Crowe in; Richards, Garner out

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 40

Crowe in; Richards, Garner out

By

HUGH BARLOW,

of NZPA

Shepton Mallet, Somerset Martin Crowe’s future with Somerset was assured when club members yesterday backed their committee’s decision to sack the West Indian stars, Vivian Richards and Joel Garner.

At a special general meeting in the small town of Shepton Mallet, an attempt to have Richards and Garner reinstated was rejected by more than three to one. The 1828 to 798 vote against a motion of no confidence in the club leadership left the West Indians without a job and will almost certainly cost Somerset the services of lan Botham.

Botham, now in Australia with the England team, says he will quit the county, but club officials said yesterday they hoped he would change his mind. The meeting was demanded by members opposed to the committee’s decision in August to sign Crowe and release the West Indians. The committee said the decision, although a hard one to make, was in the long term interests of the club.

It became clear as soon as the meeting began in the huge covered cattle market at the Royal Bath and West Showgrounds that the rebels had misjudged the mood of the membership. Speakers who took the committee’s side in the three hour debate consistently drew the most applause, especially one member who told the meeting that the last

time he spoke in the building it was to advise farmers about beef production.

“And my God, we’ve heard a lot of bull this afternoon,” he said. Opponents of the committee followed the two lines that have emerged since the row erupted. Some stated simply that as Richards and Garner were brilliant players, it was ridiculous to sack them. Others criticised the way the club had handled the matter and said that if it was true the West Indians had lost enthusiasm and were a bad influence on younger players, then the committee should have sorted them out, not dismissed them. Afterwards, Somerset’s chairman, Michael Hill, said: “Today there are no winners.”

It was a sad day for the club because with the departure of Richards and Garner confirmed, an era had ended.

“They are two of the finest players in the world and great gentlemen and ambassadors for the sport of cricket and also for their country. We hope they will always feel part of Somerset. They will be welcome here whenever they want to come to us,” he said. But at the same time he was extremely pleased Crowe would join Somerset. The New Zealander could easily have avoided controversy and gone to another county but he had bravely and loyally stood with Somerset, which had helped him in 1984, Mr Hill said.