Firm umpiring needed in final test

Press, 4 March 1978, Page 56

Firm umpiring needed in final test

From

R. T. BRITTENDEN

in Auckland

The one-all situation, the firmness of the umpiring, and uncertainty about the weather and the pitch have given today’s cricket test at Eden Park a dramatic impact even before the first ball is bowled. The victory at Wellington has left New Zealand in a novel position. But it will demand a dedicated team effort if the subsequent disaster at Christchurch and the psychological advantage it gave the England team is to be overcome.

The manager of the New Zealand team and the chairman of selectors (Frank Cameron) said that his team knew it could win if it played well enough. “If you beat a side once, you can beat it again,” he said. “The boys know they 7 were fairly beaten in the last game and that they will ; have to make a clear imi provement if they are to I win.” Mr Cameron said he hoped that the umpires would be firm on the overuse of short-pitched deliveries and on bowlers going too close to the stumps and following through.

Here he has hit on a vital point. The 1976 international cricket conference, in a statement on bouncers and intimidatory bowling, said that as a guide to umpires not more than two bouncers should be allowed in one over nor more than three in consecutive overs by the same bowler. A bouncer is defined as a ball which pitches short and passes or would have passed above shoulder height of the batsman standing normally at the crease. These limits have been exceeded regularly by both sides during the first two tests and it would be a service to the game if the practise was halted firmly and quickly in this match. It is also important that the umpires take early acI tion if bowlers continue to ■infringe the laws protecting I the pitch, within a foot of [the middle stump, in the line [between the wickets. The i follow-through of lan i Botham in particular and others caused problems at Wellington and Christchurch. At Lancaster Park, the task of Phil Edmonds, England’s left-arm spinner, was lightened by the damaged

areas in which he was able to pitch. If all the bowlers conform exactly to all the rules it might cost New Zealand something. Extras so far are | averaging more than 25 in an innings and are third in the New Zealand batting averages.

It is highly unlikely that even if the bowlers do not overdo the bouncers and keep clear of the prohibited area, the scoring in this match will improve much on the funereal craws w 7 hich marked most parts of the| first two tests. This has come from the! reluctance of the modern bowler to keep the ball up and to have the batsman coming forward, as the great Australian, Ray Lindwall, used to do. He used an occasional bouncer but he invited the attacking stroke in the confidence that his skill could defeat the batsman. The cricket in this series j so far has probably done the game just as much harm as Mr Packer and his works. It has been hour after hour of fast or fast-medium bowling short of a length, aimed at the ribs and denying much more than an occasional cut or hook. The scoring rate in the series has averaged

under a miserable two and a half runs to the over and the over rate has been sluggardly. This deciding test, the fiftieth between England and New Zealand, means so much to both sides that there is only a faint prospect of bowlers and batsmen measuring their fullest skills. It is almost certain to be another war of nerves and physical courage, with the bali pitched persistently short during long spells of pace bowling. Bob Willis is probably the key man. His fiery blast on [the last day at Lancaster Park will be remembered when New Zealand begins its batting. If he can be thwarted, New Zealand has a distinct prospect of success.

The weather is uncertain. There were showers in Auckland yesterday and heavy rain last evening. There is no undertaking from the meteorological service that this week-end, (vital to the financial success of the tour, will be fine. However, it is a six-day match and, even if the gate suffers, there should be time even with interruptions for two brittle batting sides to see it through to a result.

The pitch is not as fresh and grassy as most at Eden Park in recent years. At one end there are patches of coarse couch grass, which may cause variations in bounce, and at the same end there are some bare areas which, if the weather becomes hot, could give the spinners encouragement before long. But the ball is more likely to seam than to fly on the first day, according to the best local advice. This twentieth Eden Park test match might well turn out to be a vividly exciting game. But if it is to be close fought, New Zealand, which now seems to have rather, less recuperative powers than England, will need a good start to win whether batting or in the field. England has named 13 players for the match, delays ing their final selection until this morning. The winning players from Christchurch are there with Mike Gatting] and John Lever. There may, be a temptation to replace Brian Rose with Gatting but the England captain, Geoff Boycott, is quite unlike Oscar Wilde and Rose is a I strong prospect to play.

There is a good chance that the left-handed Lever will replace Old.