Border threatens to abandon captaincy

Press, 22 March 1986, Page 80

Border threatens to abandon captaincy

By

JOHN COFFEY

A Border broadside yesterday has added a further touch of desperation as the Australian cricketers seek to salvage some credibility from their tour of New Zealand in the second Rothmans Cup limited-over match at Lancaster Park today. * zU/STt.irm narOAnal ronilta. A 1 •! A-

Allan Border, the Australian captain, voiced the frustrations of test and one-day defeats already this week by questioning whether he wants to continue to represent his country in either a leadership or playing capacity. Standing for so long on the bridge of what has been a very rickety ship must have been a depressing experience for Border. In spite of minimal support, his own flair and skill have given him a justified reputation as one of the sport’s finest batsmen.

But the second innings collapse which cost Australia the test series at Auckland must have been an all too familiar occurrence.

Perhaps even worse, though, was the gradual slide to defeat in the first one-day fixture at Dunedin on Wednesday. Australia had performed with some distinction at that level this summer, and its team seemed better equipped for the requirements of the limitedover game. '

Border, whose sportsmanship in recalling Ken Rutherford on Eden Park enhanced an already

glowing personal reputation, has deserved much more support from his team-mates. After training at Lancaster Park yesterday his patience finally expired. Border has issued an ultimatum that unless his erratic crew adopts a more responsible attitude and become competitive then it can find someone else to take the helm. By turning his guns back towards his own camp Border is hoping to place his men on full alert. There is also, of course, the risk of putting a round or two through his own funnels. This Australian side is in danger of tarnishing its country’s reputation of succeeding in the face of sporting adversity. Apart from potential, it does not have much in its favour as it meets yet another crisis against a confident New Zealand team. There was very little wrong in New Zealand’s 30-run victory in Dunedin. The revised batting lineup should maintain a brisker run-rate today, and Stuart Gillespie proved at net practice that he has recovered from his bout of influenza. Rutherford and Bruce

Edgar hardly set a rollicking pace in their 65-run opening stand, but their captain, Jeremy Coney, numbered their solid partnership among New Zealand’s match-winning assets. The loss of early wickets had blunted New Zealand’s batting in Australia in January. It would not surprise if Jeff Crowe replaces Bruce Blair in the middle-order. Blair was obviously short of quality match practice on Wednesday, and became redundant as a bowler when Martin Crowe performed so ably for so long. If the younger Crowe can be included with Richard Hadlee, Ewen Chatfield and Gillespie in the four-pronged seam attack, then John Bracewell and Coney should adequately cover the fifth bowling position. Coney said yesterday that he had in part revised his earlier prediction that a much higher winning score than 186 would be required at Lancaster Park. He saw similarities with the pitch at Carisbrook and in the healthy growth of the outfield. While New Zealand is not far short of the stand-

ard it needs to keep ahead of the Australians, the tourists have many factors which can be improved upon. There was little fluency in the batting at Dunedin, only the admirable Simon Davis kept to the parsimonious line and length demanded of him, and the fielding was a little less impressive than New Zealand’s. New Zealand has a background of five wins in seven international limited-over fixtures in Christchurch — though one of its rare reverses was to the 1973-74 Australians — and can expect the backing of as many as 28,000 spectators.

It all seems too much for Border to overcome.

The teams will be chosen from.— New Zealand: Jeremy Coney (captain), John Wright, Ken Rutherford, Bruce Edgar, Martin Crowe, Jeff Crowe, Bruce Biair, Richard Hadlee, Tony Blain, John Bracewell, Stuart Gillespie, Ewen Chatfield. Australia: Allan Border (captain), David Boon, Geoff Marsh, Wayne Phillips, Greg Ritchie, Greg Matthews, Steve Waugh, Craig McDermott, Dave Gilbert, Bruce Reid, Simon Davis, Tim Zoehrer, Ray Bright.