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Times Sport
Sir Robert
would
have been
happy
By JACK WATERFORD
The Prime Minister's XI versus the
West Indies match at Manuka Oval
yesterday was probably rather closer
to the original concept in the mind of
its founder, Sir Robert Menzies, than
that of the current senior selector.
Not that it was by any means a
strictly social match, which was what
Sir Robert preferred above all. But for
most of the game, the play seemed
rather more important than the result,
and if, for about the first five of the
last 10 overs, it appeared that Aus
tralia had a chance of victory, it
seemed unlikely to be achieved
without a bit of West Indian co-opera
tion - which either was not there at
all or not sufficiently.
Not to put too fine a point on it,
some of the games played in Sir Rob
ert's day were said to be fixed, or were
supposed to be.
One so-called fix went bad when a
batsman, supposed to hit a ball for a
run to tie a game, hit a six instead.
And as the Prime Minister's XI
moved toward the West Indian total,
there were more than a few wonder
ings about an arrangement.
But the West Indians did not suffi
ciently drop their game. Indeed there
was hardly a significant misfield -
the usual clue to an arrangement. And
nor did the Prime Minister's men
sufficiently lift theirs.
Had the Australians been a little
less conservative in going for the sec
ond run, or had some of the wild last
over swipes of Murray Bennett con
nected, the result might have been
closer, but it always seemed rather
inevitable that they were going to
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
The West Indians might not have
been trying as hard as they usually do,
but evinced no real intention of letting
it get away from them.
The player most treating it as a
social match was the clear crowd
favourite, Rod Marsh, whose stay at
the wicket was brief but confident
enough. At least he continually hit the
ball from the centre of his bat, if
finally, fatally, upwards to Vivian
Richards, who showed no sentiment
whatever.
The efforts by Gomes, Lloyd,
Greenidge, Border and newcomer
Peter Faulkner were also much ap
preciated, but all showed a caution
mixed with their dash appropriate to
she normal struggle between the
teams.
The world's most popular honorary
2th man basked in applause from
lost each time he strolled around the
round from commentary box to
Iember's stand - but would not
ave appreciated some of the com
lents drowned by the hosannas of
hildren - not least those suggesting
hat he ought to maintain his record
if being seen with winners and never
nith losers by doing a disappearing
act.
The player of the match, however,
has to be to the Australian Federal
policeman who felled with a stylish
rugby tackle on the pitch an en
thusiast who had wanted to shake
Peter Faulkner's hand on his scoring
50. The applause for the feat matched
Mr Faulkner's own ovation. Mr
Faulkner did not seem so bothered at
someone wanting to share his
limelight; he retrieved the fellow's hat
some yards away and walked some
distance to hand it to him.
As sporting as Allan Border, who
accepted a drink from a yobbo who
had wanted to share in his glory at
getting 100.
No child could have been unhappy
at the co-operativeness of the West
Indians in doling out autographs; in
deed, Clive Lloyd seemed at times to
be rotating his team about the outfield
to give everyone almost a full hand.
The Australians, as ever, seemed sur
lier about doing so.
Manuka lacks not only a decent
Hill, but a decent Hill denizen. The
drunken yobboes at Manuka, taken
individually, were as rebarbative as
anything Sydney has to offer - how
we longed for three gents standing
awkwardly on 12-gallon garbage tins
to lose their footing - but collective
ly, added little to the barracking or to
the good humour of the crowd and the
players.
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd on his way to a half-century in his side's win over the Prime Minister's XI yesterdav. Australian captain Allan Border plays defensively. Rod Marsh leaps for the ball behind the stumps. A scction of the huge crowd al Manuka Oval. Simon O'Donncll, running in from fence, catchcs Viv Richards. Peter Faulkner winds up for another delivery as Larry Gomes looks on. A close call, but Simon O'Donncll is safe. Help
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd on his way to a half-century in his side's win over the Prime Minister's XI yesterdav.
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd on his way to a half-century in his side's win over the Prime Minister's XI yesterdav. Australian captain Allan Border plays defensively. Rod Marsh leaps for the ball behind the stumps. A scction of the huge crowd al Manuka Oval. Simon O'Donncll, running in from fence, catchcs Viv Richards. Peter Faulkner winds up for another delivery as Larry Gomes looks on. A close call, but Simon O'Donncll is safe. Help
Australian captain Allan Border plays defensively.
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd on his way to a half-century in his side's win over the Prime Minister's XI yesterdav. Australian captain Allan Border plays defensively. Rod Marsh leaps for the ball behind the stumps. A scction of the huge crowd al Manuka Oval. Simon O'Donncll, running in from fence, catchcs Viv Richards. Peter Faulkner winds up for another delivery as Larry Gomes looks on. A close call, but Simon O'Donncll is safe. Help
Rod Marsh leaps for the ball behind the stumps.
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd on his way to a half-century in his side's win over the Prime Minister's XI yesterdav. Australian captain Allan Border plays defensively. Rod Marsh leaps for the ball behind the stumps. A scction of the huge crowd al Manuka Oval. Simon O'Donncll, running in from fence, catchcs Viv Richards. Peter Faulkner winds up for another delivery as Larry Gomes looks on. A close call, but Simon O'Donncll is safe. Help
A scction of the huge crowd al Manuka Oval.
L
Pictures: Peter Rae
and Peter Wells
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd on his way to a half-century in his side's win over the Prime Minister's XI yesterdav. Australian captain Allan Border plays defensively. Rod Marsh leaps for the ball behind the stumps. A scction of the huge crowd al Manuka Oval. Simon O'Donncll, running in from fence, catchcs Viv Richards. Peter Faulkner winds up for another delivery as Larry Gomes looks on. A close call, but Simon O'Donncll is safe. Help
Simon O'Donncll, running in from
fence, catchcs Viv Richards.
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd on his way to a half-century in his side's win over the Prime Minister's XI yesterdav. Australian captain Allan Border plays defensively. Rod Marsh leaps for the ball behind the stumps. A scction of the huge crowd al Manuka Oval. Simon O'Donncll, running in from fence, catchcs Viv Richards. Peter Faulkner winds up for another delivery as Larry Gomes looks on. A close call, but Simon O'Donncll is safe. Help
Peter Faulkner winds up for another delivery as Larry Gomes looks on.
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd on his way to a half-century in his side's win over the Prime Minister's XI yesterdav. Australian captain Allan Border plays defensively. Rod Marsh leaps for the ball behind the stumps. A scction of the huge crowd al Manuka Oval. Simon O'Donncll, running in from fence, catchcs Viv Richards. Peter Faulkner winds up for another delivery as Larry Gomes looks on. A close call, but Simon O'Donncll is safe. Help
A close call, but Simon O'Donncll is safe.
$