Park setting for high drama today

Press, 3 February 1984, Page 32

Park setting for high drama today

By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

All the elements of high drama surround the beginning of the second cricket test between England and New Zealand at Lancaster Park today.

There is mystery in the likely behaviour of a pitch which has been under microscopic examination for almost a month. The calling of the 25-year-old Tony Pigott from Palmerton North to join the English squad of 13 provides the tourists with a possible

hero, perhaps an extra; and Derek Stirling may have the same alternative roles for New Zealand. All the principals of the hard-fought Wellington test will be there and there is a definite air of adventure with the inclusion in the England squad of Graeme Fowler, an aggressive batsman who joins a consider-

able group of talented English players who usually raise fieldsmen’s blood pressure.

England has included Fowler at the expense of Chris Smith and Pigott has been bracketed with Graham Dilley who is suf-

fering from a thigh strain. The left-arm spinner, Nick Cook, is out, then off-spinner Vic Marks is in. Pigott, of Sussex, was the county’s top wicket-taker in 1983 — 72 wickets at 26 in 22 matches. He has been in first-class cricket since 1978 and has played with considerable success for Wellington in the last two seasons.

The England squad is: Bob Willis (captain), Chris

Tavare, Graeme Fowler, David Gower, Allan Lamb, Mike Gatting, lan Botham, Derek Randall, Bob Taylor, Viv Marks, Norman Cowans, Graham Dilley or Tony Pigott. Willis added some explanatory notes to the team announcement. Neil Foster,

he said, was not fit. If England decided to go into the game with four seamers, Dilley or Pigott would be played. Dilley, Willis said, had bowled for about 25min at practice yesterday and “could feel the injury all the time.” Dilley had been “a bit stiff” and “not so good.” Cook, Willis said, had not

bowled very well at Wellington. He had had a lot of overs without “getting many people out.” Since Welling-

ton, Willis explained, Smith had not been very confident about his batting and at Dunedin had not looked in great form.

Examination of the pitch this morning will decide whether England drops Marks, Dilley, or Pigott. The retention of seven batsmen seems certain. New Zealand has similar problems. There is bound to be a wish to have Stephen Boock in the side — if England has to bat last he could be a very good weapon.

It all depends on the readings of the pitch. If

there is a distinct feeling that it will be dodgy, Ewen Chatfield may be preferred to Stirling. Chatfield is among the most parsimonious of bowlers, and if there is movement off a length no-one in the country is much less likely to waste a ball.

If there is confidence that there will be an opportunity for batsmen to play shots, Stirling’s aggression may take him into the side. So Stirling, Chatfield and Boock seem to be contending for two places, Marks, Dilley, and Pigott for one. And the pitch? As one of the players said yesterday: “It’s a lottery.”

The administrators have expressed confidence in it. Even the best of Lancaster Park pitches have had a

mosaic of cracks. They were there yesterday, but there were a few bare patches which may be of relevance.

There must be sympathy for the groundsman, Mr Russell Wylie. This may be a triumph for him and for those who have worked with him. Everybody with an ounce of feeling will wish him well after what must have been a restless night. Whatever happens, it seems certain to be a test of colour and character, another hard-fought match in

which resolution is likely to be the key.