'Rat Race' Too Much For Fred Titmus (08 Apr 1996)

Monday April 8 1996

`Rat race` too much for Titmus

By Charles Randall

FRED TITMUS yesterday withdrew from the nine-man England selectors contest, saying it had developed into a "rat race" which the counties had not thought through.

Titmus, who was standing for re-election in the postal ballot, telephoned his decision to Ray Illingworth, chairman of selectors, when he learnt that the final list of candidates for the two vacancies had grown to one of the longest on record.

There could have been 10 candidates as Peter Willey`s name was apparently forwarded and then withdrawn due to his umpiring commitments.

Titmus, 63, who played 53 Tests for England, said: "I`m a little upset at the rat-race it has developed into. With these late nominations I`m sure a lot of the counties haven`t quite thought out what this entails.

"It was almost as though they were nominating people for the sake of nomination. I think the job is more important than that, and I don`t want to be involved in something that is done on that basis."

Although Illingworth`s selectors did a satisfactory job in the home West Indies series last year, it became apparent this week that Titmus would fall victim to calls for younger selectors after England`s poor World Cup showing. Titmus said: "I`m quite happy to compete against anybody but this leaves a nasty taste in the mouth."

Illingworth said: "I`m disappointed because, whatever is said about older men, you can tell a good cricketer when you see one."

The eight remaining candidates were David Graveney, Titmus`s panel colleague for the past year, Brian Bolus, John Edrich, Geoff Miller, Ian Botham, Chris Cowdrey and current players Graham Gooch and Kim Barnett.

The Test and County Cricket Board this week reminded counties that, to elect a full-time media man as a selector, went against a "principle" set last year by the executive committee. The Lord`s authorities denied yesterday that the TCCB letter was aimed specifically at Botham. The ballot result is expected on April 18.

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