Ray Illingworth Runs Risk Of Isolation (08 Apr 1996)

Monday April 8 1996

Illingworth runs risk of isolation

By Paul Newman

RAY Illingworth may be forced to reconsider his position as chairman of the England cricket selectors as the counties prepare to reject the men he wants to work with him for the second year running.

The decision of Fred Titmus to withdraw from the elongated race for two places on the selection panel is a crushing blow for Illingworth, who is faced with becoming an isolated decision-making voice just a year after grabbing total England power for himself.

Only two weeks ago Illingworth was forced to step down as England manager in favour of coach David Lloyd and he would have lost the battle to remain as chairman if David Graveney had been allowed to stand against him.

Early opinion around the country, with counties required to vote for two selectors before April 17 from a list which now comprises eight candidates, suggests that Titmus has merely pre-empted his inevitable defeat by quitting now. Brian Bolus, Illingworth`s other `starred` choice, and John Edrich, now the chairman`s preferred second candidate, face an equally ignominious return unless intense lobbying over the next week can turn the tide of opinion.

Defeat for Illingworth`s men would force the Test and County Cricket Board into reviewing what many consider would be an untenable position that would leave the panel at loggerheads.

"The choice of younger selectors is the way forward," said Gloucestershire chief executive Philip August, who has again nominated Graveney despite the rumpus over his botched candidature for Illingworth`s job. "Players have more respect for people they see as kindred spirits.

"Illingworth`s insistence that the counties should back his choices is something of an anti-vote for them. The cricket world was hugely disappointed when Graveney was forced to pull out of the chairman election and the nomination of so many young candidates now is a positive reaction to that. I can`t see why it`s a problem for David to carry on working with Ray. He tried to challenge for his job in the correct manner - that`s democracy - and if Ray has taken offence at that then it`s a shame."

"He dropped us all in it and made himself look a fool," said one chief executive. "He`s blown it."

The problem with such an open race in a first-past-the-post vote, however, is that the two winners are likely to triumph with only minimal individual support. While the majority of counties, in a Sunday Telegraph survey this week, were adamant that `youth` was the way forward, they offered mixed views as to who were the best bets for office and a second ballot may be needed.

Several expressed reservations about the suitability of a current player - seemingly reducing the chances of Graham Gooch and Kim Barnett - while others felt that Graveney had let both himself and others down by allowing himself to be nominated as chairman before pulling out and leaving Illingworth unopposed. "He dropped us all in it and made himself look a fool," said one chief executive. "He`s blown it."

One name, however, dominated all conversations - Ian Botham. He is the candidate who has inspired the most intense debate and appears to have both supporters and detractors in equal numbers.

Botham is adamant that he will not give up his media interests in the event of him being elected and, I understand, he emphasised the point to Illingworth.

That led to A C Smith`s barely veiled reference to Botham on the counties` voting forms, reminding them that "one candidate" had extensive media commitments. It should not, insist the Botham backers, invalidate his claim.

Botham can, at the very least, expect support from Worcestershire, one of his former counties, Derbyshire, Surrey and champions Warwickshire, but it is the county who made his name that have the biggest reservations about him now.

"Ian has conducted his campaign through A Question of Sport but would his commitments allow him to put the time in?

Somerset are unlikely to back their favourite son, with chief executive Peter Anderson saying: "Ian has conducted his campaign through A Question of Sport but would his commitments allow him to put the time in? The Surrey and Derbyshire chairmen seem to have got a bit carried away with the Botham thing but have they thought it through? He didn`t exactly cover himself in glory as England captain.

"One assumes they have asked the right questions of him to confirm his intentions and if not they should have done. I tend to think Ian`s motivation is to keep his name to the fore so that, in the event of his defeat, he can go back to his television audience and say `well at least I tried to save them`."

All of which leaves Geoff Miller, nominated by Hampshire, and Chris Cowdrey, backed by Kent, with as good a chance as anyone even though Titmus, who was only nominated by Middlesex when Mike Gatting and Paul Downton turned down the chance to stand, said on Friday that Cowdrey`s nomination disappointed him most because of his recent move to unseat Illingworth through the MCC over the Devon Malcolm affair.

If worries over the suitability of current players can be eased before April 17, then Gooch could emerge as a favourite for election over the next few days. Essex, in nominating him, insist that he would be released from playing duty as often as necessary to fulfil his England tasks.

Graham Saville, chairman of the Essex cricket committee, said: "I believe current players and umpires are in the best position to judge a youngster`s ability. Graham knows exactly what is required to become a quality England player."

A C Smith, meanwhile, yesterday indicated that the system for choosing England selectors was in need of an overhaul. Smith, the Test and County Cricket Board`s chief executive, said: "David Acfield`s working party has been charged with looking into all aspects of the running of the England team.

"I have no doubt that the election of selectors comes within those terms of reference. But, for the moment, I have to conduct this ballot - and all elections within the TCCB are democratic."

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