Aucklanders under scrutiny

Press, 5 February 1987, Page 34

Aucklanders under scrutiny

The names of two prominent members of the Auckland cricket team were discussed by the executive committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council in Christchurch yesterday — for vastly different reasons.

The eligibility of Dipak Patel to play for New Zealand was one issue; the other was that John Bracewell is in hot water.

In neither matter has a decision been announced.

The Patel question, however, will be answered in the next 48 hours, after the latest information has been relayed to membersof

the council’s Board of Control around the country. The executive director of the council, Mr Graham Dowling, said a query from New Zealand on Patel’s residential qualifications had drawn a response from the International Cricket Conference. But he declined to elaborate on the nature of the response.

He was equally guarded on the Bracewell issue, except to confirm that under the yardstick of the council’s code of conduct a number of complaints against the international off-spin bowler had been made after the Auckland-Well-

ington match at Eden park last week. “The proper procedures were carried out in Auckland at the time, and the executive’s findings have been referred to the N.Z.C.C,” Mr Dowling said.

Under the code of conduct provisions, complaints of misconduct on the field are dealt with by a committee consisting of the two team managers and the resident board member. It has the power to impose fines of up to $5O, or can refer the matter to the N.Z.C.C. for further consideration.

• Fred Goodall, the umpire who was shouldercharged by the fast

bowler, Colin Croft, during the West Indies’ last cricket tour of New Zealand, will officiate in two one-day internationals on the team’s tour here this summer.

Mr Goodall, New Zealand’s most experienced test umpire, became a centre of controversy on the acrimonious tour in 1980 when he clashed with Croft during the second test at Christchurch.

Incensed by umpiring decisions, Croft barged Mr Goodall while bowling on the third dayof a match which had already been soured by a West Indian “strike.”

The West Indians, captained by Clive Lloyd,

refused to return to the field after tea on the third • day unless Mr Goodall was replaced. Play was delayed for 12 minutes as officials urged’ the tourists to Continue.

The catalyst for the incident, according to the umpire, Steve Woodward, was Mr Goodall’s refusal of a caught behind ! appeal against Geoff Howarth.

Mr: Goodall may also have been nominated to control tests on the coming tour. Nominations for the test umpiring positions were finalised yesterday but will be forwarded to the West Indian management for approval.