Indians 'not playing ball', says Rixon (19 December 1998)

19 December 1998

Indians 'not playing ball', says Rixon

By Geoff Longley in Dunedin

India's rejection of playing extra time in the first cricket test against New Zealand has been slated as negative by national coach Steve Rixon.

The suggestion came when the opening day of the BNZ series at Carisbrook was lost yesterday to bad light and then rain.

Three attempts were made by the Black Caps to create more playing time in the match, including the unprecedented move of adding an extra day, all of which were shunned by India. New Zealand also wanted to make up lost time on other days of the game and use the Carisbrook lights if poor light was a problem.

India declined to support an experimental law being tried by New Zealand, seemingly for the benefit of all, thus leaving the standard playing conditions to apply.

"It seems there's only one interested party in playing this game and that's us," said Rixon.

"I'm disappointed because I don't understand their thinking. We are supposedly the underdogs and I thought they would have wanted as much play as possible.

"We have an in-built philosophy that we want to play if at all possible. You can't win too many games in the dressing room."

Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad said the offer of extending play to Wednesday after the first day was washed out was not taking into account the pressure it placed on the players.

"It would then have given us just one day to prepare for the second test (starting December 26), and our team has been one of the busiest on the international scene this year."

As for refusing to embrace the experimental playing laws regarding lights and extra time, Gaekwad said India wanted to stick to the existing International Cricket Council laws.

Gaekwad said lights had been used in India during a Ranji Trophy first-class match and there had been problems distinguishing the red ball as it became older and dirtier. "Sighting the ball was a problem for the batsmen and fielders," Gaekwad said, although umpires still had the option of coming off if there were problems.

If India had agreed to an extra hour's play it would have been added to the remaining four days (the equivalent of two sessions) with half an hour at the start of play and the other 30min at the finish. That happened recently in the first Australia-England Ashes tests with England agreeing to the proposal although rejecting the lights' clause.

Had play started in Dunedin when the conditions were marginal earlier in the day, the lights could have been used and some play would have been possible.

ICC match referee Barry Jarman left no doubts about his feeling on the issue which favoured making up for extra time if at all possible.

"I think it is a good experimental law which is for the betterment of the game. You never know, India may well regret turning it down because they might be needing just a bit extra time for a result on the last day."

Jarman said there should be a Law 43 added to the MCC rules -- common sense. He said there could be a different outcome of discussions on the same issue when New Zealand plays South Africa in the next series during February and March.

South Africa has already played tests under floodlights and has been innovative since its return to the international arena for maximising playing time.

An outright result in still possible in the abbreviated four-day cricket test match between New Zealand and India which should, weather permitting, start today, both coaches believe.

Despite New Zealand being upset about India's reluctance to make up for lost time, Black Caps coach Steve Rixon still feels there are victory chances for either side.

"I'm reasonably confident we will still get a result, but there is little or no room for error now. If we lose another half day here or there that could be it," he said.

Rixon said the lost day heightened the importance of winning the toss and bowling first with the pitch freshening further having spent a day under cover. "Two good sessions on a wicket offering sideways movement and still hard could make things very interesting. The young grass should stay juicier for longer," he said.

Rixon felt the Black Caps' attitude in wanting to play, win or lose, had shown them to be the aggressor and hoped that would translate on to the playing field.

India also want to bowl first, said coach Anshuman Gaekwad.

The day's delay has been of benefit to India, enabling likely opening batsman Ajay Jadeja extra time to recover after rolling an ankle during a warm-up football game on the eve of the match.

The washout left New Zealand umpire Steve Dunne still waiting to control a test in his home city after his initial debut was prevented 10 seasons ago when the entire New Zealand-Pakistan test was abandoned.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)