NINE CERTAIN FOR TOUR

By Tony Pithey (Sunday Mail, 3 December 1967)

Rhodesia has, over the last few years, lost key players and this has to a large extent resulted in our relegation to the B Section of the Currie Cup. The policy to be followed over the next few years is obviously to blood young players for the future, but at the same time bearing in mind the necessity of selecting balanced sides for the matches in the immediate future.

It is, therefore, against this background that I will attempt to name the team to tour the Republic at the end of the month.

In my opinion nine members of the party select themselves, which means that three places are in dispute.

Take the opening berth first. Two candidates immediately spring to mind. They are John McPhun and Jono Clarke (Nick Frangos is unavailable).

McPhun, who is at present enjoying a good season in Bulawayo, has had a varied career for Rhodesia. The last time Rhodesia was in the B Section, McPhun did so well that in the following season he rated a trial for South Africa.

Jono Clarke, on the other hand, has had a good run in league and Logan Cup cricket over the last two years, culminating in a good hundred against an admittedly weak Manicaland attack, three weeks ago.

In spite of McPhun's apparent advantages, I think Clarke will get the nod, mainly because of McPhun's suspect temperament and Clarke's greater potential.

The seam bowling, to all who watched last week's Currie Cup match, must have caused some concern. Noel Peck, if fit, will no doubt come back into the side because presumably the arguments which resulted in his selection in the first place still prevail. Brian Baxter, whose bowling lacks penetration, will make way for Peck, and Neville Williams should keep his place.

Personally, in place of the latter, who is grossly unfit, I would prefer to see another young player, but unfortunately nobody has to date merited an opportunity.

The question of choosing Tony de Caila or Howie Gardiner as the wicket-keeper is difficult in that one could justify the selection of either player.

The problem revolves around whether the best wicket-keeper or best wicket-keeper/batsman be selected.

The selectors have no doubt given this problem a great deal of thought, and in view of the fact that de Caila did nothing in the last game to prejudice his retention, I expect that the selectors will stick to the same policy of selecting the best keeper.

In conclusion, it may be mentioned that Colin Bland came out well in his debut as captain, and it goes without saying that he will captain the side on the tour.

I think that the selectors should name him as captain for the season. This will give him confidence in the knowledge that he is there for the season, and not on a 'game-to-game basis'.

The team therefore should read something like this:- Colin Bland (capt), Peter Carlstein, Jono Clarke, Brian Davison, Tony de Caila, Jack du Preez, Ray Gripper, Eddie Parker, Noel Peck, Derrick Townshend, Rob Ullyett, Neville Williams.

BLAND IS RHODESIAN CAPTAIN

(Monday 4 December 1967)

Colin Bland has been appointed Rhodesian cricket captain for the season, and his vice-captain for the Currie Cup tour down south will be Ray Gripper.

The team to tour will be: Colin Bland, Ray Gripper, Peter Carlstein, Jono Clarke, Brian Davison, Tony de Caila, Jackie du Preez, Eddie Parker, Noel Peck, Derrick Townshend, Rob Ullyett and Neville Williams.

Peck replaces Brian Baxter in the side which played Natal B and Clarke comes in as an extra batsman.

WORK HARD FOR THAT PROMOTION

By Jackie McGlew (Sunday Mail, 17 December 1967)

There is a popular conception in the land of UDI that Rhodesian cricket is at the bottom of the proverbial barrel. This is not altogether true.

I use the word altogether because it could be true if we did not apply the wise old adage: ``There is no such thing as failure, unless you accept it.''

``What failure?'' do you ask.

The answer is simple and direct. Failure to remain in the A Section of the Currie Cup, or the lurking, possible failure to regain A Section status.

In some quarters these matters are treated as almost national calamities. Fortunately for Rhodesian cricket there are some very sane and sensible administrators of this wonderful game who do not read the end of the world in this relegation to the B Section.

Merely it is considered by these capable administrators as a temporary setback. This is good, for that is really all it is temporary.

There is far too much talent in Rhodesia for them to remain over long in the lower league.

