Bryden C: Rice`s Golden Oldies seek Windies date (17 Mar 95)

Rice`s Golden Oldies seek Windies date - Colin Bryden

Clive Rice, never afraid of hyperbole, says Masters cricket could become the cricketing equivalent of the seniors golf tour.

Fired with enthusiasm after leading South Africa to third place in the over-35 tournament which ended in Bombay last week-end, Rice said the event was so successful that it could expand into a money-spinning international circuit. The former SA captain said there was a possibility of a three-team qualifying event being staged in South Africa next season, involving the powerful West Indies team, which won in Bombay; South Africa and Zimbabwe, with two teams going to Bombay in March. Rice could run into problems, however. Ali Bacher, MD of the United Cricket Board, warned that no cricket could be staged on major SA grounds without the sanction of the UCB, in which case television rights would have to be negotiated through the UCB`s agents.

The Bombay tournament was organised by Rupert Murdoch`s Star and Sky TV stations.

There were also murmurings within the UCB about the shortage of formerly disadvantaged players in Rice`s team, despite the inclusion of Saaiet Majiet, Omar Henry and Baboo Ebrahim. Rice is wary about the UCB becoming involved. At the moment, he is the supremo of South African over-35 cricket. He picked the side together with Graeme Pollock and Vintcent van der Bijl and has no plans to relinquish control. "The players don`t have contracts with ant provincial or national body, their deal is with the organisers. My job is to ensure the best possible South African team competes. I`ll have anyone on my side if they`re good enough to face Sylvester Clarke or bowl to Viv Richards."

He said it was necessary to pick a highly competitive team to take on the likes of the West Indies, whose team was packed with recent stars such s Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Joel Garner, Jeff Dujon and Gus Logie.

By contrast, the South Africans were somewhat vulnerable, although there were moments which proved that class knows no age barriers. Pollock, 50, and Barry Richards, 49, came together in a partnership of 88 in the third place play-off against England and that revived memories of their century stand in an hour against Australia 25years ago. Richards made a century against England and Pollock scored 45. The previous day Pollock hit 60 against the West Indies...

South Africa`s cause was undermined by muscle injuries to Van der Bijl, Ken McEwan and Kevin McKenzie. "Some of our players didn`t realise quite how competitive it was going to be. They`ll know better next time," growled Rice.