TOUR TEAM UNCHANGED

(Sunday Mail, 5 January 1969)

The Rhodesian cricket team to go on the second short tour to South Africa this month is the same as the team which has just returned from a three-match tour.

The full team, announced yesterday, is:- Colin Bland (captain), Ray Gripper (vice-captain), Peter Carlstein, Jono Clarke, Brian Davison, Tony de Caila, Jack du Preez, John McPhun, Eddie Parker, Noel Peck, Stuart Robertson, John Traicos.

The first match is against Transvaal in Johannesburg from January 17-20 and the tour ends with a friendly against North-Eastern Transvaal in Pretoria from January 24-27. The last game of the season is against Eastern Province in Bulawayo on February 8-10.

BLAND REPORTS FIT FOR CURRIE CUP MATCH

By Glen Byrom (Thursday 16 January 1969)

Colin Bland is fully fit to lead the Rhodesian team in the A Section Currie Cup cricket match against Transvaal starting in Johannesburg tomorrow and also in the following friendly match against North-Eastern Transvaal. This assurance was given yesterday by the Rhodesian tour manager, Mr Alwyn Pichanick, who said that although Bland's left knee was still a little tender he was fully fit for both games.

``The trouble started when Bland was hit on the knee three times by Peter Pollock during the recent match against Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth,'' explained Pichanick. ``The knee became swollen, and in the next match against Natal at Durban, Bland pulled a groin muscle. This has now completely healed, although the knee is still a little tender. However, we are satisfied that Bland is fully fit to play and I don't think the knee will hamper him.''

The 12-man team sets out this morning. The Salisbury members leave the airport at 7.30 a.m., meeting Noel Peck and Tony de Caila in Bulawayo at 8.30 a.m. The team is scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg at 11 a.m. and manager Pichanick said a practice was planned at the Wanderers after lunch. The tour selectors of Pichanick, Bland and Ray Gripper will announce the 11 to face Transvaal tomorrow night.

Facing Bland and his men on Friday will be Robbie Muzzell, whose outstanding form in league cricket has earned him a place in the Transvaal team. Muzzell replaces Ray White, who was not available, and his selection brings a better balance to the attack, although his leg-spinners may not be favoured by the Wanderers wicket.

Muzzell can look forward to the match with confidence. The reason is the 161 he scored against Rhodesia for Western Province last season. In matches since his return to the game after an arm injury, he has scored 11, 121, 70, and 64 for Wanderers in the Transvaal premier league. The broken left wrist which put him out of cricket at the beginning of the season has healed completely.

Said Muzzell in Johannesburg yesterday: ``Rhodesia's bowling is a little thin and they rely heavily on Jackie du Preez's leg-spin. The Western Province plan last season was to get on to Jackie as soon as we could, and the plan worked.'' Province scored 505 for eight wickets declared against the Rhodesians at Newlands.

Muzzell said that Rhodesia's young off-spinner, John Traicos, lacked variation but thrived on hard work.

Commenting on another player new to the Wanderers crowd, Muzzell said that the opening batsman, Jono Clarke, was a cricketer in the Tony Pithey mould. ``He scored a century against us in Cape Town in his first Currie Cup match. He is a real grafter. Gripper, of course, plays his shots from the start.''

Rhodesia played Transvaal B in the Currie Cup last year in Salisbury, winning by 39 runs. Three of Transvaal's players in that match - Brian Bath, Willie Kerr and Gavin Fairon - are in the A side for the Wanderers tomorrow.

Said one Rhodesian team member before leaving: ``We've got a good chance of winning this one.'' Rhodesian supporters, still waiting for their team to win their first point in the Currie Cup competition this year, certainly hope so.

BLAND CONFIDENT OF RHODESIA'S CHANCES AT THE WANDERERS (Johannesburg, Thursday)

From Fred Cleary (Friday 17 January 1969)

The Transvaal has been suffering from severe heat in recent weeks, and Colin Bland and his men intend making it just as hot for Ali Bacher and his Transvaal cricketers when the teams play their return Currie Cup match at the Wanderers starting tomorrow.

Even though their Christmas and New Year holiday swing round the coast brought them no points in games against Eastern Province and Natal, the Rhodesian players are far from depressed. In fact, they are anxious to get at the A Section leaders and prove they are not as bad as their wooden spoon place indicates.

