Six Australians to play in S.A.

Press, 19 April 1985, Page 4

Six Australians to play in S.A.

NZPA-Reuter Sydney Six Australian cricketers chosen to tour England later this year have signed lucrative contracts to play in South Africa next November, the organiser of the South African trip said yesterday. A seventh, the spinner Murray Bennett, also signed a contract but has since changed his mind, the former test cricketer, Bruce Francis, said in a radio interview. Francis has been approaching Australian players oh behalf of the South Africa Cricket Union, which is funding the exercise. The newspaper “The Australian” said the contracts were worth .about $298,000 to the cricketers. Newspapers have carried unconfirmed reports that 15 Australian cricketers were approached to play for an Australian side in South Africa. The Australian Cricket Board said on Wednesday that any Australian cricketer

chosen for the England tour would be replaced if he refused to sign a compulsory declaration by next Tuesday that he has not entered into any agreement other than that offered by the board. It has written to all 17 players in the touring squad. On Wednesday the New Zealand rugby union decided, in the face of government and Commonwealth opposition, to send the national All Blacks team on a South African tour. Francis said the Australian cricketers signed up were the batsmen Dirk Wellham and Graeme Wood, the wicketkeeper/batsman Wayne Phillips, the wicketkeeper Steve Rixon, and the bowlers Terry Aiderman and Rod McCurdy. The so-called rebel tour could split Australian cricket and could throw plans for the Ashes series in England into confusion if the players involved refuse to sign the board’s declaration, cricketing sources said.