Chappell’s pride takes a tumble

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34120, 5 April 1976, Page 30

Chappell’s pride takes a tumble

(By

NEIL DIBBS,

N.Z.P.A. correspondent)

JOHANNESBURG. Greg Chappell, who 'suffered his first reverse jas an international cricket captain this week-end, has been stung. Regarded in many • quarters as the best batsman in ithe world, Chappell is still without a big score in three weeks on this brief tour of South Africa by the International Wanderers. Apart from a 56 in a one-day match in Port Elizabeth, Chappell’s best score in the major matches has been a slow 28 in Cape Town Inevitably, Chappell is i being compared in this coun-

try with Barry Richards and Graeme Pollock, and so far his professional pride has not been satisfied. In fact he suffered the ultimate batsman’s humiliation on Friday when he was out (hit wicket for six in the current rain-disrupted match in Johannesburg between the international Wanderers and a South Africa multi-racial invitation side. Chappell slipped on the wet wicket as he pivoted into a hook shot, fell flat on his back and dislodged the leg stump bail with a brush i of his left pad. The Australian test cap-! tain was in a savage mood (that night and his temper; 'had improved little on Sat-j

jurday when rain washed out I the second day. ■ He is definitely overdue Ifor a big score but this iWanderers pitch may not be the place for it. Water pene-

trated the covers on Saturday and there were heavily wet patches on the wicket which could affect batting quite calamitously when play resumes today. One more match — against a similar South African side — remains on this tour scheduled to start in Durban on Thursday. But Natal has been drenched by downpours for; the last five days and re-, ports from Durban indicate 1 that pitch preparation is; well behind schedule. It may, not be a batting wicket; either. ! To compound his problems, Chappell also is living (with his decision to bat ! after winning the toss on i Friday. ,

The Wanderers — with; such test batsmen as Glenn. Turner, Mike Denness andl Chappell himself in the front; rank — were murdered on a. soft wicket which cut viciously. They made just 134, and the South Africans edged to 39, with BarryRichards and Eddie Barlow breathing hard but still there | ; unconquered. ! It is believed Chappell’s; i decision not to let loose ; [Dennis Lillee, Gary Gilmour; [and Max Walker at the start, iof play was against the opinions of other experienced cricketers in the Wanderers; camp. The mood in the dressing room on Saturday was • darker than the rain clouds i which hung overhead.