Colin Bland summed up his side's mood when he told me after they had a two-hour workout at the Wanderers nets this afternoon: ``The boys have matured considerably over the last few games and I think we are to surprise quite a few people here on the Rand in this match. The transition from B Section and league cricket to this tough A Section is tremendous, and it took one or two of the young players some time to adjust to this higher grade. But we showed in the second innings against Natal in Durban - when Rhodesia scored 287 for six against a Springbok attack - that we can score the runs. All we needed was application and that was certainly evident in that innings against Natal.''

Opening batsman John McPhun stands down from the team that played Natal, with off-spinner John Traicos returning to give Bland five bowlers again. This will be essential on what appears to be a perfect batting wicket, fast outfield and impressive Transvaal batting combination.

Jono Clarke will resume his opening batting partnership with Ray Gripper after dropping to three for the Natal game, and Stuart Robertson is promoted from the middle order to number three. The selectors feel that Robertson, having scored two fine innings of 59 and 55 not out against Natal, does not need further sheltering and should now, in his third game for his country, be pitched in higher up the order.

Colin Bland and peter Carlstein will follow, and the rest of the order will be determined by the state of the game.

This will be Robertson's first sight of the Wanderers and he could enjoy himself against a Transvaal bowling attack which, like the Rhodesians on paper, lacks real penetration. Robertson scored a century in league last Sunday in Salisbury and is now pushing 1000 runs for the season - which is pretty good by mid-January.

Jono Clarke's 54 in the second innings against Natal must have given him the confidence he so badly wanted, and if he and Gripper can overcome this first wicket bogy and beat the best opening stand this season so far of 55, then Rhodesia might indeed shake the complacent home team.

I have seen cricket regularly on this Wanderers ground since it was opened 12 years ago and I rate it as the fairest in Southern Africa. Players can go for their shots and bowlers generally have a chance. And so even though they have one recognised batsman less than the Natal match, the Rhodesian team should collect plenty of runs over the next three days.

And even our suspect bowling cannot be written off. Seamers Noel Peck and Eddie Parker only need encouragement to produce some good quality stuff, and slow men Jack du Preez and John Traicos might well command plenty of respect. Certainly, if the fielding is as good as usual, then the Transvaalers will have to fight for runs.

Transvaal look extremely powerful in the batting department, with Bacher, Lance, Muzzell and Lindsay-Smith all having comforting high totals behind them in recent matches. Even without Ray White, they look particularly solid in the middle.

Bland has recovered from his knee and a slight right finger injury and all the other players report fit.

ANOTHER COURAGEOUS DU PREEZ INNINGS RESCUES RHODESIA (Johannesburg, Friday)

From Fred Cleary (Saturday 18 January 1969)

Jack du Preez rescued Rhodesia today with yet another one of those technically imperfect, yet courageous innings. He pulled the team out of dire trouble in their A Section Currie Cup cricket match against Transvaal at the Wanderers, and took them to respectability for a comfortable, but far from commanding, first innings score of 295.

The Salisbury cigarette salesman scored 91 and might have registered his first century of the season but for an incredible decision by umpire Walker, who adjudged him run out when, in fact, du Preez appeared to be well within his crease.

Had du Preez stayed and scored that hundred, Rhodesia might have moved past the 300 mark, a figure which should be at least needed to take the first innings points off a Transvaal batting combination that is full of run potential. As it is, the home team had scored 43 for no wicket at the close of this first day of their three-day match which was played today in warm weather and on a perfect batting strip.

The du Preez decision was most mystifying. He had been at the crease for 131 delightful minutes, pasting the workmanlike Transvaal bowling with a typical display of home-made strokes, when he was run out. He had played Watson to midwicket, took two with de Caila, ran for a third and Kerr threw in the ball for Bacher to break the wicket at the bowler's end. Du Preez had his bat in the air and was easing up. The whole Transvaal team appealed, and umpire Walker raised his finger.

It is not wise to be too confident judging a run-out of this nature when looking down the wicket as I was from the south end of the ground. But du Preez's look of incredulity, the fact that his bat was in the air, and a comment from a reliable witness who saw the incident from midwicket and said du Preez was within his crease by at least two feet, adds considerable weight to the argument that the umpire might well have erred. However, Mr Walker was on the spot and du Preez took his bad luck well.

How richly he deserved that coveted three figures. He scored 89 against Transvaal at the beginning of the season, has struggled since with low scores, but today came in when Rhodesia was in trouble at 130 for four at three minutes to lunch, and immediately showed that a crisis doesn't perturb him one hoot.

