Chappell has doubts over captaincy

Press, 3 November 1981, Page 28

Chappell has doubts over captaincy

NZPA-Reuter Brisbane Greg Chappell has not said it, but he knows the knives have been out for him ever since last season’s underarm incident. It was a sudden impulse decision to deny a New Zealand tailender the chance of hitting a six the Kiwis needed to win a now forgotten match that prompted the Australian captain to instruct his brother, Trevor, to bowl the last ball underarm. Then, with the controversy still raging, Chappell announced he would be unavailable to lead Australia in England because of business and family reasons. Now, back refreshed after a winter’s spell, Chappell is nearing the form which has made him Australia’s most

prodigious run scorer behind the legendary Sir Donald Bradman. He has made no secret of his eagerness to reclaim the test captaincy he handed to Kim Hughes when he declined to tour England. “It would be an honour to lead Australia again,” Chappell said. However, Chappell appears resigned to the fact even his illustrious record may not be enough to influence Australian Cricket Board delegates to vote for him after the test side is named by the selectors in Melbourne and released by the board tomorrow afternoon. “I think the matter has already been decided,” he said, brushing aside sugges-

tions his magnificent 162 for Queensland against Pakistan at the Brisbane Cricket Ground on Saturday would weigh heavily in his favour. On the grounds of experience, mental hardness, strategic perception and that of being the best cricketer in Australia, Chappell is more than adequately equipped to whip Australia out of its present slump. Yet, to the mystery of millions of cricket lovers round the country, his leadership for the coming tests this summer is in doubt. None better than Chappell knows the murderously demanding job leading Australia in a test series can be. The pressure exists both on and off the field.

He has all the qualities Off the field, Chappell dresses extremely well, speaks in articulate tones, has a good public image and dedicates himself to the job at hand. As captain of Queensland he has welded a remarkable team spirit almost unique in the game. Given the chance he would like to do the same for bis country. Meanwhile, the New South Wales cricket team yesterday suspended the fast bowler, Len Pascoe, for one match over an alleged breach of the players’ code during the Sheffield Shield cricket match against Western Australia at the weekend. The action is the first

taken by players under a code of behaviour instituted last season. The one-match suspension was imposed after the N.S.W. team met yesterday to consider complaints by the West Australian captain, Kim Hughes, and Pascoe over a dispute between the two on and off the field. “The N.S.W. team decided to accept Hughes’s complaint as a breach of the code of behaviour and have imposed a suspension of one match on Pascoe,” the executive director of the Australian Cricket Board, Mr David Richards, said today. “This suspension will apply to the South Australia — N.S.W. match due to commence on November 6." The decision follows a tur-

bulent series of events on the second day of the shield match at the W.A.C.A. ground at Perth on Saturday. Pascoe bowled what appeared fo be a head high bean ball at Hughes after the WA. captain had hooked a ball to the boundary to take his score to 92. Hughes ran to the other end of the wicket and appeared to speak angrily with Pascoe. Pascoe is believed to have gone to the W.A. dressing room at tea and argued with Hughes before other players asked him to leave. Pascoe is understood to have complained that Hughes used abusive and intimidatory language toward him on the field.