Tour seems brighter for cricketers

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 56

Tour seems brighter for cricketers

Eastbourne Four items of good news cheered the New Zealand cricketers this morning. First, Gary Troup has been released by the Bradford league to play for the touring team in Hove today, although he will have to make a league appearance at Bradford tomorrow when there is no play in the county match. Second, Richard Hadlee’s injury is not as serious as was first diagnosed. He is suffering from muscle strain, not muscle tear as had been thought. He has been told to do nothing for two days and in that time he will go to London for treatment. It is expected he will be fit to play in a week. Third, Graeme Thomson is likely to be fit for today’s match.

Fourth, Brendon Bracewell is much improved and is expected to be fit to play against Gloucestershire in the match after the Sussex fixture. Dayle Hadlee, however, is still in doubt. He will have tests, including X-rays in London, and a final diagnosis should be available by the middle of next week.

On Thursday the New Zealanders had reason for feeling pleased with themselves when the second day of the match with D. H. Robins Young England XI was ended 10 minutes early because of bad light. Play had been delayed until 3 p.m. by overnight rain and the home team was able to advance its score from 65 for one wicket to only 184 for six before David Goer declared.

By close of play New Zealand, 32 for one, was in front by 117 runs.

The capture of four wickets in 35min was a considerable achievement by the New Zealanders on an urn responsive pitch. The nightwatchman, Bruce French, lived precariously for a long time as the overnight score of 65 was advanced to 100. Then he was taken at first

From R.T. Brittenden On tour for the N.Z.PA.

slip by John Parker when the ball rebounded from Mark Burgess’s hand. Bevan Congdon finally won a long battle with the test’s batsman, Graham Gooch. The strongly built Gooch is a patient player who waits for the half vollev but he is a fierce driver when it comes. He made a brief assault on Congdon but was then checked by some sharp fielding close to the wicket. Finally Congdon, himself very patient, bowled Gooch when the batsman swung wildly at him. Gower, yesterday’s darling of English cricket, had a brief first look at the New Zealand bowling. He was deceived by one Congdon held back and offered the simplest of return catches. Then another outstanding England prospect, Kevin Sharp went leg before wicket to the industrious Cairns and half the side was out for 125.

Things did not go quite so well after tea when Wayne Larkins and John Barclay made their six-wicket stand worth 59 with some strong hitting. A tiring Congdon suffered a little and so did Steven Boock before the declaration gave New Zealand a lead of 85.

Cairns gave a typically resolute performance in a blustery W’ind and beat the batsmen even more often than his useful figures might suggest.

Congdon, bowling into the breeze, was remarkable. Twice the age of some of his opponents, he was like some mechanical contrivance which Burgess had wound up and set to work. He nagged persistently at the batsmen and gave away runs with miserly reluctance.