Hadlee may return early

Press, 1 December 1988, Page 44

Hadlee may return early

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DAVID LEGGAT

of NZPA in Bombay . The champion New Zealand cricketer, Richard Hadlee, could return home early from the current tour of India. Hadlee, the world’s top test wicket-taker, was to see an orthopaedic specialist when the tourists arrived in Hyderabad yesterday to prepare for the third test, starting tomorrow. He has been troubled by an injury to his right Achilles tendon and if the prognosis is bad, Hadlee is likely to return to New Zealand after the test. That will mean he misses the five one-day internationals which round off the tour. Irrespective of the result in the third and

final test against India, the New Zealand cricketers will return more complete players, said the coach, Bob Cunis. Having won the second test by 136 runs to square the three-match series in Bombay on Tuesday, New Zealand's confidence has received a significant boost. Five of the winning side have played less than 10 tests,"including four of the first six batsmen in the line-up. Only five can boast more than 20 test appearances and Mr Cunis believes the tour will do wonders for their confidence. “The guys, all of a sudden, have realised they can foot it with India when it all comes together,” he said.

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