English batsmen criticised

Press, 5 December 1981, Page 64

English batsmen criticised

NZPA-Reuter New Delhi Three leading English-lan-guage newspapers said in editorials yesterday that England's touring cricketers needed to regain their batting form after their debacle in the first test against India at Bombay. “.the mystery is that the havoc should’ have been wrought not by the Indian spinners, to whom the foreign teams have been vulnerable, but by the medium pace attack,’' the “Statesman’’ said. The daily said the Indian pace bowling had “always

been the object of ridicule” and it was a great surprise that the tourists were “cowed by Kapil Dev and Madan Lal.” The “Hindustan Times" described the first test as “a poor match," both for India and England. Calling England’s batting collapse “unaccountable," the newspaper said the test “revealed that the Indian team is not knit well in the sense that only half the side can be depended on to show their best.” The newspaper warned the Indian cricketers not to be

complacent about their 138run victory. “It would be a silly mistake to think that they (Englishmen) will not improve their play as they gain confidence in the coming weeks," it said. The “Times of India,” describing India’s win, as unexpected, said, “in the early stages of the test, it was very much England’s game. Yet they frittered away whatever’ advantage they held." The “Statesman” criticised the English tour manager, Mr Raman Subba Row, the

captain, Keith Fletcher, and some British cricket writers for finding fault with the umpiring in the Bombay test. "The blanket charge,” the newspaper said, “is more than suspect and we cannot help but wonder whether their fury does not stem from sentiments other than a concern for fair play." The Indian Cricket Control Board flatly rejected a formal note from Mr Row and Mr Fletcher protesting at the standard of umpiring and the condition of the wicket at Bombay.