Cricket Focus (4 July 1999)

4 July 1999

Cricket Focus

The Electronic Telegraph

Roger Twose is considering an audacious return to Warwickshire which could create legal chaos for county cricket.

Twose, who had the most unfortunate of 'homecomings' to Edgbaston with a first Test pair, has approached Dennis Amiss, the Warwickshire chief executive, to register his determination to overcome the hurdles which would inevitably litter his path back to England.

Twose, the Devonian who enjoyed considerable success with Warwickshire in their triple winning season of 1994 before emigrating to New Zealand and qualifying to represent them, wants to return as a non-overseas player and is prepared to take legal advice to aid his quest.

Any restraint of trade action would be potentially calamitous for domestic cricket which could be powerless to resist other overseas players with English backgrounds from earning a living without restriction.

Amiss said: "Roger has spoken to me about this a couple of times and we are monitoring developments."

Edgbaston staged the first Test even though the financial dispute between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Test Match Grounds Consortium had not been resolved.

The dispute, centred around the Test counties' desire to claim a larger share of the revenue accrued by staging international cricket, has been rumbling on all year and talks were continuing during the first two days of the first Test with no staging agreement in place.

"We need to somehow end this now," said Jim Cumbes, the Lancashire chief executive and a leading figure in the consortium. "I'm confident a three-year agreement is imminent but it's unfortunate it has taken this long.

"The ultimate threat would have been to refuse to stage the first Test at Edgbaston but we decided we couldn't let the public down."

Graham Gooch will take the field for his first competitive match since his retirement two years ago when he plays for Sir John Paul Getty's XI against the New Zealanders on July 13.

The England selector and caretaker coach was concerned about rustiness but was told not to worry as Martin Crowe came out of retirement to play at Getty's beautiful ground two years ago after a similar spell on the sidelines. "That was all very well," said Gooch, "until I asked how Martin did. They said, 'Oh, not bad - he scored 143 not out'. So the pressure's on!"

Gooch had hoped to have a 'net' by playing in a benefit match for new England captain Nasser Hussain on the Isle of Wight last week but turned up to find what can only be described as the most sporting of wickets in a ploughed field. He braved the conditions and was disappointed in being asked to retire on 20 not out to allow everyone a bat.

Mike Atherton will see a specialist this week about his back complaint but, contrary to recent speculation, is far from ready for retirement. The injury flared up again after his comeback appearance for Lancashire against Surrey at the Oval, but he said: "I very much hope to be in action again soon."

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