Fast bowling duo in doubt for second test

Press, 25 February 1987, Page 68

Fast bowling duo in doubt for second test

From JOHN COFFEY in Wellington

Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall, half of the West Indian fast bowling battery, are in doubt for the second cricket test against New Zealand at Auckland. Both are suffering from back injuries, and the West Indian captain, Viv Richards, said after the opening test finished in a draw at the Basin Reserve yesterday that Holding’s fitness was particularly worrying. “It seems that Michael’s injury is the more serious,** said Richards. “Malcolm’s is apparently more muscular than anything else and we hope to have him in Auckland.” With Holding joining Marshall off the field before lunch yesterday, the West Indian attack was reduced to Joel Garner, Courtney Walsh, and the comparative part-timers, Richards and Larry Gomes. “We still have young Tony Gray, who is hungry for test cricket. It he does get into the test team it might be the chance he is looking for,” said Richards. Gray, aged 23, has played in only three tests but already has 14 wickets at an average of just H. 21 from the series in Pakistan late last year. Should Holding and Marshall not respond to treatment, Richards conceded a replacement might be sought It is not a simple matter to rush substitutes from the Caribbean to New Zealand. Richards joked that he was “going to

sleep on my right side tonight” after bowling 47 overs in the New Zealand second innings, 58 in the match. The West Indian captain praised the batting of his opponents, John Wright and Martin Crowe.

“Tve always got respect for class,” he said. “Fm not afraid to go and tell a man *well done’ for achieving certain things.” The West Indians might have established an obscure world record by bowling IWI deliveries without requesting a new ball, but Richards said it was never his intention. “It was a little bit like a cat and mouse game today, when you see what the opposition does and play around with that,” said Richards. Jeremy Coney, the New Zealand captain, said he felt New Zealand would be better prepared for the second test after a typically slow start to the series. “After two days the possibility of an outright win against us was very real, even more so half-way through the next day,” he said. “We did well enough to come out of it Many other sides may have buckled,” Coney said. • The same 12 New Zealand players are to assemble in Auckland today to prepare for the second test starting at Eden Park on Friday. Gate takings at the Basin Reserve amounted to $148,H0, a record for a test in Wellington. Total attendance over the five days was in excess of 38, MO.