Not the only one

Press, 28 February 1981, Page 60

Not the only one

While Jackman appears to have been singled out for attention, he is not the only member of the England party to have had recent South African connections. Geoff Boycott for one, has visited South Africa privately and, according to the South African Cricket Union’s secretary, Mr Charles Fortune, spent December coaching in Durban." And Boycott’s fellow Yorkshireman, David Bairstow, now battling with Middlesex’s Paul Downton for the England No. 1 wick-et-keeping spot, played for Griqualand West in the 1976-77 Currie Cup and Castle Bowl competitions, and captained them the next season, after the Gleneagles Agreement had been signed. Jackman himself, clearly upset by the storm that has

followed his arrival, is being I shielded from the press by! team officials. The Jackman situation could well arise again when sthe England team arrive in Jamaica for the final test in April. The Jamaican government’s policy towards South African links is known to be the same as that in Guyana. Britain’s Home Secretary Mr William Whitelaw said in the House of Commons yesterday that England’s test selectors should pick the best people to take part in the West Indies tour. He added: “There may be some misunderstandings, which I hope current discussions on the spot will clear up. I think it would be wrong to comment, in the hope they will clear up and the tour will proceed in the best interests of cricket.”

England’s Sports Minister, Mr Hector Monro, commented: “We support most strongly the absolute right of the England selectors, or any other of our governing bodies of sport to select their own teams without interference. “The Times” of London carried a leader article in yeterday’s edition headlined: “It is for the selectors to select ” “Several of the England side now in Guyana have exercised their rights as British citizens to ignore their Government’s advice and play in South Africa,” "The Times” said. “Guyana accepted them. “It is for the West Indian authorities to explain how one degree of contact with South African sport is more or less heinous.”