Well, having established all this, what is the solution? Most unfortunately my name is Jack and not Merlin McGlew, so the answer does not lie in one wave of the wizard's wand.

Rather will the young Rhodesians have to work, graft, toil, dedicate themselves as have so many of their illustrious predecessors.

For cricket success demands one quality above all others: dedication, which goes hand in glove with application.

Young Rhodesians must not be cajoled into this type of approach, they must simply be told that without it success in the big time is non-existent.

Does this all sound pretty harsh? Well, it is not meant to be because I have always had in the past and for that matter still have a genuinely high regard for Rhodesian cricket.

In Colin Bland Rhodesia has a likeable, dynamic skipper who believes in leading by example - an admirable trait.

If the Natal B-Rhodesia encounter was anything to go by, I would say Bland is going to prove a firm, competent and popular captain. He handled a moderate attack well and his field placings were intelligent.

He attacked the new batsmen by applying early pressures, but fell back on sensible defence when occasion demanded.

However, in my humble opinion, Colin was guilty of one cardinal error. This occurred in the afternoon of the second day after rain had held up play for some considerable time.

At this particular stage Rhodesia had worthily gained the two first innings points, so vital at that stage. To have forced Natal B to bat immediately upon the resumption would have been an act of aggression calculated to rock the visitors back on their already vanquished heels.

If my memory serves me correctly there was still approximately an hour left for play, but Natal had to face only 10 worrying minutes, during which time a wicket was lost.

It was after the rain break that Colin really let Natal off the double innings hook. But he is the type who learns quickly and I have no doubt there will not be a repetition of this.

Rhodesia has a good batting side which could be even stronger with the inclusion of Nick Frangos.

This is essential now that Tony Pithey has retired. He will be sorely missed and probably never adequately replaced.

There is one compensation and consolation. Peter Carlstein is batting like a champion, and there are a packet of runs left in that long, lithe body.

The Rhodesian attack, apart from Eddie Parker, lacks any real penetration. Jack du Preez, of course, could alter the whole situation. Not only is he the number one leg-spinner in South African cricket today, but he is also very competent in both the batting and fielding departments.

One young man who impressed me with his approach is Townshend. He bowls a good line, bats with definite purpose, and is both energetic and alert in the field.

All in all I would say Rhodesian cricket has a long hard road to hoe. But I add in all sincerity that they are capable of doing this and are worthy of A Section status.

PECK WITHDRAWS FROM RHODESIA CURRIE CUP SIDE

By Len Brown (Tuesday 19 December 1967)

Noel Peck, the young Matabeleland pace bowler, has withdrawn from the Rhodesian Under-23 team which plays the touring Australian Schools team at the Police Ground in Salisbury tomorrow, and also from the Rhodesian Currie Cup team which leaves on its three-match tour down south on Sunday.

Peck, who has been suffering from a bruised heel, and has not played since the Logan Cup match against Mashonaland A a month ago, turned out in a league match in Bulawayo on Sunday, and was again troubled by the injury.

``I have tried to convince myself it was all right,'' he said, ``but it is no good. It would be unfair to the team if I played. The only sure for the bruise is rest, so I've decided to withdraw.''

Peck's place in the Currie Cup tour team will be taken by Brian Bennett, the Salisbury Sports Club pace bowler.

OUR BATSMEN MUST BE CONSISTENT

By Tony Pithey (Sunday Mail, 24 December 1967)

In view of the fact that promotion to the 'A' Section of the Currie Cup is no longer automatic, the problem confronting the Rhodesian Currie Cup team over the next two or three years is to prove we are good enough to hold our own in the 'A' Section of the tournament - perhaps the stiffest competition of its kind in the cricketing world today.

The selection of the Rhodesian team for the tour of the Republic, which starts with a game against Western Province on Tuesday, represents a degree of sensible thinking, in that the selectors have tried to balance experience with potential, which I believe is the correct policy, and will pay dividends in the future.

The questions that arise are the problems confronting the Rhodesian team in the 'B' Section, and the correct approach our cricketers should adopt towards the game.

