Turner non-committal

Press, 18 September 1976, Page 52

Turner non-committal

By

RAY CAIRNS

Glenn Turner will captain the New Zealand cricket team on its tour of Pakistan and India, starting late next week. He made this clear yesterday from Dunedin, where he is holidaying briefly with his parents before leaving next Friday. But Turner, careful as always to choose his words, made no further commitment to international cricket this season or later. Pressed to confirm if he was available to play in the two test matches against the touring Australians in February, Turner sail that “as always, I don’t look too far ahead. “It is difficult to commit oneself for more than one tour at a time.” There appears little doubt he is looking forward to playing in Northland and for

Northern Districts this season, however. Turner has never played for other than Otago but he is "looking forward to the change of climate and scenery; I have never been further north than Auckland.” "Playing all the time becomes a bit of routine; if one can get a change—even a change of scenery—it can be a bit of a boost,” said Turner. Looking at the Asian tour, Tumer saw it as a very difficult tour. “There are two entirely different series: Pakistan has a balanced attack, and their batsmen are very good and did well in England this season. “Their side, on paper, has been very good for the past few seasons and although they have not performed up to their potential, if they click, they can topple any-

one. Hopefully, Pakistan will not be as strong in the spinners as in the past," said Turner. India, he said, would again be strong in spinners, “and under conditions conducive to that attack. Although last season we were the better side here against them, they will be quite a different proposition at home.” Turner was worried about his weakened side’s chances. “The biggest thing that concems me is that last time we went to India and Pakistan, in 1965, we had been to the United Kingdom first. This time, the majority of the guys are coming out of a very cold winter and only have two games before the first test. What’s more, we always seem to get the worst conditions in Pakistan, straight after their monsoons.”