England 'A' Tour: Betts injury adds to the frustration (8 February 1999)

8 February 1999

England 'A' Tour: Betts injury adds to the frustration

By Charles Randall in Bulawayo

THE injury to Melvyn Betts and heavy rain have intensified the frustration now being felt among the England A party.

England arrived in Bulawayo yesterday morning to find puddles on the ground and facing the possibility of more weather interruption in the second Test against Zimbabwe A, which starts at Queen's tomorrow.

The rain ruined the first Test in Harare, though positive aspects did emerge. Darren Thomas's eight wickets was a notable achievement, and Andrew Flintoff enhanced his standing with his disciplined 80 not out on a tricky pitch.

Betts pulled up at the start of the Zimbabwean second innings on Friday after bowling four balls and walked slowly off for treatment to his right leg. The injury was not a repeat of his groin tear, which required an operation and ended his Durham season in mid-August, but it was probably connected.

If he is slow to respond to treatment, England's management might be forced to send for a seam-bowling replacement for the South African part of the tour in two weeks' time, having already lost Paul Hutchison to injury.

The main problem on the tour remains the appalling weather and the feeling of helplessness caused by the lack of cricket. John Emburey, the coach, said: "It's making the players frustrated. They've done a lot of training and they're getting tired of that.

"At this rate it's not going to be easy for me to do reports on the players, because they haven't done much cricket. It's frustrating for The Management too, as success on the field tends to reflect well on us."

England intend to give the three players omitted from the Harare five-dayer a chance in Bulawayo.

1ST A TEST.- Harare: Zimbabwe A 160 (S D Thomas 8-50) & 20-1; England A 192 (A Flintoff 80 no). Match drawn.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)