Coney cleared for test after blow at Trent Bridge

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 47

Coney cleared for test after blow at Trent Bridge

NZPA Nottingham The New Zealand cricket captain, Jeremy Coney, had a lucky escape when he was struck a painful blow on his jawbone as the tourists’ match against Nottinghamshire petered out to a draw at Trent Bridge yesterday. Coney, fielding at silly point to the spinner, Evan Gray, was hit directly on his left jaw when the county’s test wicketkeeper, Bruce French, edged a slashed drive. Coney immediately left the field for ice treatment and was later taken for a precautionary X-ray. That revealed bruising to the jawbone but no break, and Coney said he would definitely be available for the first test against England which starts at Lord’s tomorrow night (N.Z. time). “I should be O.K. in a

couple of days,” he said, adding that eating would present no problems. The blow, which Coney said he had not seen coming, concluded a day in which the tourists learnt that England off-spinner John Emburey was definitely out of the test. It followed a generous declaration by Coney as he sought to conjure a result against Nottinghamshire.

Coney’s lunchtime declaration at 165 for two left the county the task of scoring 265 in four hours. That proved beyond Nottinghamshire which, after a good start, gave up the chase in the final hour, finally reaching 219 for seven in 61 overs. The New Zealand declaration conformed to Coney’s desire to play positively rather than treat the county matches as practice affairs. But it also allowed the New Zealanders to cast a final eye over the young seamers, Willie Watson, Derek Stirling and Brian Barrett, before the test. Selection for the test was further clarified when, as in the county’s first innings, it was Watson, the 20-year-old medium-pacer from Auckland, who emerged with most credit. He now appears certain to replace the injured Ewen Chatfield.

On a pitch which had lost much of its venom, Watson began rather erratically with the new ball, but once into rhythm, produced a fine line and length.

He finished with three for 33 off 13 overs, and, most importantly, claimed two quick wickets as it appeared Nottinghamshire was forcing itself into a winning position.

In his first over, he moved a ball off the seam to induce Broad to spear tamely to point. An over later, the medium-pacer claimed the dangerous Paul Johnson, cheaply for the second time in the match as a mistimed hook lobbed off his gloves to the wicketkeeper, lan Smith.

The 19-year-old Barrett had just eight overs after starting in wayward fashion and was kept out of the firing line when it

appeared Nottinghamshire might close on victory. He does not now appear a test contender. Stirling, however, presented a strong case for inclusion in the test as a third seamer, bowling 12 overs with a steadiness which has too' often eluded him on tour. The recalled Central Districts fast bowler also captured the vital wicket of John Birch, who is currently third in the English batting averages, for 25, as he also mistimed a hook. With Nottinghamshire missing Clive Rice and Derek Randall, Birch offered the county its last realistic hope of victory. Soon after his departure, it began the final obligatory 20 overs needing 94 runs to win. But with Watson bowling the obdurate Mike Newell off his pads for 26 at 171 and Coney chipping in with two wickets in two balls at 189, the chase was soon abandoned. Coney first bowled The result was well beyond doubt when five overs from the end, Coney was struck. New Zealand’s declaration was fashioned around another whirlwind innings by Martin Crowe. He hit an unbeaten 56 off just 38 balls, including three sixes and five fours. The innings meant Crowe will enter the test with a tour first-class batting average of 102, having hit 428 runs in seven innings. The opener, Bruce Edgar, also made good use of the morning session, hitting a painstaking 48 not out. It was a con-fidence-building exercise for the Wellingtonian who had scored just 10 in his last four innings. NEW ZEALAND First innings 326 for eight deci. Second innings (Overnight 45 for no wicket) K. R. Rutherford b Pick . 45 B. A. Edgar not out ... . 48 J. J. Crowe c Broad b Saxelby 6 M. D. Crowe not 0ut.... 56 Extras (b2, lbs, w3) .. . . 10 Total (two wkts decl.) ... 165 Fall: 72, 87.

Bowling: Pick 10, 1, 22, 1; Cooper 15, 3, 37, 0; Hemmings 11, 4, 30, 0; Evans 11, 1, 61, 0; Saxelby 6,2, 8, 1.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE First Innings 227 Second innings B. C. Broad c Gray b Watson 70 R. T. Robinson b Gray . . 26 M. Newell b Watson .... 26 P. Johnson c Smith b Watson 0 J. D. Birch c Rutherford b Stirling .- 25 K. Evans b Coney 14 B. N. French not out. ... 32 R. A. Pick c Smith b Coney 0 B) E. Hemmings not out . Extras (bB, lb 6, nb2).... 16 Total (for seven wkts). . . 219 Fall: 48, 111, 111, 148, 171, 189 189 Bowling: Stirling 12, 3, 34, 1; Watson 13, 3, 33, 3; Gray 19, 3, 82, 1; Barrett 8,2, 25, 0; M. D. Crowe 4,1, 17, 0, Coney 6,1, 14, 2.