Barrett rues early cricket selection

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 44

Barrett rues early cricket selection

PA ' Auckland Brian Barrett, the young fast bowler who had such a lean time on New Zealand’s triumphant cricket tour of England this year, is ruefully aware that it might have been better had he not been selected. “I do think it might have been better if I had not been selected quite so soon." he said. "I guess it probably exposed me a little too early.” Before the tour began, the 19-year-old from HowickPakuranga was sitting pretty. His pace and promise had marked him as a candidate in the search for a replacement for Richard Hadlee and his association with the HowickPakuranga and Worcestershire paceman. Paul Prid-

geon, saw him on the verge of a career in English county cricket His parents' Irish origins meant he did not have to be considered an overseas player — all counties are restricted to just one now — and his future looked firm. But his selection for New Zealand automatically mean: that as an internationaL he had to be considered an overseas player by Worcester. “Worcester were not very happy about it.” Barrett said. "They said I couldn’t play for the first team, but they were good enough to let me play for the second XI. The only problem was that they worked me pretty hard. “I guess they were getting their money’s worth, really.

They used me as an opening bowler who bowled long spells. “It was good to get the cricket under my belt, but by the time the New Zealand tour began I felt pretty stale, as if I had just come out of a really full season.” However, the real problems did not occur until the New Zealand team played a benefit match for Richard Hadlee at Hitchin, Henfordshire, before the start of the tour — before a large and expectant crowd and in drizzly rain. “I strained my achilles tendon pretty badly. I never really came right after that" So Barrett, having lost his place at Worcester, then lost ground with New Zealand.