Canty connection rears in English test team (29 June 1999)

29 June 1999

Canty connection rears in English test team

Kevin Tutty

The Riccarton Cricket Club will have to consider a new honours board at its Hagley Oval pavilion ... for club members who have been selected for England.

Two old boys, Andy Caddick and Aftab Habib, have been chosen in the England team named yesterday for the first test against New Zealand starting at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Thursday.

Habib, who played the last two seasons for Riccarton will make his debut. Caddick, who started his senior career with the club in 1987 before travelling to England to extend his horizons, has been recalled to the side.

Habib played five Shell Cup games and two cricket max games for Canterbury in the 1997-98 season, but was not selected for Canterbury last season.

"Aftab didn't feature too much last season," said Canterbury coach, Garry MacDonald.

"He lost a bit of form when he came here, but he is still a very good player ... good enough to play at the highest level.

"The only question I have is whether he is mentally tough enough to make the next step. If he does he will be fine. He can work the ball on both sides of the wicket, he plays spin bowling well and eats medium pacers.

"The best chance for New Zealand is for the pace bowlers to bend their backs when they are bowling to him early in his innings."

Habib played five Shell Cup games for Canterbury and scored 83 runs at an average of 20.75. For Riccarton he averaged 53.92 in one-day games over two seasons, and 37.82 in two-day games.

Tim Murdoch, who was involved in the negotiations to get Habib to Riccarton, said it was unlikely he would return next season.

"We left it open when he went back to England, but he thought it unlikely he would return. He was disappointed when he didn't make any of the various England teams last year and he struggled here last summer.

"I think he has probably done his time here. And his price has probably gone up now," quipped Murdoch.

If Habib retains his place in the England team he will be on a four-month tour of South Africa next summer.

Habib, 27, was born in Reading. Last English season he averaged 61.93 for the championship winner, Leicestershire, and this year has scored 561 in eight games at 51.

Caddick's impressive performances for Somerset in the last season and a half have been recognised by the new selection panel.

Last year he bowled the most overs in English first-class cricket -- 687 -- and took 105 wickets at 19.82. Courtney Walsh with 106 took most wickets.

Caddick has continued in the same mode this year. He has bowled 375 overs -- the only bowler over 300 -- and has 42 wickets at 21.64. He is one of two bowlers with more than 40 wickets.

The full England team is: Nasser Hussain (captain), Mark Butcher, Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe, Mark Ramprakash, Aftab Habib, Chris Read, Andy Caddick, Alan Mullally, Alex Tudor, Phil Tufnell, Chris Silverwood, Dean Headley.

Source :: The Christchurch Press