Third-test umpires: West Indies happy

Press, 28 February 1980, Page 34

Third-test umpires: West Indies happy

The West Indians have withdrawn their objections tb the umpiring appointments for tomorrow’s third test at Eden Park, and some time today the touring manager, Mr Willy Rodriguez, will issue a “complete report” on the incident involving the fast bowler Colin Croft and the umpire Mr Fred Goodall on Tuesday. These were the main points to emerge yesday from the continuing conferences which have provided the background to one of the least memorable test matches ever played in New Zealand. In announcing that objections to the men appointed for Auckland — Mr J. B. Hastie and Mr W. R. C. Gardiner — had been dropped, the chairman of the New Zealand Board of Control, Mr Bob Vance, said that he was delighted. “Now we can go into the third test with improved feeling between the sides.” he said. “Any other decision would have incited the players.” Mr Vance said that, as chairman, he wished to commend Mr Goodall for his dignified approach to the game and both umpires for their attitudes and actions. They had proved that the board’s confidence in them was well founded. However, there is no indication yet th?,t Croft

may be dropped for tomorrow’s game. It would have been well within the rights of the New Zealand Board to have told the West Indies’ management that Croft was not acceptable as a player in the third test. But at a, press conference yesterday afternoon Mr Rodriguez said that no consideration had yet been given to dropping Croft. The captain had had a talk to him, he said, and so had he, but there would be a complete report before the third test. In answer to a question, Mr Rodriguez said that he had no knowledge of the New Zealand Board’s indicating that Croft was not acceptable. Had any move been made to apologise for the behaviour of Croft? he was asked. “We are taking steps in that direction, but we prefer that the matter rest until those steps are taken,” Mr Rodriguez said. He also said that such things had happened before, in different circumstances and on more than one occ"sion. It could have happened accidentally. The situation led itself to the view that it was not accidental, but he would not say categorically that it was neither accidental nor deliberate. Mr Rodriguez said that neither as a player nor administrator had he been in a match with an atmos-

phere as sour as tins one had been. He had been in touch with the West Indies Board of Control, said Mr Rodricguez, and the board was prepared to leave it to the team management to sort it all out. “They view it very seriously,” he said. “They have asked my opinion on what has happened. But they will have to wait until my report, the captain’s report, and the report of the New Zealand Board are received when we get home, before they sort things out and take action if they feel it is necessary.” Asked if an apology had been made to Mr Goodall, Mr Rodriguez said that “everything connected with the incidents here, at Dunedin, and at Wellington — anywhere else? — would be in the report” to be issued today. “Our players have had time to think and their frame of mind is very different to what it was some time ago,” said Mr Rodriguez. Asked about the West Indians’ attitude to the third test, he said that the efforts made between Tuesday afternoon and the close of play were an indication of what they intended to do at Auckland. He reiterated his belief that there should be neutral umpires in test cricket. “It will have to come eventually, judging by the results in sports doing this,” he said.