Lack of professional attitude costly: Carter

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 32

Lack of professional attitude costly: Carter

The lack of a truly professional attitude had cost Canterbury dearly in the Shell Trophy cricket competition, said the team coach, Bob Carter, after •the side’s arrival in Wellington yesterday. Reflecting on Canterbury’s performances, Mr Carter could only rue the defeats by Northern Districts, Central Districts and Auckland which resulted from batting collapses in the • last innings of those matches. Not only had Canterbury failed dismally when set match-winning targets, but it had conceded 12 Trophy points to each of its rivals by being bowled out. Requiring 251 runs to beat Northern at Lancaster Park, Canterbury was humbled in being dismissed for 129. The task of reaching 307 against Central at Blenheim was considerably more difficult, though Canterbury should have' done much better than score 157. At Eden Park on Wednesday Canterbury capitulated for 137 when in quest of the 198 runs which would have given it a share of the lead with Northern. “We should have 52 points instead of 28,” Mr Carter said. “Northern

should have been beaten, and so should Auckland. “The task at Blenheim was tougher, but we gave Central, as well as Northern and Auckland, 12 points. "It has happened three times now. The players have to learn that if we cannot win then we must make sure our opponents don’t either. They have to occupy the crease. Even if it means going through periods without scoring, that’s the way it has to be.” Canterbury’s 28 points places it third behind Northern (40) and Otago (32) and ahead of Wellington (24), Central (20) and Auckland (16). Had Canterbury capitalised on its wanning opportunities against Northern and Auckland and deprived Central of victory it would now be enjoying a mammoth 20point advantage over its closest pursuer. Realistically, Canterbury’s prospects of having its name inscribed on the Shell Trophy this summer were extinguished at Auckland. “Until the last 20 overs we generally dominated that game,” said. Mr Carter. “Then we lost six wickets within 10 overs. “We knew the pitch

wasn’t great, but I don’t think it contributed to the defeat. The blame rests with ourselves, and those 10 crazy overs were the telling factor.” A lack of experience caused players to keep on trying to hit the ball out of Eden Park when Canterbury could have stayed in contention by mustering runs from less ambitious strokes. “No-one likes learning the hard way and I know players don’t mean to get out. But they must develop a professional hardness,” said Mr Carter. “There has to be more of an understanding of the situation. People get frustrated — myself more than anyone else — and we don’t seem able to block it out when necessary. “Chances have been created and not taken. That, unfortunately, is a Canterbury trait which has been carried on from previous seasons. “I would like to think that lessons will be absorbed and that by next season when Canterbury is set a target of, say, 250 it can go on to win by seven wickets. It would be nice to rewrite the stories of this season.”