Loss of Hadlee expected

Press, 5 December 1988, Page 29

Loss of Hadlee expected

JOHN COFFEY

By

Brian Salt, the Canterbury cricket selection convener, was philosophical about Richard Hadlee’s withdrawal from the province’s early Shell Series commitments. “We had some inside information, and did not expect Richard to. be playing in the Shell Cup. The official announcement only confirmed it,” said Mr Salt.

It was decided in Hyderabad on Saturday that

Hadlee would leave the New Zealand tour of India after the third test. He has been replaced by Willie Watson for the four-match limited-over series.

Hadlee has been advised to rest his injured achilles tendon for up to six weeks, and he is unlikely to be available for Canterbury’s first two or three Shell Trophy matches next month. Mr Salt had a premonition even before New Zealand started its Indian

itinerary that Hadlee might need a spell during Canterbury’s Shell Cup

campaign. “With all the injuries he has had, and with the New Zealand side arriving home just before the cup games, there was always a chance Richard would not be there. We have worked our preparation on that basis,” he said.

But the loss of Hadlee compounds the seriousness of Canterbury’s medium-fast bowling in-

jury list. Andrew Hintz and Henry Richards are not

able to be considered because of back problems, and Bill Lawrence and Roger Ford 'have been resting leg injuries. However, Lawrence will probably be included in the Canterbury XI to meet Otago at Burwood Park on Sunday, subject to a fitness test tomorrow evening. Lawrence’s return would enable the selectors to give Stu Roberts a day off.