Botham again to open

Press, 3 February 1987, Page 34

Botham again to open

NZPA-AAP Melbourne

Mike Gatting will continue the use of his burly, hard-hitting all-rounder, lan Botham, in the opening role in Devonport against the West Indians today.

After the loss of three World Series Cup games on the trot, the pressure has fallen on England to perform: if it is to make the series finals. Botham hit 45 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday in one of the few bright spots of England’s 109-run loss to Australia.

Botham opened with Chris Broad, but the ploy didn’t come off immediately, with Broad being dismissed for only two in the second over when he was bowled by Simon O’Donnell.

But Botham persevered and although wickets fell around him, was the top scorer for England on the day. The Devonport wicket, considered by many to be one of the best in Australia, could nullify some of the West Indian bowling edge, and Gatting needs all the help he can get.

“We have to pick a winning eleven for Devonport in our position and Botham came off in that spot against Australia,” he said.

Gatting said England had to try new tactics, something fresh, to reverse the run of losses. Botham was a success at opening on Sunday — a position he has tackled before.

Both England and the West Indies trail Australia on the points table. Australia is on eight points from seven games and has a 4.47 run rate.

England is on six points from seven games and a 3.99 rate while the West Indies has six points from six games and a 3.51 run rate. The West Indians now have to forget run rates and win in Devonport and then in Sydney in the - day-night clash against Australia on Friday.

With England’s early winning streak and the West Indies’ perplexing results, Devonport had until how seemed to be a side-show effort for the Tasmanians.

But now it has assumed critical proportions for the two opponents.