N.Z. can look to return series with confidence

Press, 19 December 1984, Page 48

N.Z. can look to return series with confidence

PA Karachi A 2-0 test series loss, defeats by seven and six wickets, a 3-1 limited overs series loss. The stark figures paint a bleak picture of New Zealand’s fifth tour of Pakistan. But, in reality, both series have been closer than the bare results indicate. The record books can not show how hard New Zealand battled, or how the spirit and determination of the touring party remained strong right to the very end. When the Kiwis left home, seven weeks ago, to tour for the first time in several years without two top players, Richard Hadlee and Geoff Howarth, no-one expected miracles. The side was buoyant and hopeful of success in Pakistan — a country where only the West Indies has won since New Zealand’s last victory back in 1969. But from the very start it was apparant the Kiwi batting was dreadfully short of match practice, and against a Pakistan side which had just finished a two-test

series against India, that lack of match hardness cost New Zealand dearly. The batting did not really take shape until the second test, and when it did, controversial umpiring decisions affected the Kiwis’ second innings and set them back. Whether the result of that test would have been different if the decisions had not gone against New Zealand, as claimed by skipper Jeremy Coney, no one will ever know.

But the bowling lacked sufficient bite and was plundered heavily by Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar, who led Pakistan to a seven-wicket win. New Zealand’s bowlers on the whole performed a little better than was expected of them, but it was more through sheer hard work and consistent line and length bowling that they reaped their rewards rather than through flashes of brilliance.

The wickets, slow and mostly lifeless, were not designed to give the bowlers

much assistance. An example of how the workmanlike bowling succeeded over the flamboyance of the fast men was evident in the fact that two slow left armers, Stephen Boock and Iqbal Qasim won, their sides’ “man of the series” awards. Boock took 17 wickets, a New Zealand record against Pakistan in Pakistan and Iqbal 18 wickets in the three tests. Boock, who returned his best test figures of seven for 87 in the second test, has come into his own on wickets which have helped him more than those back home. His accurate, containing bowling has frustrated the Pakistan batsmen and this series has rounded off an excellent year for him which began with his return to test cricket against England. Coney has had nothing but praise for Boock throughout the tour, and he has also been impressed by the emergence of a new bowling hope in Derek Stirling. Making his test debut,

Stirling has held his place in all three tests, keeping experienced players like Lance Cairns and Ewen Chatfield out of the side.

Coney believes that if Stirling works hard at his game and maintains his fitness then New Zealand may at last fill a void in its fast bowling ranks. Stirling, and the rest of the team, are looking forward to him forming a strike with Hadlee in the home series against Pakistan next month. That series should be a cracking contest because New Zealand’s batsmen have found their form, and are eager to make up for their slow start here. There have been one or two disappointing performances, especially from Bruce Edgar, who scored only 56 runs in five test innings, and Coney, who managed only 60 in the same number.

John Wright and John Reid both struggled a little at first, but came good with centuries and finished with reasonable averages of 42.6

and 46.4 respectively. The two Crowe brothers were consistent, and one always expected runs from them each time they came to the crease. Jeff Crowe topped his brother in the averages with 40.2, against 34.6, and failed only in his first test innings on tour when promoted to opener. The ill feelings between the sides, brought about by the umpires, could spill over into the return tour, and possibly make it an explosive contest. Coney is confident the Kiwis will redress the balance, although Zaheer Abbas thinks Pakistan is capable of winning the next series as well. His only reservations revolve around Hadlee, whom he says is the difference between the sides. Whatever the final outcome, the Kiwis will certainly not consider themselves underdogs when the series begins, and if they build on the base built here there is no reason why New Zealand can not win its first series against Pakistan on its home turf.