Hadlee unimpressed with record haul

Press, 16 July 1983, Page 64

Hadlee unimpressed with record haul

NZPA staff correspondent London The New Zealand fast bowler, Richard Hadlee, declined to rest on his laurels yesterday after breaking yet another record on the opening day of the first cricket test against England at The Oval. Hadlee took six for 53, a record test haul for a New Zealander on English soil, as England was bundled out for 209 in its first innings. In reply, New Zealand was soon in deep trouble. It was 17 for three wickets when dark skies curtailed play — a situation which meant that honours for the day were fairly even. Hadlee’s wicket haul

overtook the previous record for a New Zealand bowler in England, set by Jack Cowie at Old Trafford in 1937 when he took six for 67. Hadlee, however, said he had “not bowled very well.” “I’ve bowled far better in the past for far worse results. My problem today was that I did not commit the batsmen enough outside the off-stump,” he said. Hadlee admitted that his bowling performance had been well served by a slice of luck and, indeed, good fortune attended New Zealand during much of the England innings. The New Zealand bowlers gained little aid from the

firm wicket but some assistance in swing from the extremely sticky conditions; but more often than not batsmen were out playing poor strokes.

Hadlee’s luck came when two of the key England batsmen, David Gower and lan Botham, both played on. Gower tucked up on a ball which came back from outside his off-stump rather faster than he estimated. Botham was unlucky in dragging a wide delivery back on to his stumps but his attacking shot could also be said to have been illjudged.

New Zealand was also well-served by the hideous mix-up which saw the de-

parture of Chris Tavare. The stolid England opener had returned in the afternoon after being hit on the upper lip by Hadlee and having stitches inserted. He was on 45 and threatening a long partnership with Derek Randall when the pair found themselves together at the non-striker’s end as John Wright fielded brilliantly in the covers. Tavare’s run-out left Randall without a solid partner and he was left undefeated on 75 as the long England tail folded rapidly. New Zealand’s batsmen, who were required to face a scheduled 23 overs before stumps, soon appeared as suspect as their English op-

posites and there was only a Norman Cowans no-ball to show for the loss of the first two wickets. Bob Willis’s third ball climbed on Wright and Gower took a superb diving catch at third slip. And in the England captain’s next over, Jeff Crowe fenced at a ball outside his off-stump and Randall at fourth slip accepted the catch.

Willis’s vigour was matched by Norman Cowans and the young black made the next breakthrough when he bowled Howarth with a ball which came back from outside the offstump. The New Zealand captain had scored four and the total was 10. •

Bruce Edgar and Martin Crowe then survived precariously until play was abandoned after 17 overs. ENGLAND First innings G. Fowler lbw b Hadlee . 1 C. J. Tavare run out .. . 45 D. I. Gower b Hadlee. . . 11 A. J. Lamb b Cairns ... 24 I. T. Botham b Hadlee . . 15 D. W. Randall not out . . 75 V. J. Marks c Lees b Hadlee 4 P. H. Edmonds c and b Bracewell 12 R. W. Taylor lbw b Hadlee 0 R. G. D. Willis c J. Crowe b Bracewell 4 N. G. Cowans b Hadlee. . 3 Extras (b 6 lb 6, nb3) . . 15 Total 209 Fall: 2, 18, 67. 104, 116, 154, 184, 191, 202.

BOWLING OMR W Hadlee 23.4 6 53 6 Chatfield 17 3 48 0 Cairns 17 3 63 1 Bracewell 8 4 16 2 Crowe 5 0 14 0 NEW ZEALAND First innings J. G. Wright c Gower b Willis 0 B. A. Edgar not out. .. . 10 J. J. Crowe c Randall b Willis 0 G. P. Howarth b Cowans. 4 M. D. Crowe not out ... 0 Extras (Ib2, nbl— .... 3 Total (for 3 wickets) 17 Fall: 0,1, 10. BOWLING OM R W Willis 9 6 4 2 Cowans 7 3 6 1 Botham 1.2 0 4 0