Hadlee on N.Z.’s future

Press, 9 May 1981, Page 22

Hadlee on N.Z.’s future

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

The experience of the present New Zealand test cricket team would help maintain the country’s present standing in international cricket, but there was an urgent need to find good young players as replacements, said Richard Hadlee, before his departure to renew his association with the Nottinghamshire county team.

He must therefore have been pleased with the decision of the New Zealand Board of Control to engage Geoff Howarth and himself for the next New Zealand season.

While the present team was together, Hadlee said, there was every reason to feel confidence in New Zealand’s prospects. The professional section of the side had had, in aggregate, many hundreds of first-class matches. In earlier years, a good firstclass player might be lucky to have 50 or 60 games. ‘The door is now closing on overseas players in England, however, and there will not be the opportunities for New Zealanders, who will be limited to our domestic cricket,” said Hadlee. “That will not improve our international standing, but we have to develop, and the New Zealand Cricket Council has decided on a scheme which will involve Geoff Howarth and myself in helping to develop up-and-coming players. “In my case, I will be used to find potential fast bowlers and coach them, while Geoff will be in the batting department,” said Hadlee. “In a couple of years or so, when some of our present players are out of the game, we are

going to need to find replacements. There is a lack of depth in New Zealand bowling at present, so the development of the bowling area is very important. The Sports Foundation has helped with grants, and that means much to the future of the game.” Hadlee saw the shortage of fast bowlers in New Zealand as a reflection on the quality of pitches. That had always been a problem, he said. “Hbw can we encourage fast bowlers on pitches such as the present Eden Park one, where - the ball turns square?” he said. “There is no incentive there, and no doubt there are many others which stifle incentive. A lot of dribbly medium-pacers get bags of wickets, so a quickie begins to wonder why he should charge in for

a long run. He probably ? winds up fiddling his wickets ] like so many others. ’ ? “Coaches may encourage J youngsters to get in behind ’ the line but unfortunately the > pitch problems begin at u ‘ grass roots level. Many ♦ schools do not have proper * pitches. If children start get- > ting hit, they back away and i lose confidence. . J “Better pitches are needed. J It is necessary also for the kids, to have proper protec- i tive gear-pads, gloves, boxes f and helmets. The ;helmet is : becoming part of standard equipment. I think they are for the safety af batsmen and close-in fieldsmen. I would like to see Government grants made available to schools, making helmets part of standard equipment.”