Lack of play worries N.Z.

Press, 9 March 1984, Page 32

Lack of play worries N.Z.

NZPA-Reuter Asgiriya, Sri Lanka

New Zealand, dogged by rain since it arrived 10 days ago, goes into the first cricket test against Sri Lanka, starting at Asgiriya this evening (N.Z. time), concerned about inadequate preparations. “We have not had much cricket and it is causing us a little bit of concern,” said the New Zealand captain, Geoff Howarth.

The tourists’ opening three-day game at Galle last week was reduced to two days because of rain and a second three-day match against a Sri Lanka Cricket Control Board President’s XI, at Radella this week, was-also ruined after rain restricted play to only 133 minutes. Only the first one-day international, which the tourists won by 104 runs last Saturday, was not affected by rain. “We have not had enough preparation and things are going to be difficult in the first test," said Howarth.

Despite the rain, the tourists tried to keep them-

selves fit, sprinting on the beach at the seaside resort of Galle last week and playing seven-a-side touch rugby yesterday at Radella in the tea growing hills. They were due to drive to Asgiriya in Kandy late last evening (N.Z. time) and hold a practice session before naming the team for the test.

The tourists have adjusted quickly to Sri Lanka’s slow grassless wickets, running up scores of more than 200 without being dismissed in their two innings so far. John Reid, recalled to the team for his. first overseas tour, has scored 61 and 80 in two innings while Martin Crowe, Jeff Crowe and Jeremy Coney have also run into form.

The all-rounder, Richard Hadlee, is billed as a matchwinner and his bowling is regarded with awe by many Sri Lankan batsmen. Sri Lanka has named a 14-man squad for the test. It includes three spinners, veteran Somachandra De Silva who has played in all Sri Lanka’s eight tests and newcomers Jayantha Amerasinghe and Mumtaz Yusuf.