Ali Bacher used his battery of seamers - Watson, Hector, Mackay-Coghill, Kerr and Lance - and spinners Muzzell and Fairon intelligently, on a wicket which allowed the ball to come through, and the batsmen to play shots. Du Preez relished the electric atmosphere, and later in the day, with the dependable Tony de Caila, put on 79 runs in 65 minutes for the eighth wicket, of which de Caila only scored 18.

Earlier Stuart Robertson confirmed his growing power in Rhodesian and Currie Cup cricket by registering his third successive half century in a row, in only his third game. He scored 58 aristocratic-like runs, and following his 59 and 55 not out against Natal the other week, this tall left-hander is moving more into the Springbok selection spotlight - not only for his totals, but the manner in which he is scoring those runs.

Robertson was promoted from five to three for this match and was virtually an opener, as Jono Clarke was dismissed at three, unluckily enough to see the last ball of Mackay-Coghill's first over spin on to his stumps.

Ray Gripper and Robertson were following the pre-match order to be positive in their thinking and not allow themselves to be pinned down as they have been in the past. Positive they were and Gripper looked a little out of character as he played several shaky shots, rode his luck high, and scored 38 good runs while adding 91 for the second wicket.

After Robertson had been deceived by a slower ball from Watson and was easily caught at mid-off by Bacher after 1r50 minutes, four wickets tumbled together for only 59 runs, as the now familiar middle order batsmen failed to take advantage of an attack that had been mastered.

Fortunately, du Preez and de Caila shrugged off this disastrous position and set about doing a wonderful repair job. De Caila was at the crease for 89 minutes for his 28 and he had to weather several Watson bumpers and nurse a bruise on his head, sustained from a Lance bumper. But he earned the highest commendation for his tenacity. Tailenders Traicos and Peck each waved bats and scored 13, and Rhodesia were dismissed for 295 after 300 minutes.

Bacher scored 31 in Transvaal's 43 for none by the close, and this determined home captain and potential Springbok leader indicated that he means business and could take plenty of runs off a seam attack which does not look good enough to contain any A Section side. However, one can never tell, and this match is far from over.

BACHER SLAMS 189 (Johannesburg, Sunday)

Fred Cleary reports (Sunday Mail, 19 January 1969)

Rhodesia are in serious trouble and face an outright Currie Cup defeat at the hands of Transvaal at the Wanderers, thanks to two more very doubtful umpiring decisions, and brilliant batting by Ali Bacher.

Bacher scored a superb and well deserved 189 today and earned the plaudits of the Rhodesians and everyone who saw it. But there are few plaudits for local umpire Reichman who gave Jono Clarke out apparently caught behind tonight off his elbow, and Ray Gripper out caught again behind by wicket-keeper Chatterton, this time the ball from Watson only brushing his right thigh.

Following the Jack du Preez run out verdict on Friday when he was clearly in his crease, the Rhodesians are bitter tonight and wonder why things are going against them officially, when it's bad enough trying to contain a very powerful Transvaal combination.

As it is, only a miracle can save Rhodesia as they ended the second day of this three-day A Section match with only 46 second innings runs on the board for the loss of three wickets in reply to Transvaal's first innings total of 423. Transvaal had a first innings lead of 128, so with three down and still 82 runs behind, the outlook is bleak for Rhodesia.

Clarke has a bruised elbow tonight to prove he was out unjustly, while umpire Reichman had to consult colleague Walker before holding up his finger to Gripper. Gripper was leaning on his bat and confident when Reichman gave the verdict against him. Gripper walked straight away but he was shocked.

But rising above the sourness of these decisions was the masterly knock by Bacher. He is no aristocrat at the crease but he is a grafter of the highest order, and he revelled under a hot sun, tore into the Rhodesian bowling, and in 337 minutes registered his second consecutive Currie Cup century, and the eleventh of his already distinguished career.

He and Bath started the day full of runs, and following their overnight score of 43 without being parted they raced along this morning, adding 71 in the first hour. Bath was beaten by a du Preez googly, Lindsay-Smith was well held by substitute wicket-keeper Jono Clarke - standing in for de Caila who pulled a tendon in his left shoulder - and when Mackay-Coghill went for five runs, and three wickets were down for 152, it looked as if the desired breakthrough was coming for Rhodesia.

But Tiger Lance stopped the rot and with his captain put on 52 in an hour for the fourth wicket.

