Much at stake for N.Z. and India in clash

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 48

Much at stake for N.Z. and India in clash

( From

ROBERT HORROCKS.

N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent.)

MANCHESTER. ; Of the four Prudential Cup international cricket series matches in England today, most is at stake in the one between New Zealand and India at Old Trafford, Manchester. England, the West Indies, and Australia are already! assured of places in the semifinals next Wednesday, but the fourth spot will go to the winner at Old Trafford. For New Zealand it will be a match in which the fastbowling threesome of Richard Collinge and Dayle and Richard Hadlee might pro-! vide the edge. Old Trafford usually pro-! vides a good batting wicket,! with a pitch that sometimes] give an unpredictable bounce,but under normal circumstances does little to assist! spin. It is generally expected !to favour mostly seam! I bowlers. SPINNERS India’s pace bowling attack lis limited, yet they have two ■spin-bowlers of world class jin the captain, Venkataragha]van, and in Bishen Bedi. If the Indians take note of I their strengths and bear in j mind the vulnerability which (New Zealand batsmen have shown over the years to slow bowling, they will play both spinners. The pace attack, which was massacred at Lord’s when England scored 334 for four wickets in 60 overs, would then be left to Abid Ali. Madan Lal, and Mohinder Armarnath, with the left-arm medium-pace of Solkar to (fall back on if necessary. Because of the lack of I pace bowlers in India, its j batsmen are often said to be la little lost playing fast de-

I liveries. But the demands of iinternational cricket in recent i ] years, however, have given I them plenty of experience i against the quickest, and New ■ Zealand’s bowling attack lacks the fire of some other ] countries. | Geoff Howarth, the New! , Zealand batsman, took parti in a net practice at Old Traf-i l ford yesterday and should be ■ fit. for today. ’I The New Zealand captain, Glenn Turner, decided on one long session at the nets, with • Howarth batting twice this morning. After his first ! knock, Howarth, who had a ■ minor operation last week- • end. said he was feeling fine. i Ken Wadsworth, who has ■an injured left ankle, did not ■ join the practice, but Turner “Isaid this was a precaution jjand the wicket keeper would ’jplav today. ■j The winner of the match ’] between New Zealand and I India will earn the right to ;plav the victor in the clash ■ between Australia and the West Indies, which is being plaved at the Oval. <! According to the book--makers New Zealand is] s I favoured to beat India, but: -■the odds might be a lot closer] jthan they are giving. CASUALTIES - The injured Sri Lankan s I batsmen Duleep Mehdis and -Sunil Wettimuny have left -hospital and returned to their] !London hotel. ; S; Both were admitted after] i j being struck by the Austra-] r’lian fast bowler, Jeff Thom-] -son, in the Prudential Cup] . match at the Oval. r| Mendis was reported to: a I have improved a great deal] aj since he was admitted with: !concussion. He was to travel: -with the Sri Lankan team to s i Nottingham but will not play e!in today’s match against - Pakistan.

Wettimuny is hobbling on crutches with a fractured right instep. He will stay in London for treatment. The big “draw” of the day will be the “sell-out” match between Australia and the (West Indies at the Oval. England plays East Africa in the i other match.