Coach keen to beat top cricket side

Press, 4 April 1989, Page 48

Coach keen to beat top cricket side

From

JOHN COFFEY

in Perth

New Zealand has an opportunity to continue regilding its previously tarnished reputation in limited-over cricket when it meets Western Australia in Perth this evening and tomorrow morning (N.Z. time).

“We’re not here just to run around with these guys — we want to beat them,” said the New Zealand coach, Bob Cunis, yesterday. Mr Cunis is eager that New Zealand reproduce the form displayed in the 3-1 series success over the Pakistan tourists last month when it comes up against a Western Australian side which last week clinched the Sheffield Shield for a third consecutive time.

“We should, really have won all four games against Pakistan, and would have done so had we not lost our way in Auckland,” said Mr Cunis.

The New Zealand coach was heartened by the maturity his men displayed in outclassing the highly regarded Pakistanis.

Much credit had to be given to the young medium-fast bowlers, Willie Watson and Danny Morrison, who had replaced the long-estab-lished pairing of Richard Hadlee and Ewen Chatfield.

“In the last couple of years we seemed to have lost the correct approach to one-day cricket,” said Mr Cunis. “The biggest problem was to find bowlers who could be economical in the last few overs.

“Willie lived up to the promise he had shown as one who could come on and bowl well at that stage. Danny’s greatest value was his ability to take wickets early on and also when he came back for his second spell.” Their efforts, combined with those of Martin Snedden and Gary Robertson, with Chris Kuggeleijn providing off-spin variation, compensated for Hadlee’s injury and Chatfield’s absence.

Robertson was not available to travel to Perth, paving the way for Chatfield’s return.

“Chats may have been a bit disappointed to be

left out against Pakistan. He might not agree, but the selectors felt he was in need of a rest after bowling so many overs in the tests,” said Mr Cunis.

“He was always in our squad of 15 or 16, though, and was kept out only because of the fine performances of the younger bowlers, and the team as a whole, in the early internationals. Chats is still part of our plans.”

The outstanding runscoring sequence of Andrew Jones has considerably boosted New Zealand’s batting potential.

“We have been more positive than in the past. New Zealand doesn’t have a bad international lineup now and having good reserves means there is no longer any clutching at straws,” said Mr Cunis. He agreed, however, that a lack of acknowledged all-rounders would be a problem if quick wickets were lost. Robert Vance is the logical twelfth man this evening, lan Smith staying at No. 6 in the order.

The long-term plan is obviously for New Zealand to compete with distinction in the next World Cup tournament, to be staged by Australia and New Zealand.

“There will be a strong emphasis on one-day cricket in the next year or so,” said Mr Cunis. New Zealand faces home games against India and Australia next summer, and away series in England, Pakistan and Australia later in 1990. Meanwhile, Western Australia has paid the visitors the complement of retaining its Sheffield Shield-winning side in a bid to gain possession of the Air New ZealandWestern Underwriters’ Challenge Cup. Particular interest will be taken in the performance of the latest Australian batting hero, Tom Moody, who, at 2.03 m, has a physique to match his mammoth run-scoring feats. In his most recent appearance on the WACA ground Moody had innings of 162 and 155 against South Australia in the shield final. Western Australia has three other test batsmen, Graeme Wood, Geoff Marsh and Mike Veletta, an Australian wicketkeeper and batsman, Tim Zoehrer, and three bowlers with international experience, Terry Aiderman, Ken MacLeay (both medium-fast) and Tom Hogan (slow left-arm) in its team. “They’ve got a good team,” conceded Mr Cunis. “It would be nice to beat them, that’s what we’re here for.” Teams.— New Zealand: John Wright (captain), Andrew Jones, Martin Crowe, Mark Greatbatch, Jeff Crowe, lan Smith, Chris Kuggeleijn, Martin Snedden, Willie Watson, Danny Morrison, Ewen Chatfield, Robert Vance. Western Australia: Graeme Wood (captain), Geoff Marsh, Mike Veletta, Tom Moody, Wayne Andrews, Peter Gonnella, Tom Zoehrer, Tom Hogan, Ken MacLeay, Allan Mullally, Peter Capes, Terry Aiderman.

Match starts 5.45 p.m. (N.Z. time)'* and ends 1.30 a.m. tomorrow morning.