RHODESIA HOPING PITCH WILL WEAR (Johannesburg, Sunday)

From Fred Cleary (Monday 20 January 1969)

Rhodesia's only hope of cricket salvation at the Wanderers tomorrow is that the wicket will wear enough on the third and final day to enable spinners Jack du Preez and John Traicos to get at the Transvaal batsmen. The chances are slim as the wicket, although allowing some turn on Saturday, still looked remarkably well for wear and full of runs.

In addition the Rhodesian batsmen have still to clear an 82-run deficit, and the move far enough into the lead and gather enough runs to enable the spinners to try and get those wickets. Time is not in favour of Colin Bland and his men and neither is the fact that three valuable batsmen are already out, tragically enough through bad luck and dubious umpiring decisions.

Transvaal, of course, will set out immediately to follow up the commanding position they now hold in this A Section Currie Cup match and strive to sweep out the remaining Rhodesian batsmen and collect the eight points they want so dearly to help them on the road to the championship. But the Transvaal captain, Ali Bacher, and his bowlers will find the Rhodesians no easy pushover. They are a remarkably resilient bunch and no defeatist would find sympathy in the Rhodesian camp.

It was this tremendous team spirit that enabled them to field so brilliantly on Saturday. The way Bland and his players threw themselves at the ball for over after long over in endeavours to stem the run flow was most admirable and drew comments which are still echoing round the Golden City. And no praise can be too high for the way the Rhodesian bowlers nagged away as best they could on a perfect batting strip, and with little luck going their way.

Jack du Preez followed up his splendid 91 on Friday by trundling down 32 consecutive overs and taking two for 87 yesterday afternoon. And this was despite the fact that his spinning fingers are again cut and raw.

Tomorrow Peter Carlstein and Bland set out to retrieve face, and despite a bruised left shoulder which needed treatment this morning, Carlstein the irrepressible will no doubt try to follow up his commendable 22 of Saturday night and look for the 100 which eluded him so narrowly in Durban. Carlstein is in his best fighting mood right now and the Transvaalers will have to bowl well to tame him.

But the spirit of the Rhodesians should not detract from the skill of the home team. Bacher's 189 was a wonderful mixture of opportunism, patience, controlled aggression and intelligence. He used to be primarily an on-side batsman but now he is almost equally at home on the off and he looks as safe and as compact as any cricketer playing today. There are many admirable qualities about this Johannesburg doctor and he must now be the obvious and only candidate for the Springbok captaincy in 1970.

Bacher was well supported yesterday by Rob Muzzell, Lance, Brian Bath and Willie Kerr, and if Transvaal do win the Currie Cup this year they will be a credit to the competition.

RHODESIA'S WORST BATTING DISPLAY FOR MANY YEARS (Johannesburg, Monday)

From Fred Cleary (Tuesday 21 January 1969)

Rhodesia plunged to an ignominious cricket defeat at the hands of Transvaal at the Wanderers today. Ali Bacher and his men needed only a couple of hours to bundle out seven Rhodesian batsmen and wrap up a ten-wicket Currie Cup A Section victory after one of the most disappointing displays of so-called batting I have seen in years from a Rhodesian team.

Rhodesia started today with only the very faintest outside chance of saving the match as they were three down with an 82-run deficit in their second innings, after two days of drama-packed cricket. It was felt that if Colin Bland and Peter Carlstein, the overnight batsmen, had stayed long enough, the Rhodesians would have gone down with their colours flying.

And in fact for nearly an hour it looked as though this might be the case as these two experienced Springboks went on a delightful search for runs and collected 48 in 50 minutes in their fourth-wicket stand. But when both men went in successive balls from Mackay-Coghill and Lance, the rest of the side collapsed miserably like a bunch of nervous and inexperienced schoolboys.

Seven wickets fell today in an hour and three-quarters for 98 runs as Rhodesia could only muster an overall 144-run total. I might add that only 180 balls were needed today to take those seven wickets.

Tony Pithey was on hand to see this morning of shame on his way to a holiday on the Natal south coast. He will not hold a bat in his hands for some weeks, but our best batsman will be available for the return match against Eastern Province in Bulawayo early next month, and even if he is lacking in match practice, I believe the Rhodesian selectors - including convenor Alwyn Pichanick who was here today on managerial duty - should pick Pithey without hesitation.

For even an out-of-practice Pithey would not disgrace himself like his former colleagues did today and I am sure he would be quite happy to return even lower in the order, as Stuart Robertson has probably made the number three berth his own for some time to come.

