Observations, thoughts of test cricketer

Press, 29 June 1983, Page 26

Observations, thoughts of test cricketer

BERT SUTCLIFFE,

the great New

Zealand cricketer, is in England leading a tour group. In letters to “The Press” he makes some pertinent comment about New Zealand’s performance in the World Cup competition, recalls some of the places he visited on his three tours of England, and some of the players he met then.

Birmingham, June 15 Looking out at Edgbaston brought back a host of vivid memories, going back to 1949 when Tom Pritchard bounced one at John Reid, who promptly hit it, still rising, over the mid-wicket boundary. I met Tom again today, and apart from a slight thickening at the waistline, he still looks good at 67. I was invited to the committee room and spent a delightful two hours with Alan Smith, Alec Bedser, Peter May, Freddie Brown, Gubby Allen and Bob Wyatt. These gentlemen, representing a wealth of talent and experience, were not happy about England’s batting except of course to lavish praise on David Gower, whose class is streets ahead of anyone else. He gave another superb display. He really loves our bowlers. Several of these gentlemen asked of Martin Donnelly’s health and whereabouts, an indication of the esteem in which he was held while playing in England. There was a bad decision against Glen Turner, and a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Bruce Edgar. Geoff Howarth showed long-awaited form but committed suicide and ran himself out. The man of the match, Jeremy Coney, who bowled so well (as did Richard Hadlee), was superb in concentration and technique. Richard played a very controlled and experienced innings and their partnership won the game for us. We were out-fielded — sluggish to the ball and poor throwing, giving lan Smith a hard time. John Bracewell performed with credit, taking a spectacular return catch at bootlace level. All honour to

New Zealand for its determination and application. Nottingham, June 19 Derbyshire, and more memories of my first visit, about 34 years ago. There was a greentop and Les Jackson made the ball talk. I seem to remember Frank Mooney batting for a long time, beaten a thousand times off the seam, and bruised on both thighs, but sticking with it. We salvaged a draw but not before Wai Hadlee had left the field with heat exhaustion; a heat wave in England was almost unbelievable. The weather for our game with Sri Lanka yesterday was brilliant, a great deal more than can be said of our inept batting display. We were sent in, and there was seam off the pitch, but we had to wait for numbers 10 and 11, Martin Snedden and Ewen Chatfield, to restore some semblance of respectability with a well-played, well-run, no-nonsense partnership. Seeing Edgar at number five was a new experience. He and Hadlee batted well to retrieve a bad start. De Mel (five for 32) and de Silva, two for 11 with immaculate leggies, toppies and wrong’uns, bowled superbly.

Snedden just can’t find any rhythm and is struggling all the time. We really need him to support Hadlee. On our way to Worcester last Thursday, we detoured to Hagley Hall, to pay our respects to Lady Cobham. She was at a meeting. We were sorry to miss her, but we left a message signed by our party. We were lucky enough to be shown around by her secretary. There is a lovely cricket ground at the back and, inside, a cracked mirror in one of the former staterooms as evidence of indoor cricket! London, June 20. So near and yet so far ... but in all truth we did not play well enough to win, even though Coney, Warren Lees and Bracewell gave us more than a glimmer of hope until the final over. We bowled well enough to contain Pakistan but everyone suffered at the thrash, and it will be a long time before Hadlee finishes with one for 60 off 12 overs again. Moshin looked good but Zaheer was all class. Little wonder he has been the highest-scoring batsman in England for the last two years. He and Imran produced a match-winning

partnership, but I was a little surprised that we weren’t chasing 280-300. Turner hung his bat out — the end of a poor over-all performance. Howarth looked good again until the first ball after tea. I’m convinced that Edgar must open the innings. The bowler who intrigued me was Qadir. No-one read him well, if at all, and after watching him bowl to Howarth (through binoculars), I shuddered. Geoff didn’t have a clue. How he survived is a mystery. Bracewell was superb in the field, and seemed to lift the standard to the highest of the three games we have seen, except for some sloppy one-handed fielding by Turner. Most unprofessional. After their showing last season in Australia and at home, the New Zealanders have disappointed. their fans. There seemed to be a lack of urgency and intent generally, although I will always give Coney and Chatfield 100 per cent plus for effort and application on every occasion. Today, Martin Crowe left no doubt that he will grace New Zealand teams for many years to come. I spoke to several locals, a Notts official and a gatekeeper, and there is no doubt about the high esteem in which Hadlee is held here. Strangely enough, I never set foot on Trent Bridge in three visits — fourteenth man, then nursing a broken wrist, then twelfth man. I am sorry we are not watching New Zealand at the Oval on Wednes day, but they have only themselves to blame. I hope they can get their act together before the first test.