A D’Oliveira to play in city

Press, 19 August 1982, Page 42

A D’Oliveira to play in city

D’Oliveira, the name which caused a tour by England to South Africa to be cancelled and which was a major factor in South Africa’s international cricketing isolation, will be heard on Christchurch fields this summer. Damian D’Oliveira, the 21-year-old elder son of Basil D'Oliveira, who had 44 test appearances and whose five centuries included one at Lancaster Park, has been engaged by the East Christ-church-Shirley club. He replaces Duncan Wild, a young Northamptonshire professional who will be coaching only in the England off-season this year, said East-Shirley’s president, Mr Neil Ockwell, yesterday. “We definitely wanted someone to play for our senior side as well,” said Mr Ockwell, “especially as Ray Jones, our leading batsman in recent seasons, has been transferred to Dunedin.”

Young D’Oliveira has joined East-Shirley on the recommendation of Glenn Turner, said Mr Ockwell, and he has considerable all-round talents. Originally a wicketkeeper, he has now relinquished the gloves and bowls very effectively at mediumpace and, occasionally, offspin.

He also fields exceptionally well close to the wicket, but his main strength is his

batting. On trial for Worcestershire last year, he scored more than 500 runs in the limited second eleven competition, as well as taking 20 wickets, a total exceeded only by the experienced Jim Cumbes.

Employed full-time for this season, his opportunities in the first eleven have been limited with such batsmen as Phillip Neale, Dipak Patel, Younis Ahmed and Ted Hemsley in the middle-order for Worcestershire.

East-Shirley is bringing D’Oliveira to New Zealand under a sponsorship arrangement with British Airways. But he will have a diverse “working” life in Christchurch, spending the mornings at the sports goods firm, Anderson and Hill, and mainly coaching in the afternoons.

This will include some coaching with Sydenham’s professional, Bob Carter, who is returning for his third season in Christchurch, under the Canterbury Cricket Association’s scheme.

“We have some other projects of our own in mind,” said Mr Ockwell, "and we feel confident that we will get a very sound return from Damian D’Oliveira, especially as he is coming to us with the recommendations of such a sound judge as Glenn Turner.”