Paul Newman: Law seeks opportunity to do justice (31 August 1997)

Sunday 31 August 1997

Law seeks opportunity to do justice

By Paul Newman

STUART LAW will make two important phone calls when he returns home to Brisbane next month. The recipients will be Geoff Marsh and Trevor Hohns, Australia`s coach and chairman of selectors, and the question will be the same. What do I have to do to get back in favour?

Anyone who has seen Law, 28, at Essex must wonder how he can be ignored for his country`s Test squad. Such has been his dominance of county bowlers that his early dismissal in Saturday`s NatWest Trophy final against Warwickshire would be a near fatal blow to Essex`s hopes.

"I don`t think it`s because I haven`t got the ability," said the Queensland captain on his failure to add to his solitary Test appearance. "It might be my attitude, but if that`s the case I`ll change. Thing is, putting runs on the board day in, day out is not enough and they train people like robots now. If I have to go to the gym at 6am I`ll do it, but it would be nice to be told what I`ve done wrong. All I ask is for three Tests - if I don`t score runs I`ll forget it."

There is one theory on Law`s absence. That he is too outspoken and aggressive for the Australians. And if he is too aggressive for Australia, then this is clearly not a meek man.

"When I walk out on a ground I consider myself to be tough but that doesn`t mean I punch blokes," said Law. "I just want people to know I`m not going to back down. I first started playing district cricket at 15 and I was called all the names under the sun. The umpires just said to me, `Mate, that`s what it`s all about`. It`s water off a duck`s back now and I`ve reached a stage where I can say to an opponent, `Don`t mess with me`."

He said a few other things, too, to Glamorgan`s Darren Thomas during the explosive NatWest semi-final at Chelmsford when he was on the receiving end of a beamer. The repercussions still rumble on and Law, at the behest of Lord`s, was this week fined -L300 by Essex and reprimanded along with his colleague Ronnie Irani. It will not change Law`s approach.

"I don`t see anything wrong with sledging as long as it`s not personal," said Law. "What was I supposed to do when he bowled me a beamer? Pat him on the back? It could easily have hit my face and as it was it broke my finger, so I don`t think I over-reacted. The commentators said I was milking it, but it doesn`t hurt from the commentary box. I might have said a few things I regret now but in the heat of the moment you can`t help it. That`s the way I am. I never carry anything on after a match. If an opponent won`t have a drink with me I feel that`s a sign of weakness - they can go off and cry as far as I`m concerned."

Now the man who missed last year`s debacle at the hands of Lancashire because he was on one-day international duty in Sri Lanka - "Mark Waugh told me he`d heard Essex were all out for 60 but I thought he was joking. Anyway, he was wrong. It was 57." - can state his Australian case when he takes on Allan Donald at Lord`s.

Then Law, who will be preferred to Mark Waugh as the Essex overseas player next year, is looking forward to meeting up with Thomas again in the championship at Cardiff. "I`ve been given a photo of the beamer hitting me," added Law. "I think I`ll take it down for Darren to sign. It might come in handy for a benefit!"

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