English writers critical

Press, 20 July 1984, Page 26

English writers critical

NZPA-AP London English cricket writers launched a scathing attack on the latest performance of the country’s cricket team, beaten and humiliated for the third time by the West Indies. As politicians were asked to debate the lifting of a ban on 15 top players who were ostracised for playing in South Africa, the writers began picking at the carcase of the latest performance. Under the headline, “England R.I.P. (Rubbish Incompetent Pathetic),” the “Daily Mirror” said: “There is no ready made answer to the crisis, because the enormous difference between the sides, brutally interpreted, is the unbending efficiency England can never hope to match.

“Sad to relate (captain) David Gower’s tattered army seem hard pushed to apply

what minimal skills they have in comparison.” The “Daily Telegraph” wrote: “Tactically, (England) could be questioned and the match ended with a flurry of dropped catches which, although too late to change the course of events, were scarcely a good advertisement for their collective concentration.” “The Times” observed: “The contrast between the bowling, catching and batting of the two sides was again depressingly stark.” The “Daily Express” said only the weather could stop England being “whitewashed 1 ’ — being beaten in all five test matches. “The Guardian” wrote: “In most sports, the contest would now be discontinued.” But “The Times" ended by saying that at least avoiding a whitewash would give England something to play for.