Date-stamped : 31 May96 - 10:16 27 May 1996 Chairman vows to quit cricket `totally` By Peter Deeley RAY ILLINGWORTH took one look at the newspaper headline at Head- ingley on Saturday which suggested he "may not see out the month", and snorted: "They don`t say which month." Illingworth is currently under unprecedented pressure for a chairman of selectors, including attempts by some of the counties to unseat him. "If they are looking for a showdown I`m ready for it," he said. He will employ all his Yorkshire grit to fight off these enemies, yet there are indications that Illingworth`s detractors are beginning to wear him down. He conceded that recent events had been a "nuisance," and that he felt bitter at the way matters had developed. At one stage Illingworth had hoped to take the coming winter off and then resume his position as chairman of selectors for Australia`s visit in 1997. "But now what has happened," he said, "has made me determined to walk away from this job and from cricket totally and completely at the end of this summer. "I can hold my head up and say I have tried my best for Eng- land: not everyone can say that." The TCCB are to decide tomorrow whether there is a case to answer over comments, particularly about Devon Malcolm, in his book, One-Man Committee, to be published on June 13. Ian Botham is also threatening to launch a libel action about statements he feels were disparaging of his qualities as a would-be selector. Illingworth agreed that the timing of the book`s publication, at the very outset of the summer`s international campaign, could have been better but pointed out that the final decision was the publisher`s. He stressed too that his consultancy arrangement with the board meant there was no contractual basis on which they could object to his writing. As for Botham`s complaints, Illing- worth said his words had been used "as a wind-up." He refused any further comments about Malcolm except to point out: "He was the one who broke his contract with the board by his comments, not me. I am confident that when the board read my book they will come to the conclu- sion that it is fair and reasonable. "I used my right of reply to answer Malcolm but I understand that he has recently had another go at The Management in a magazine." Would Malcolm be considered for selection next weekend for the first India Test? "I haven`t put a veto on him or any other county player," came the succinct answer. "There are four other selectors with views." Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Shash (shs2@*.cwru.edu)