Athar Ali
LONDON, April 3: Opponents of Ray Illingworth, Chairman of England selectors, are lining up to fill the two posts on the selection committee. Among those who have been nominated are former England cricket captain, Ian Botham, and David Graveney, Secretary of the Cricketers` Association. David Graveney intended to challenge Ray Illingworth but then withdrew his candidature, leaving him to be confirmed unopposed.
The deadline for nomination for the two vacancies on the selection committee will run out at midnight on Wednesday. The members of the Test and County Board will then by postal ballot elect two from the names put forward. In all six candidates are expected to contest the two places on the selection committee.
Both David Graveney and Ian Botham have expressed their disapproval of the way things have been run, resulting in England cricket team`s humiliating performances in South Africa, and more recently for the World Cup.
Ian Botham said today that he will have no problem working with Ray Illingworth. We have many things in common, he added. They have discussed on many occasions the state of cricket in the past.
Botham said he was keen to have a go, and felt very flattered that he has been asked by Derbyshire and Northamptonshire counties to be their candidate. He would accept to serve on the selection committee if the opportunity came his way and would welcome some form of involvement in the game. The game in England needs smarting up, said Botham. We are not in a very healthy state as far as domestic cricket goes. We need a shake-up.
Players were compared to workers by Ian Botham. Some like their job and enjoy doing it. They do better than others who are full of gloom. As a selector, if elected, he would be part of a team of 5 people who have to discuss various options to achieve the right results. English cricket, he added, has seen better days and can have better days. We have good players who have talent. All that we need is new ideas, a fresh approach.
The TCCB is expected to finalise the ballot by April 17. Besides Ian Botham and David Graveney, Kim Barnett, John Edrich, Fred Titmus, Brian Bolus are the other candidates. Mike Atherton, the captain, and David Lloyd, the recently appointed coach, alongwith Ray Illingworth form the selection committee with two elected members.