Same team for third test

Press, 16 March 1982, Page 46

Same team for third test

PA Auckland The New Zealand cricket selectors have retained the same twelve players presently engaged in the second test against Australia, at Eden Park, for the third test beginning at Lancaster Park this Friday. The chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council, Mr Bob Vance, announced the side after the fourth day’s play in the second test yesterday. ■, The selection is- a vote of confidence in players such as Martin Crowe and John

Morrison, who have yet to show batting form in the series and the bowler, John Bracewell, who was called into the side after the first test but has taken the twelfth man duties in the present match. Crowe made only 9 at the Basin Reserve in the rainaffected first test and two in New Zealand’s first innings on Sunday. Morrison made 15 at Wellington and 11 last Friday, but produced a bonus for the New Zealand selectors when he revealed a talent as a left-arm slow

bowler during Australia's second innings yesterday. Morrison bowled 32 overs, taking no wicket but conceding only 51 runs. Bracewell has not played a test for new Zealand since returning his test best figures of five for 75 against India at Eden Park in the 1980-81 season. He was widely expected to play in the present test on the dry Eden Park wicket but was discarded when New Zealand decided to base, its strategy around its batsmen. Bracewell played for a

President’s Eleven against the Australians at Lancaster Park in a three day match leading up to the second test but did not perform well taking only two wickets for 64 runs. His selection in the second test side after that performance was mildly surprising. The New Zealand team is: Bruce Edgar, John Wright, John Morrison, Geoff Howarth (captain), Jeremy Coney, Martin Crowe, Richard Hadlee, lan Smith, Lance Cairns, John Bracewell, Martin Snedden, Gary Troup.