Berry S: England still 'paying' for pardoning Rebels

England still paying for pardoning 'rebel' players Ashes

Tour Moral turpitude of South African climbdown is reflected in selectors' choice Scyld Berry explains why the repercussions of 1992 reprieve continue to be felt in build-up to winter in Australia

The phrase 'moral turpitude' sprang to mind when our powersthat-be persuaded the ICC to pardon England's 'rebel' cricketers, led on their tour of South Africa by Mike Gatting, after only two years of their five-year sentence. It was a decision which still has its consequences, as may be seen from England's tour party to Australia. Because the ban was lifted prematurely in the autumn of 1992, Gatting and John Emburey were selected for that winter's tour of India and Sri Lanka. Had they not been available until April 1993, by when the 'rebels' would have served half their term, David Gower and Shaun Udal would probably have been selected instead. And had Gower gone to India - even if he had been dropped again before Graham Gooch finished as captain - he would surely have hung on in cricket and been available for this winter's trip. Frequently though the sentiment may have been expressed, it is lamentable that Gower is not going: as our finest player of wrist-spin in the post-Packer era, he should have been in England's middle order to deal with Shane Warne, ahead of Gatting, ahead of John Crawley. As it is, we will soon know the worth of our four-day cricket. If the standard of the championship is getting close to Test cricket, Gatting - as the leading county batsman, along with Gooch - will succeed in Australia. I fear, however, that he will not. It is worth repeating that since the Faisalabad Test of 1987, when he played a Dexteresque innings in noble anger, Gatting has averaged 23 in Tests and he has had too many innings -25 of them - to dismiss the sequence as a run of bad luck. Robin Smith is less far past his peak than Gatting is. Lord's has been a prime place for heavy run-scoring this summer and John Carr has had almost as good a record as Gatting, but I have not seen his name canvassed for a Test place. If Emburey had not been taken to India, Udal would certainly have been my choice. A chap who has spent one of his winters working as a groundsman at his local club, Camberley, and who plays for it whenever he can, is the sort of player who has cricket in his bones. Being quicker than Emburey now, Udal would have been the right pace for India, stopping their batsmen foraging down the pitch. Had he done alright there, Udal might have gone to the West Indies last winter, where he would have been a better bet than Ian Salisbury against the four left-handers of the West Indian middle order. Salisbury might just win the odd Test match one day, but I'm afraid he is never going to be a regular Test player. In any event, had there been no moral turpitude in the first place, Udal would have received far more exposure than he has. He has not even been given an 'A' tour, and yet if he makes his Test debut in Sydney, he will be expected to be England's match-winner. Otherwise both parties are tolerably sound. The demise of Angus Fraser signals game, set and match for the TCCB's tour committee: they have concocted an itinerary for this year which no pace bowler has been able to complete (Devon Malcolm was invalided home for half of the West Indies tour). Fraser braved the weather yesterday to turn out for his local club, Stanmore, at Old Deer Park against Richmond. The A tour to India should have included Adam Hollioake, to prepare him for the possibility of being in the World Cup there in 18 months' time.

Thanks :: Sunday Telegraph