Chappell ‘not losing any sleep’

Press, 29 April 1981, Page 25

Chappell ‘not losing any sleep’

PA Auckland Greg Chappell has some small regret over the "underarm incident." but he will not lose sleep over it. The Australian cricket captain, in Auckland as guest speaker for the Qantas Press Awards luncheon, was referring to his directing brother. Trevor, to bowl an underarm delivery against NewZealand in a one-day match at Melbourne. It was the last ball of the match, and thwarted any chance of the New Zealand batsman. Brian McKechnie. hitting a six in order to tic the match. Chappell said that he regretted his direction had caused such a huge incident, but felt that as time passed a more realistic view would be taken of it and "it would slide back into history." He felt that he was "stuck with it." hut he was not losing any sleep over the incident. He said that captains in one-day cricket were subject to intense pressure, and questioned whether it deserved more' reaction than the action of Sunil Gavaskar, the Inddian captain, seeking to have his players leave the field during the final test against Australia.

"Forty-eight hours later, because the reaction had seemed so strong and unrealistic, there was some sympathy for me." said Chappell. ' "The feeling was that, 'all right. I made a mistake, but I didn't deserve that sort of criticism ." By then Chappell was playing in another one-dav match against New Zealand. He felt that the onlywav to answer his critics was by the bat — he made 87. Chappell is still not entirely convinced that Martin Sncdden caught him in the Melbourne game, and he has watched television replays. The "catch." when Chappell was 58. was not allowed, and the Australian captain went on to score 91) in this match of the "underarm" deliver-.. "There is an indication." said Chappell, "that the ball might have hit the ground, and then bounced back into the hands." Chappell declared himself unavailable for the Australian team's tour of England, but he is keen to play against the West Indies and Pakistan, who will visit Australia next season. Nor does he see any problems in being available for the short tour

of New Zealand at the end of next summer. Chappell views the coming test series between England and Australia as a good SU-50 bet. He said that not too much notice should be taken of England's defeat in the West Indies series. England was a far different proposition on its home grounds. He felt that there was tremendous potential in the. young Australian side, but much would depend on the team getting away to a good start and not being dogged by bad weather. Chappell welcomed one-day and night cricket with coloured clothing and white balls, but he believed that there was still a firm following for test cricket. Legislation could not change test cricket, but series between England and Australia, and Australia and the West Indies, would continue to be tremendous drawcards. He also welcomed the news that Richard Hadlee and Geoff Howarth would not be lost to New Zealand next summer. "It would be a tragedy." he said, "if they were taken out of the NewZealand domestic season."