Lessons for the West Indies at Dunedin

Press, 20 February 1980, Page 26

Lessons for the West Indies at Dunedin

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

New Zealand’s win over the West Indies cricket team at Carisbrook was a remarkable achievement, not only in terms of the unexpected. It was based on some fundamental errors by the West Indians, as well as courage from the New Zealanders, laced with a title luck. The luck was in Clive Lloyd deciding that the West Indies should bat after he had won the toss, and in having a faster outfield in the New Zealand innings than the West Indies enjoyed. In such a low-scoring game, the occasional runs made when the ball ran less reluctantly were vital. The West Indies did not seem to appreciate, after it had made only 140, that the success of the New Zealand attack w’as based on bowling of a fairly full length. When New Zealand batted, the West Indies bowlers were much too intent on banging the ball in short.

This produced some awkward bouqces and an occasional bruise, John

Wright had a spectacular collection of them and Bruce Edgar, who scored 65, was certainly not unmarked. But before the second wicket fell. New Zealand was well past 100. To be sure, it needed the spirited revival staged by Warren Lees, Richard Hadlee and Lance Cairns to compensate for a middle-order collapse, but the West Indies fast bowlers did not make the most of the conditions. There was another error of judgment after tea on the fourth day. At that stage, the West Indies score stood at 158 for five, which gave the tourists a lead of 49. Fifteen overs separated New Zealand from the new ball, and the return of Richard Hadlee. In fact 16 were bowled before it was taken. In that period, only 22 runs were added.

Desmond Haynes and Deryck Murray were

evidently under instructions to stay together at all costs, so that they could meet the threat Hadlee would undoubtedly impose. The bowlers were Lance Cairns and Stephen Boock and although they were tidy, they were not very demanding. It seemed a mistake for the batsmen to concentrate on defence. They should have taken everything possible in that

lull before the Hadlee storm.

As it happened, their effort was wasted. Hadlee took three wickets .in 10 deliveries.

Although the West Indies was without two star players, Vivian Richards and Andy Roberts, New Zealand won in difficult circumstances. It did not have Glenn Turner, the country’s top batsman. It had to get through the game with only four bowlers, because Jeremy Coney was injured. He was on the field for only a short period, and that meant that Cairns, so splendid a saver near the fence, had to field much closer to the bat, even in the slips.

It was an unforgettable game, because of its nerve-racking finish. If New Zealand had a little better of the luck — and that does not refer to debatable dismissal decisions, which went against the home team as much as it did against the West Indies — it fought with a splendid spirit.

The tension was immense.. One New Zealand player, waiting his turn to bat, later confessed he had dedicated the rest of his life — provided New Zealand won — to celibacy, teetotalism, and the pursuit of religious studies.

He will be identified only if a bolt of lightning should strike him at Lancaster Park.