Keep minds on game—coach

Press, 9 December 1988, Page 48

Keep minds on game —coach

NZPA Visakhapatnam The New Zealand cricket coach, Bob Cunis, is determined to put thoughts of home out of his players’ minds as they prepare for an arduous one-day international programme against India. The two teams will meet five times in 10 days at venues scattered around India, starting in Visakhapatnam tomorrow. The New Zealand team leaves for home in 13

days and Mr Cunis is concerned that the players might have that prospect foremost in their thinking through the oneday series. “We’ve got to be careful we don’t get into a complacent attitude. The biggest worry is guys thinking five games then home. We have to try and get them back on the right track, pointing out just how important these games are,” Mr Cunis said yesterday, after the

team’s arrival from Hyderabad. Also high on Mr Cunis’ priorities will be putting the 2-1 test series loss out of the players’ minds. ■ “I felt we got through the test series with the guys still being a very good unit. Sure there were disappointments, but they seem to have got over them.” The New Zealand team for the first one-dayer will be named .today.

• The Pakistan captain, Imran Khan, has joined the list of doubtful starters for his side’s oneday international against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow. Imran was injured when struck on the knee by a delivery from the speedster, Mohsin Kamal, in the nets. The brilliant all-rounder is unsure if he can recover in time for the first World Series Cup match.