As I said, Carlstein and Bland looked good this morning while pursuing the policy of consolidating and looking for runs. True, Carlstein was dropped by Lance at first slip off the first ball he received from Watson, but he promptly hooked the next delivery to the fence for four. A resolute Bland hit the ball crisply and went to 21 before he was out edging Mackay-Coghill to Lance at first slip.

Then the collapse started, as from the very next ball - the first of Lance's first over - Carlstein slashed unnecessarily at a ball well outside the off stump and was well held by wicket-keeper Chatterton. He had scored 41, and but for this one costly mistake had done his job impressively.

Eddie Parker tried to hit his side out of trouble, but after 29 minutes at the crease and 15 to his name, he was caught behind, edging the ball into the slips.

Jack du Preez lashed out and got 26 typical runs before being yorked by Lance, and then the rest fell quickly and Rhodesia were back in the pavilion at 11.45 a.m., their total occupation of the crease in this innings being 195 minutes.

This was by far the most disgraceful batting display of the season and it is going to take much to redeem this morning's display in the eyes of the powers that be, who decide the composition of the Currie Cup. We must beat Eastern Province in Bulawayo, and beat them handsomely, if we want to hold up our heads with cricket pride again.

KEEP THEM IN THE A SECTION

By Trevor Bisseker (Johannesburg, Monday)

The South African Cricket Association must surely grant Rhodesia the right to play in the A Section again next season, despite what happened at the Wanderers today.

There is no automatic promotion and relegation in the Currie Cup this year, and although the final points table in March may indicate that the Rhodesians have been outclassed by the other three teams, this would not be a true reflection of their ability.

In Jackie Sports Club they have the best spin bowler in the competition. On Saturday, while Transvaal were scoring 423 in 400 minutes, he was able to return the outstanding figures of 37.1-9-104-4. During one 15-over spell he did not concede a boundary, although the conditions were entirely against him.

John Traicos, the off-spinner, also bowled with good control and occasionally turned the ball appreciably. Not even the carefree tailenders were able to score off him with any consistency.

Both bowlers had the support of ground fielding which captivated the 6500 spectators on Saturday. Colin Bland, swooping time and again from mid-off and extra cover, reached heights which only he could have attained, and others, like Brian Davison, Eddie Parker, Ray Gripper and the substitute, John McPhun, did their best to match him with some brilliant stopping and throwing.

Jono Clarke, keeping wicket in place of Tony de Caila, who had damaged a tendon in his left shoulder, gave a polished display and allowed only four byes. Rhodesia's strength in this position is emphasised by the fact that Howie Gardiner, who hit 11 sixes in the two matches against the Australians, was not considered good enough for the team!

THIS IS RHODESIA'S BEST FIELDING SIDE (Johannesburg, Tuesday)

From Louis Duffus (Wednesday 22 January 1969)

I was always a little sceptical when spectators overseas said, ``We have come to see the South Africans fielding,'' but this summer I can appreciate their views. It is questionable whether the standard of ground fielding in the country has ever been as high as it is today.

Appropriately the two teams who excel most - Rhodesia and Western Province - are striving to ensure that they play in the A Section of the Currie Cup next season.

Rhodesia have the finest fielding side they have ever possessed. This is perhaps understandable, for once a week most of them spend a session devoted entirely to training and fielding - under the guidance of Colin Bland. The man whose phenomenal fielding captured the imagination of onlookers has lost little of his genius.

When he ran from midwicket to mid-on at the Wanderers and sent a sizzling return over the stumps it was a replica of the thrilling moment in the 1965 Lord's Test when his direct hit ran out Ken Barrington at 91, and sent Bland's fame ringing round the cricket world. It was already well established in Australasia.

Asked to rate the best Springbok fielders he has known, Bland rated Peter Carlstein as good as anyone from middle and outfield distances; Eddie Barlow the best all-round fielder from slip to outfield (''He moves so well''); Trevor Goddard as absolutely outstanding close to the wicket, and Peter van der Merwe extremely high on the list.

In general terms, Bland enjoys being a provincial captain. ``It gives me another interest, but it can be difficult when bowlers go off the line as they did at the start of the Transvaal innings.''

Cricket for him, at the age of 30, is 'getting harder and harder,' and how long he continues will depend upon his fitness and enthusiasm. He believes that seven hours a day for three days in the Currie Cup is too ,long - ``the last hour can be murder'' - and advocates four days of six hours each, as in Australia.

``I think this is the general feeling among A Section players. Shorter hours would provide better cricket. Leave might be a problem, but it is only one day extra, and when a side goes on a two-match tour it would mean no change at all.''