Batsmen get chance

Press, 17 February 1978, Page 4

Batsmen get chance

PA Dunedin England has stacked Its team with batsmen most palpably out of form for the match against Otago, which begins at Carisbrook today. This was the predictable reaction of the England tour management yesterday to the batting debacles of the first test. All the specialist batsmen, except the injured Brian Rose, will play against Otago in an attempt to discover their true batting form. The captain, Geoff Boycott, who may have rested from this game had he scored more proiiflcally in his previous matches in New Zealand, will open the batting.

There is probably dual significance in Boycott playing against Otago. He will undoubtedly want as long and productive an innings as possible, for his return so far in New Zealand of 146 runs in five innings is moderate by his standards. Equally, Boycott’s presence Is an insurance policy against an England defeat, something the tourists dare not even contemplate after their loss in the first test at Wellington. The England batting has been so brittle that the solidity of Boycott at the top of the order is imperative. The mercurial Derek Randal), who has been sadly out of form in New Zealand, may open the innings with his captain. This would leave Clive Radley, Graham Roope and Mike Gatting as the next three batsmen, the all-rounder. lan Botham, at No. 6, and Geoff Cope, although a steady, dogged player, will start a long batting tail. Two Otago players, Lance Cairns and the off-spinner, Peter Petherick. will be out to show that their omission from the test sides so far has been a mistake. Petherick has an incredible record for Otago against touring teams. Two years ago, in his first season of first-class cricket, he claimed six wickets for 36 against India, and last year, against Australia, he took seven for 65.

As the only New Zealander to take a hat-trick in test cricket—and his first test at that—cricket enthusiasts expect the unexpected from the laconic Petherick. The teams are:—

Otago: Warren Lees (captain), Wayne Blair, Stuart McCullum, Russeil Stewart, Keith Campbell, Paul Facoory, Bruce Blair, Lance Cairns. Chris Kirk. Brian McKechnie, Peter Petherick, and Graeme Thomson (one to be omitted).

England: Geoff Boycott (captain), Derek Randall, Clive Radley, Graham Roope. Mike Gatting, lan Botham. Geoff Cope. Phil Edmonds. John Lever, Paul Downton, Mike Hendrick. The twelfth man is Geoff Miller.