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Caddick reveals frustration over England cold shoulder

By Nelson Clare in Auckland

8 January 1997


ANDREW CADDICK has spoken out about his frustration at being overlooked by England after being left out of both Tests and all three one-day internationals in Zimbabwe.

``The ball swung a lot in Zimbabwe and also seamed quite a bit,'' said the 28-year-old Somerset fast bowler. ``They class me as the main seam bowler in this squad, and I can get a bit of swing if conditions are right, but I was not played. That was their decision and I must live with it.''

Caddick has been curiously treated by England since returning to the side last summer following a long fight to overcome a serious shin injury. He was comfortably their best bowler during the drawn second Test against Pakistan at Headingley, then surprisingly was made 12th man for the final match of that series at the Oval.

Now Caddick is on the outside again, having not bowled a ball in anger since Dec 13 when he helped England beat Matabeleland in Bulawayo. But the situation may improve now that Caddick is back in the country of his birth.

The 6ft 5in seamer knows New Zealand conditions better than any other member of Mike Atherton's squad. Raised in Christchurch, he represented various Kiwi youth sides but always found himself competing for a regular place with the likes of Chris Cairns.

``I don't think I got a good roll of the dice in those days,'' he said. ``I got the impression that even when I was doing things, I was not getting picked. That helped me make my decision to try to make a living from the game in England.''

Now Caddick is hoping to show New Zealand what he can achieve as an England player. ``Hopefully I will get a go on this section of the tour,'' he said. ``If I do, I am sure I will do well.''

Paul Caddick, the new owner of Headingley, will obstruct any moves by Yorkshire to stage Test cricket at their proposed new county ground in Wakefield. Caddick claims a clause in Yorkshire's lease at Headingley prevents Test cricket from being played at any other ground in the county. He said: ``The only break in the clause is on our side, not theirs, and I am not prepared to give it up.''

Caddick has become increasingly frustrated with Yorkshire officials who, he claims, will not discuss his plans to reconstruct Headingley into a 20,000-seat cricket stadium and 25,000 rugby ground.

``I cannot make an application for funds to develop the ground without the support of the cricket club. At the moment they won't even speak to me let alone give me support,'' he said.


Source: The Electronic Telegraph
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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 15:02