Happy days for the Reiffels (18 June 1997)
PAUL REIFFEL made hints about retiring from cricket at the age of 31 when he was omitted from the Australian tour party two months ago, so he was understandably elated yesterday when he was told he would be playing in the second Test against
18-Jun-1997
Wednesday 18 June 1997
Happy days for the Reiffels
By Charles Randall
PAUL REIFFEL made hints about retiring from cricket at the age of
31 when he was omitted from the Australian tour party two months
ago, so he was understandably elated yesterday when he was
told he would be playing in the second Test against England at
Lord`s, which starts tomorrow.
Reiffel, from Melbourne, has played 25 Tests for Australia and he
took 19 wickets in three matches during the last Ashes series
in England in 1993, but he has never played at Lord`s for his
country.
The Victorian has built up an affinity with England, especially
the North, playing several league summers in Lancashire and finding himself a Blackpool wife, Janet, who was hoping to give
birth to their first child in the United Kingdom - until the
bombshell of the tour party announcement.
Now the Reiffel family should be content. After Reiffel`s
emergency call-up to replace Andrew Bichel on tour, he deputises
for the injured Jason Gillespie in the Test team, and his
wife`s birth-place plans should be fulfilled after all.
The Australians practised at Lord`s yesterday morning. England
took over the nets in the afternoon and announced that Adam
Hol- lioake would be released from their 13 to join Surrey for
their championship game at Worcester today.
David Lloyd, England`s coach, repeated his warning against
complacency after his team`s nine-wicket triumph in the first
Test at Edgbaston. He said: "We celebrated, quite rightly,
but we`re fully aware that we`ve a long way to go. Nothing
changes. We`re playing the best team in the world, and
they`ll definitely come back at us. We have to be ready for
that."
And England`s sad record at Lord`s against Australia, no win
since 1934? "It concerns other people rather than us," Lloyd
said.
The moisture in the air and in the pitch yesterday suggested conditions could suit Reiffel`s medium-paced seam bowling tomorrow. Reiffel could prove to be a dangerous opponent on a relaid strip last used for the low-scoring NatWest Trophy final
last September.
With his lean, weathered face and pistol-shaped ear-stud, he was
yesterday swamped with the sort of media interest usually reserved for Shane Warne. He is an unassuming character, whose
laid back demeanour has occasionally been misinterpreted by the
Australian public for a lack of effort and passion. He repeated
yesterday: "It`s great to be back."
Reiffel had an unexpected two months off before his call-up to
England after Australia`s heavy defeat at Edgbaston. He said:
"Maybe it has done me good, having a break.
He declined to comment on his disappointment at the original selection. "I`m not here to score any points or aything like
that," he said. "I`m just here to do well. I found the guys a
little low after the first Test, but they`re very determined to
come back."
Today`s cricket
Britannic Ch`ship (1st day of 4: 11am start).- Derby: Derbys v
Sussex. Darlington: Durham v Kent. Bristol: Gloucs v Middlesex.
Liver- pool: Lancs v Glamorgan. Northampton: Northants v
Hants. Trent Bridge: Notts v Yorks. Bath: Somerset v Leics.
Worcester: Worcs v Surrey.
2nd X1 Ch`ship.- Coggeshall (2nd day of 4): Essex v Middlesex.
1st day of 3: Swansea: Glamorgan v Gloucs. Canterbury: Kent v
Derbys. Middleton: Lancs v Northants. Hinckley: Leics v
Surrey. Taunton: Somerset v Durham. Horsham: Sussex v Warwicks.
Middlesbrough: Yorks v Worcs.
Minor Counties Ch`ship.- St Albans (Final day): Herts v Northumberland. 1st day of 2: Saffron Walden: Cambs v Norfolk. Newport:
Shropshire v Cornwall.
Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)