Barry Hadlee finding form for first-class fixtures

Press, 17 November 1976, Page 28

Barry Hadlee finding form for first-class fixtures

By

JOHN COFFEY

It will be of comfort to Canterbury cricket followers that Barry Hadlee, reflecting on his innings of 80 during the representative trial last week-end, feels that he is now getting into the right frame of mind for the first-class fixtures which begin next month. Hadlee, with 583 runs, was second only to Glenn Turner in the aggregates last season and there were many observers who considered him unfortunate not to have been included in the New Zealand squad for the present tour of Pakistan and India

The subsequent failures of New Zealand's opening batsmen to provide a solid foundation for test innings have added weight to the argument that the touring side would have benefited from Hadlees concentration and consistency in recent years. However, it is not in Hadlee’s nature to make optimistic predictions of further success, and he prefers to “wait and see” what transpires at club and inter-provincial levels before giving any consideration towards earning a test cap against the Australians in February. “I have no set plans for the future, although I would like to keep playing for Canterbury for another season or two.” he said yesterday. “Some of my club form has not been very good so far. I did not have a large amount of pre-season practice — certainly not as much as 1 would have liked — and I had not batted against spinners in a match until the trial game. "Because I had not had a real depth of batting leading up to it. I was reasonably satisfied with the innings in the trial. 1 believe in occupying the crease as long as possible to have practice in a match situation — batting

in the nets is not a favourite pastime of mine,” he said. Hadlee believes that his score of 80 will assist him in developing the mental and physical aspects of concentrating for an extensive period of time. “It is a nice feeling when the sun comes out, beating on one’s back and raising some sweat on the brow.” Probably the most surprising aspect of Hadlee’s career was that he required 12 seasons before he reached his first century in either Plunket or Shell Shield cricket. He finally achieved that milestone with 107 against Otago last season, but his maiden first-class century had been an unbeaten 118 for Canterbury in its match with Pakistan in 1972-73. In only his fourth appearance for Canterbury. in 1961-62, Hadlee reaped 86 runs from the Otago attack at Lancaster Park, and it was rather perplexing that this was to remain his highest tally until the encounter with Pakistan. A failure to hold his place in the Canterbury XI seemed to have permanently swept Hadlee from the representative scene in the late sixties, and his prominence has been all the more notable because of the period in which he slipped back to the wings from centre stage. “Perhaps I did not have enough confidence to play my shots and get on top in those days," Hadlee said in recalling the seasons in the wilderness. “I am still essentially a front-foot player, but at least I can bat better on tne bjick foot now and take advantage of the wide range of run-scoring shots on the on-side." An unusual set of cir-

cumstances prompted Hadlee’s switch from the middle of the batting order to assume the role of opener. It might well be put down as one of the rewards which Canterbury sport derived from the allocation of the 1974 Commonwealth Games to Christchurch. As a member of the control committee of the badminton section of the Games, Hadlee was required to meet an Australian visitor early one Sat-

urday afternoon. But he had a prior commitment to play for High School Old Boys against Sydenham and asked the then Old Boys captain. Cran Bull, if he might bat earlier in the innings before getting away to the airport. It transpired that Hadlee, “relaxed and playing my shots without worrying too much,” was still at the crease when the match stopped for lunch, and he resumed after the

adjournment to all but score a century. His mother — not unused to cricketing duties calling on the time of the sport’s most famous family —

deputised for her son at the airport. Incredibly, there was a similar happening a week later, when Hadlee was rostered to officiate at the Games badminton. Once again he went in first, and the runs ■ continued to flow. ' v

“Opening the innings is probably my place. Over the years I had tended to tense up further down the list, and it is a relief not having to wait to bat.” Hadlee said. When asked to recall his most memorable innings, Hadlee confessed to not being statistically minded when considering his own performances. But his 94 in the second innings against Auckland at Eden Park in 1974-75 came to mind (“I personally felt good and it was a good team effort”). His contribution was a major factor in a Canterbury one-wicket victory with one over to spare. Hadlee said that he had gained considerable enjoyment from batting with Peter Coman last season, although the very correct Hadlee and the effervescent Coman must qualify as one of the most contrasting opening partnerships in New Zealand’s cricketing history. “I love running quick singles. The ones and the twos are the bricks on which to build an innings — the fours and sixes are not all that count, although Peter’s philosophy is rather different. Scoring regularly, and getting the bad balls away to the boundary, is a part of my style that has taken a long time to evolve, but it is important to keep at least on even terms when not on top,” Hadlee said.