English cricket blasted

Press, 25 August 1988, Page 38

English cricket blasted

NZPA-AFP London English cricket came under fire from the former Pakistan cricket captain, Imran Khan, yesterday. In a special report for British television, Imran hit out at the way English cricket is organised and accused home grown players of not being hungry enough for the game. In his diagnosis of the problems facing the English game Imran said: “With so much cricket being played in England there is a problem of attitude. The players don’t seem to be as hungry for the game as cricketers abroad.

“Frequently, I have seen players playing cards in the dressing room during the progress of a county match. It almost

seems as if it is treated as a nine to five job.” In the programme, the England team manager, Mickey Stewart, confirmed the view that he

wanted an end to overseas signings and a concentration on English players in the domestic game.

® Sri Lanka has never managed to beat even an English county team, but it will not be without hope when it faces a national side demoralised and in disarray in the Lord’s test which begins tomorrow (N.Z.T.). Although regarded as minnows in top-class international cricket, it has some reason for optimism when it faces England in the sole test of its short tour. Five of its batsmen have made centuries in its seven drawn matches against county sides during the current tour and the captain Ranjan Madugalle, showed his class with 97 against Hampshire.