Loss of Cairns big blow for Otago side

Press, 28 February 1981, Page 60

Loss of Cairns big blow for Otago side

PA Dunedin Otago will have a definite chance of improving its record against international cricket teams when it meets vue touring Indian side at Carisbrook today. The Otago selectors have come up with a combination of promising youth and proven experience. However, the withdrawal of the New Zealand representative, Lance Cairns, is a big blow. Cairns is nursing a recurring leg injury which troubled him in Australia. The all-rounder’s absence will place a lot of pressure pn Brian McKechnie, the only specialist bowler in the opening attack. Derek Walker will almost Certainly open the attack with McKechnie and will have the added incentive of playing in front of his home crowd for the first time at first-class level. Should either of the two seam howlers fail in their opening spell, Otago may be left short of a fast bowler, with only Bruce Blair to back up in this area, but it is more likely that either Stephen Boock, the left-arm spinner, or the off-spinner, John Bracewell, will be in(roduced early in the attack. Much will ‘depend on these two if Otago is to keep the Indian batsmen in check. Carisbrook proved a successful yenue for Boock when he captured 12 wickets ag-inst Auckland earlier this year. Perhaps the most worrying aspect of Otago’s play this seas n has been the batting. Consistency ■ has been lacking in this department and lan Rutherford and .Geoff Blakely will be looking to build a good platform for the- innings. If these two get away to a good start then batsmen such as Richard Hoskin, the Blair brothers, Gareth Dawson and Warren Lees can go for their shots. The game is an important one for the captain, Lees, and he must give a good performar-e to keep his'

i name in front of the New Zealand selectors. Today’s match is also important for the Indian side. The batsmen, in particular, have struggled so far in New Zealand and the Indians will be seeking an opportunity to play themselves into form on The wicket, which is likely to be easy-paced with a low bounce, will be difficult to score runs on and will require a lot of concentration from the batsmen. The assistance it is likely to give both seam and spin bowlers will also be a test for the batsmen/ With Dilip Doshi and Nandlal Yadav still on the injured list, the spin bowling duties will fall on the shoulders of the young left-armer, Ravi Shastri. It will be a strong disadvantage for India to go into the match with only one recognised spinner and if the Otago batsmen can collar him more will be placed on the mediumpacers. Kapildev, Roger Binny and Yograj Singh are the three medium-pacers named in the team while Kirti Azad is also a useful bowler. Three opening b. Lunen, funil Gavaskar, Chetan Chauhan and Srinivasan have also been named. Srinivasan has been in good form on tour and could force his way into the test side with a good performance against Otago. The teams are.— Otago: Warren Lees (captain), lan Rutherford, Geoff Blakely, Richard Hoskin, Wayne Blair, Bruce Blair, Gareth Dawson, Brian McKechnie, Derek Walker, John Bracewell, Stephen Boock, Stu McCullum (12th man). India: Sunil Gavaskar (captain), Gundappa Vishwanath, Dilip Vengsarker, Kapildev, Roger Binny, Bharat Reddy, Chetan Chauhan, Kirti Azad, T. E. Srinivasan, Ravi Shastri, Yashpal Sharma, Yograj Singh.