U.K. plaudits for Hadlee

Press, 4 January 1988, Page 13

U.K. plaudits for Hadlee

New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee has been praised as the best bowler in the world, by Somerset’s cricket captain, Peter Roebuck. Roebuck said the “Lean machine” Hadlee intimidates batsmen with his movement of the ball. “To take guard with Hadlee at the top of his mark, you must have a stout heart and a secure technique,” wrote Roebuck in this week's “London Sunday Times.” “It isn’t that Hadlee is fast — only occasional deliveries are quick enough to brush your moustache — simply that he is so good.” Roebuck said Hadlee’s run-up was so innocuous it was not fair. Hadlee, who last week equalled lan Botham’s record 373 test wickets, was described by Roebuck as being the best bowler in the world, who has been the best for the last five years. Other sections of the British press have praised Hadlee’s feat. “Superman Hadlee is poised for record,” the “Today” newspaper proclaimed. "King Richard the Tenth!” shouted the “Daily Star.” Hadlee ended a 10-year career as a county cricketer last year in a

similar blaze of tributes. The “Guardian” said this time it was strange to recall that “Nottinghamshire engaged the fourth and youngest son of Walter Hadlee, former captain of New Zealand, as something of a desperate measure.” "Clive Rice, embroiled in the Packer affair, had been sacked and Notts were looking for someone to replace him although he was later reinstated.” When Hadlee arrived at Trent Bridge in 1978 “his bowling was respected but scarcely considered fearsome and his batting — particularly against anything remotely quick — treated a little disdainfully.” The "Guardian” said he had helpful tracks to bowl on at Trent Bridge but they were less the key to his art than “his intelligence, his masterful control over length and line, his ability to move the ball both ways off the seam and at a pace sharp enough to allow the batsman little time for adjustment. He possesses a disconcerting bouncer.” Hadlee relied on “subtler sciences” than Botham and the mechanics of his classical action showed no signs of deterioration, the “Guardian” said. "Rising 37, there should still be more to come.”