Theatrics at test 'a team problem'

Press, 25 February 1980, Page 1

Theatrics at test 'a team problem'

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

“We have a personal team problem which we have to solve for ourselves.” This was the basis of the comments made by the West Indies cricket team manager, Mr Willy Rodriguez, at a press conference after play in the second test a,t Lancaster Park yesterday, a day without precedent in New Zealand cricket’s history, because the West Indies team took the field 12 minutes late after the tea interval. When play was due to resume the West Indians, and Mr Rodriguez, were in their dressing room holding a discussion. “It is strictly a team problem, a,nd nothing to do with anything else,” Mr Rodriguez said. “We did not discuss any of the decisions.” It had been strongly rumoured that the West indies proposed to stay in their room until a change was made in the umpires. Mr Rodriguez said that perhaps the team problem discussion could have been held over to the close of play. “The problem is in the process of being solved,” he said. “I prefer that we try to solve it ourselves.” Asked if the West Indies intended to apologise for the interruption of

play, Mr Rodriguez said that he had not thought about it. “There is no contention between the players and me about the problem. We all feel the same way about it,” he said. Mr Rodriguez declined to confirm whether a request had been made for an umpire to be replaced. “I do not w?,nt to discuss it,” he said. “It is a private problem, and when it is solved there will be more detail on it.” To another question, Mr Rodriguez said that the West Indies’ performance in the field after tea fairly reflected the players’ feelings. The over rate was very slow, and Colin Croft was heckled by the crowd at one stage for his somnambulistic walk back to his mark.

Mr Rodriguez said he was not aware that any warning had been given to Croft. Twice it seemed that Croft had exchanged words with one of the umpires, Mr Fred Goodall, and after the second occasion Mr Goodall walked across to speak to the West . Indies captain, Clive Lloyd. “The problem will be resolved between now and Tuesday morning, when the game resumes,” Mr Rodriguez said.

Asked how he saw the present state of the match, Mr Rodriguez said: “I do not think we have lost control of the test — or anything.” Yesterday was not the first time that a West Indies team has shown dissatisfaction with umpiring. At Birmingham in 1973, one of the umpires

in a West Indies-England test, Mr Arthur Fagg, threatened to withdraw at the end of the second day. After a confident appeal for a catch at the wicket off Geoff Boycott had been declined, the West Indies captain, Rohan Kanhai, “openly showed his annoyance,” according to “Wisden.”

On the third morning, another umpire, Mr Alan Oakman, stood for the first over. Mr Fagg then resumed his duties, after talks with the West Indies manager and the chairman of the English selection committee. On the last New Zealand tour of India considerable dissatisfaction was expressed about the umpiring in one of the tests, and there was a proposal, which came to nothing, for the touring team not to take the field after one of the intervals. “The West Indies team has a problem, but I will not elucidate,” said the chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Board of Control, Mr Bob Vance. “We will wait for the reports of the umpires and the match manager before taking any action, if action is necessary.”

Team’s behaviour petullant — Back Page