'Thommo' doubt

Press, 31 May 1977, Page 42

' Thommo ' doubt

NZPA Worcester The Australian cricket selectors are taking no risk with Jeff Thomson in the final build-up to the test series against England. Thomson’s road back from a severe shoulder injury five months ago has been strewn with difficulties, and the 26-year-old Queensland fast bowler pulled out of the game against Worcestershire when his old elbow problem flared up again. Thomson’s fitness is, _ of course, crucial to Australia’s campaign to retain the Ashes; without him, the tourists battled to contain a very ordinary Worcestershire batting line-up. The New Zealand test cap-; tain, Glenn Turner, and veteran opener Alan Ormrod scored at will against Len Pascoe and Mick Malone. They put on 114 for the first wicket, in better than even time, and it was against the run of play when Pascoe trapped Turner lbw for 69.

Scores: — WORCESTERSHIRE First innings A. Ormrod b Bright .. 73 G. Turner lbw b Pascoe .. 69 P. Neale c Chappell b Pascoe 8 E. Hemsley c Robinson b Bright .. 17 D. Patel c and b Chappell .. 1 B. Jones b Bright .. 2 C. Boyns b Bright .. 18 D Humphries not out .. 21 J.’ Inchmore b Bright . 16 N. Gifford c Robinson b J. Cumbes b Pascoe .. 0 Extras (bB, Ib3, nbs) .. 16 Total 243 Fall of wickets: 14, 126, 159, 184, 184, 197, 204, 228, 243. Bowling: L. Pascoe, 13.5, 4, 40, 4; M. Malone, 15, 1, 61, 0; R. Bright, 35, 8, 91, 5; G. Cosier, 6, 1,7, 0; G. Chappell, 10, 3, 28, 1. AUSTRALIA First innings 358 Second innings R. McCosker c Humphries b Inchmore .. 0 I. Davies not out .. .12 G. Chappell not out .. 17 Extras 0 Total (for one wicket) .. 29 Fall of wicket: 0. Bowling: J. Inchmore, 4,2, 11, 1; J. Cumbes, 2, 0. 12, 0; N. Gifford, 1,0, 6. 0.