N.Z. must win two: Hadlee

Press, 17 January 1986, Page 26

N.Z. must win two: Hadlee

NZPA staff correspondent Perth

Richard Hadlee, who has little empathy with the oneday game, says New Zealand has to win both World Series Cup games at the Western Australian Cricket Association Ground this week-end.

“We need two wins, it’s as simple as that. One win is not good enough,” said Hadlee.

While Australia was battling with India at the M.C.G., New Zealand had a nets practice at the W.A.C.A. in dry, energy-sap-ping conditions yesterday. The top-order batsmen did not handle the bounce of the wicket with any deal of confidence.

Martin Crowe, who batted with most authority, said the ball was not coming on to the bat, even though it would lift sharply off a reasonable length. The left-handed opener, John Wright, had two sessions in the nets in an effort to get the feel of the wicket, which may not be unsimilar to tomorrow’s batting strip.

Hadlee said that all the heat at the week-end would be on New Zealand to beat India and Australia.

“We are not playing that badly, even though we only have one point from three games.

“Our batting bas been quite good, our bowling bas been only satisfactory, our fielding excellent and our catching mediocre,” he said. “There are some things to improve on, we have yet to put the perfect performance in.”

Hadlee said that the New Zealand players believed they were more proficient than the fast improving Australians, even though they were caught on a difficult pitch at the S.C.G. The two games New Zealand lost were closer than the results might suggest, but the side failed to gain points.

“India is really our threat but we gave them a good run for their money at Brisbane,” said Hadlee. In three innings so far, Hadlee has scores of 5, 22 and 21 and claimed two wickets off 20 overs — modest contributions by one of the world’s finest test allrounders.

“I do not like one-day cricket at all,” said Hadlee. “We play it because it is a service to the game and we have to play it, because that’s where the bulk of the revenue comes.

“I don’t enjoy it. I’ve got to bowl with no slips, five men on the boundary and then get slogged. It’s just an element of chance,” Hadlee said.