Politics may ruin S.A.’s test return

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34131, 19 April 1976, Page 22

Politics may ruin S.A.’s test return

(N Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. The New Zealand opening batsman. John I Morrison, has serious doubts that South .Africa’s eagerly- ; awaited return to test •cricket is soon to become a reality. Just back from a monthlong tour of the republic with the International Wanderers team, Morrison said in Wellington that South Africa appeared to be making a genuine effort to make its cricket multi-racial.

"There is the prospect of multi-racial cricket in South Africa from club to Currie Cup level next season.” Morrison said. But he believes nolitics will be a barrier to South Africa playing full test matches for the first time since meeting Australia in 1970.

“The West Indies, Pakistan and India have never played tests against South Africa,” he said.

"If we wanted to play South Africa we would probablv have to sacrifice tests with India, Pakistan and the West Indies even if multiracial cricket was complete. “If anyone is to resume tests with South Africa, Australia would appear the most likely country.”

Morrison said the tour had done a good deal to bring about multi-racial cricket, and speed up South Africa’s possible return to the test arena.

“Every side we played included coloured or' black players, and some had representatives of both groups,” he said. “White South Africans realise it is necessary to have integration, and are keen oni it.” I

Morrison, who was invited into coloured and black areas even some white South Africans had not seen, said that on the surface there the position appeared fairly harmonious between the three main groups — white, black and coloured. "There’s not as much turmoil on the surface as you would believe,” he said. “I found the situation a lot more unpleasant when I visited the West Indies five years ago.” Morrison had mixed fortunes on the playing field. He started with a 70 against a totally black side but there followed a series of low scores when he was out mostly lbw. “Some of the umpiring was not all it could be,” he said. “In one innings, five of the first six batsmen were out lleg before.”

Morrison, however, r< paired some of his. reputt tion when he won an inte:

!-[national single-wicket toumair ment in Port Elizabeth. ■-1 Morrison said the standard ; of South African cricket had ' slipped, largely because of ; its isolation "Its batting is strong with ' the presence of Eddie Bar- : low. Pollock and Barry ! Richards.” said Morrison, i “But there’s not much comi ing on, and Barlow and Pol- : lock must be nearing retire- ; ment. ' “The bowling is not strong.” Morrison said South Africa i faced the prospect, should it i be accorded test status again, : of going into a series without : one player of test experience, e "If you were picking a ( South African team at press ent strictly on merit, no ? Coloured or black player s would be included,” he said. : "It would not be their fault ; — like the white South Africans, they are suffering

from lack of top match experience.” Morrison said that the New Zealand captain, Glenn Turner, and Australia’s lan Chappell, had appeared to get on all right.

After a celebrated test incident between the pair at Christchurch, Turner said he would never share the same dressing room as Chappell. "They changed next to each other in one game when there were two distinct changing rooms,” said Morrison.

White South Africans appeared genuinely pleased that the other races were involved in the three unofficial “tests.” "They were warmly applauded by the whites for almost everything they did,” he said. "For the Coloureds and blacks, it was the first time they played on the top grounds like Newlands.”