The main problem will be to make enough runs and to bowl sides out twice. In other words, the side will have to overcome its inconsistent batting, which has plagued Rhodesian cricket for many years, and to bowl with more purpose. In the past, inconsistent batting has to a large extent been offset by good bowling, particularly by Godfrey Lawrence and Joe Partridge, but now these two magnificent seam bowlers are no longer there to lean on.

In order to amass large totals, the side must get off to a good start. A sound opening partnership is on most occasions a prerequisite to a large total, and it is also imperative that the middle order take advantage of a good start. In this connection therefore good performances from Ray Gripper, Rob Ullyett, Peter Carlstein, Colin Bland and Jack du Preez will be vital to the side's success.

The bowling represents the real problem. Apart from du Preez and Parker, it is inexperienced, and it will take a great deal of astute handling on the part of Colin Bland to get the most out of his bowlers.

The inclusion of Brian Bennett will give the bowling added sting, but the slow wickets which characterise the B Section usually result in a poor harvest for seam bowlers. Jack du Preez's role will, therefore, be of paramount importance; there is nothing more useful than a good slow bowler for digging out sides on the defensive. The successes in the past of Percy Mansell and Vernon Dickinson, to name two, beat testimony to this contention.

The next question is how must our cricketers, particularly the younger ones, approach the game?

The game must be approached in a positive fashion. There have been many definitions of positive cricket, but I would simply put it as playing to win.

This simple definition, however, involves a host of considerations. In order to give of his best a cricketer must play to his limitations. In the past we have seen Rhodesian batsmen, once they have been in for some time, attempting shots to balls that even the great Sir Donald Bradman would not have dreamt of executing. The result very often is that the side has slumped from a good position to a precarious one.

In addition one must play according to the dictates of the game. On some occasions one has to get runs quickly and on other occasions the opposite is true. In the normal course of events, however, a restrained 150 runs is of more use in first-class cricket than a 'glorious' 30.

Finally, one must be mentally and physically conditioned to first-class cricket, and above all to gave a burning desire to succeed.

Many Rhodesian cricketers have the inherent ability to succeed, but lack the necessary application and the right approach to the game, and the result is that they are a disappointment to themselves and their supporters.

W.P. HAMMER RHODESIAN BOWLING (Wednesday 27 December 1967)

Cape Town, Tuesday

With Andre Bruyns scoring 160 and Rob Muzzell 146 not out, Western Province kept Rhodesia in the field all day today at Newlands and in the process put themselves in a strong position by making 383 for five wickets in what is regarded as a crucial Currie Cup cricket match.

Although they lost their opener Mickey Giles to the fourth ball of Parker's first over and Dan Butler went at 52, Province fully exploited the value of winning the toss.

It is likely that the home team will try to bat up to lunch-time tomorrow in an effort to make sure of first innings points at least.

Bruyns and Muzzell, by adding 206 in the fast time of 199 minutes, easily beat the previous Western Province third-wicket record partnership of 163 established by Linton Morby-Smith and Peter van der Merwe against Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth in 1964/65.

Bruyns played an outstanding innings in which he batted for four hours and 10 minutes, hitting a six and 23 fours. This was his third Currie Cup century and his hooking, square-cutting and perfectly timed on-droves brought him most of his boundaries. When he had 141 he was missed behind the wicket off Colin Bland who bowled 30 overs.

Muzzell was much more painstaking in a marathon knock of 5 hours, 40 minutes with 21 fours. He gave his only chance, a hard one, to Ullyett in the gully off Bland on 128.

The Rhodesian fielding was of a uniformly excellent standard, with Bland setting a fine example and Carlstein and Gripper outstanding.

Gripper held two great catches to dismiss Butler and Bruyns.

The Rhodesian bowling was never more than adequate. Parker, who had the best figures of three for 82, was the most penetrative, but came in for a lot of punishment when he pitched short on the leg stump.

Jackie du Preez, the Springbok leg-spinner, failed to take a wicket in 24 overs which cost 63 runs, the pitch being too slow to give him any real bite.

A holiday crowd of about 5000 saw some excellent cricket, especially while Bruyns was at the wicket.

