n Lever bouncer at Auckland. e| e j Any fast bowlers e j j I “Let me make it clear that I am not hitting out at the 'Australian fast bowlers, Dentinis Lillee and Jeff Thompnison,” Greig said. j “When I'm talking about ;. I wearing protective head gear, -ll’m talking about tail-enders a! facing fast bowlers anyi where.”

He had plans to go into the matter more fully in the near future. “I’ve given a lot of; thought to this problem,” he said. “Perhaps something to protect the skull might be incorporated into a normal cap.” In the television interview. Colin Cowdrey admitted he had worn extra clothing as a protective device against the Australian fast bowlers. He said that something should be done about bouncers, and felt players “should get together to straighten the whole thing out.” Wisden’s attacks English cricket’s most influential publication. “Wisden’s Almanack,” has described short-pitched pace bowling bv Lillie and Thomson as “assault and battery.” In the Almanack’s 112th edition, released yesterday, the editor. Mr Norman Preston, criticises the opening bowlers not only for bowling bouncers, but for making controversial remarks off the field. “A heavy and onerous responsibility rests upon the. umpire. Apparently, the two Australian umnires who officiated in the first four tests of the recent series were unwilling to inflict the final ban. jmavbe because the huge i crowds urged Thomson and Lillee to maintain their assault and battery.” Almanack’s five Wisden has named four England plavers in its five cricketers of the year — Dennis Amiss, Greig, Mike Denness, and Norman Gifford. The "interloper” is the West Indian fast bowler, Andy Roberts.