Australian cricketers still at fault

Press, 1 June 1985, Page 80

Australian cricketers still at fault

NZPA-AAP Manchester When they sit back and assess this week’s one-day victory over England at Old Trafford, the team’s “brains trust” should be aware of a fault that has plagued Australian teams since limited over cricket began. Time and again Australian teams have fallen well below the required run rate between the tenth and thirtieth overs. When that occurs, the later batsman are put under Cure great enough for to err and lose their wickets. Only 47 runs came in those overs at Old Trafford as Kepler Wessels and Dirk Wellham were held in check by the England spinners Phil Edmonds and Peter Willey.

Before tea, at which time Australia was 65 for two wickets from 25 overs, Edmonds and Willey had bowled 10 overs between them for 20 runs. The Australian batsmen should have consolidated the pressure already on England after its modest total, but they instead reversed it. It was a blessing in disguise when Wellham, and not long after, Wessels, departed. Border took command of the situation and his improvisation accelerated the scoring considerably. He was ably supported by David Boon for a time, and then Wayne Phillips. Boon will want to quickly forget the ugly swipe which cost him his wicket and so

will the people who saw it, but he livened up proceedings while he was there. Finally it was Greg Matthews, and Geoff Lawson, having done more than their share with the ball and in the field, who steered the Australians home with their bats. The game gave the spectators outstanding value for money and was well worthy of the capacity 20,000-plus attendance.

The fans were treated to magnificent batting displays by Botham and Border, wonderful fast bowling from Lawson, and a string of excellent catches. Botham, who won the man-of-the-match award, smote a blockbusting 72, including five giant sixes, three off the leg-spinner, Bob Holland, and two off Matthews. England scored 219 and Australia replied with 222 for seven wickets.