RHODESIA CRASH TO HODGSON'S SEAMERS (Thursday 28 December 1967)

Cape Town, Wednesday

Scoring a moderate 208 for eight in reply to Western Province's huge total of 505 for eight declared at Newlands today, Rhodesia looked certain to go down, at least on the first innings, in their important B Section Currie Cup cricket match.

The Rhodesians, with only Derrick Townshend, Tony de Caila and Brian Bennett to bat, still need 148 runs to avoid the follow on, and outright defeat is possible if the visitors bat as unimpressively tomorrow as they did today.

The crowing set-back came in the last over of the day when Peter Carlstein, who had 89 and was seemingly set for his century tomorrow, tried a hook off Muzzell's fourth ball and skied it to be caught by Bruyns at midwicket.

The Province bowler who broke through the upper crust of Rhodesia's batting today was the 26-year-old New Zealander, Andy Hodgson.

In an admirable spell of sustained, accurate medium-paced seam bowling that lasted just under three hours, Hodgson removed Ray Gripper, Rob Ullyett, Colin Bland (who made only a single) and Brian Davison, at a cost of 41 runs.

Altogether Hodgson sent down 25 successive overs on a scorcher of a day and at one stage his figures read 21-11-26-4.

Gripper and Ullyett added 51 in 55 minutes for the second wicket, but the only other stand of consequence was that between Carlstein and Eddie Parker who put on 78 in 71 minutes for the seventh wicket.

Rhodesia would have been in an even worse plight had Province not missed chances. Carlstein, when 30, was dropped in the gully by Dyer off Hodgson and again on 77 by Drummer off Muzzell.

Parker was also missed by Drummer off Muzzell when he had 20.

Carlstein, however, looked by far the most accomplished of the Rhodesian batsmen. He was at the wicket for just under four hours for his 89 which included 56 in boundaries.

JONO CLARKE RESCUES RHODESIA WITH 112 (Friday 29 December 1967)

Cape Town, Thursday

Jono Clarke, the 23-year-old bespectacled Old Georgians opener, playing in his first Currie Cup cricket match, virtually saved Rhodesia from outright defeat with an undefeated century against Western Province in their B Section match at Newlands today. He batted throughout the second innings (295 minutes) and scored 112 not out with 14 fours and a five.

Clarke is one of the few Rhodesians to have made a century in his maiden Currie Cup appearance.

Rhodesia, following on 233 runs in arrears, had scored 243 for seven at the close and were thus only 10 runs on with thee wickets intact.

Though Rhodesia were never in danger of losing outright - their last three wickets fell in the closing stages when a draw was already inevitable - they would certainly have been in serious trouble had Clarke not put down his anchor firmly.

His was not an attractive innings to watch, but he concentrated on keeping out the good deliveries and played with progressive confidence.

When he had 62 he survived a confident appeal for a catch behind the wicket by Pfuhl off Muzzell.

Rob Ullyett (42) and Peter Carlstein (37) weighed in with useful contributions and Colin Bland, bearing in mind that it was important to stay at the crease, spent 77 minutes compiling a rather sedate 27.

The Rhodesian second innings contained several good stands after the early departure of Ray Gripper, and it was only when Deon Hugo came on for his second spell with the new ball that the batting looked vulnerable.

Hugo took three for 16 in this spell to finish with four for 37. Andy Hodgson, who did the damage in the first innings, failed to take a wicket.

Rhodesia also owed something to a valuable ninth-wicket partnership of 63 in 81 minutes in their first innings by the number 9 and 10 batsmen, Derrick Townshend and Tony de Caila, who both open for their clubs.

The fact that Rhodesia took no points from this match means that they must beat Border and the Free State outright in their next two tour matches to stand a good chance of promotion.

Colin Bland said afterwards that losing the toss on such a plumb wicket had its disadvantage and he thought that the team's long spell in the field - together with the slow pace of the wicket could have affected the batting.

Alwyn Pichanick, the manager, said he had been pleased with the high standard of the Rhodesian fielding. This had been the reward for the special attention paid to fielding practice and physical fitness before the team left Rhodesia.