Gooch to lead English cricketers

Press, 8 December 1988, Page 48

Gooch to lead English cricketers

PA Wellington Graham Gooch will lead an impressive England line-up on its seven week tour to New Zealand this summer.

The side will also include the former captain, David Gower, who in the fourth test against the West Indies at Headingly in July this year made his one hundredth test appearance. He achieved a personal milestone of passing 7000 runs with his scores of 13 and 2 in that test and on completion of that test became the tenth highest test run getter behind Australia’s Greg Chappell at an average of 44.03 with 14 centuries and 35 half-centuries. Other star batsmen in the side are Allan Lamb who finished the series against the fearsome West Indies in July-August with 254 runs, including one century, in four matches at an average of 42.33. The hard-hitting South African Robin Smith, Kim Barnett, the opener Tim Robinson and even England's captain during their tour her<» i as t summer, Mike Gatting are likely to grace the side. ' Graham Dilley, who took 15 wickets in the three test series, is likely to be well supported by Neil Foster, Philip DeFreitas, Derek Pringle, John Emburey and the all-rounder, David Capel. There is even the possi-

bility, as remote as it may seem, of lan Botham returning to international cricket. That would set the New Zealand summer alight with Pakistan’s champion all-rounder Imran Khan, New Zealand’s world test wicket-taking record holder, Richard Hadlee and the man he deposed, Botham, all playing in the triangular one-day series.

then England on March 4 and 5.

The teams will play each other twice and the two sides with the most points at the end of that competition will play off in a single final. The revised international itinerary for this season is.— Pakistan tour January 22 v. Auckland Invitation XI (Auckland); 2527 v. President’s XI (Hamilton); 29-31 v. Canterbury (Christchurch); February 3-7 v. New Zealand (first test, Dunedin); 10-14 v. New Zealand second test (Wellington); 18-21 v. Shell XI (Napier); 2328 v. New Zealand third test (Auckland); March 4-18 one-day series. England tour

With the tournament put in place, Pakistan’s four one-day internationals against New Zealand have been canned.

When England arrives in mid-February, Pakistan will be involved in the third test with New Zealand at Eden Park.

England will play Northern Districts, Wellington and Shell trophy and the Cup champion, Otago, in first class matches.

February 20-22 v. Northern Districts (Tauranga); 24-27 v. > Wellington (Wellington); March 1 v. Central Districts (Palmerston North); 2 v. Central Districts (New Plymouth); 4-18 one-day series; 10-12 v. Otago (Alexandra); 22-27 v. New Zealand (first test, Christchurch); March 30April 3 v. New Zealand second test (Napier).

It will play the Central Districts in two one-day matches before the triangular series.

England’s two test matches are in Christchurch and m Napier where it played a one-day match last season. The seven match triangular series will see New Zealand play twice, first against Pakistan and

One-day series March 4 N.Z. v. Pakistan (Auckland); 5 N.Z. v. England (Auckland); 8 Pakistan v. England (Dunedin); 11 N.Z. v. Pakistan (Christchurch); 14 N.Z. v. England (Wellington); 16 England v. Pakistan (Hamilton); 18 Rothmans Cup final (Auckland).