Indian may axe go-slow Sunil Gavaskar. On the June 7th, 1975 match against England. A sun-drenched Lord’s was packed to watch England play India in the opening round of the inaugural Prudential World Cup 1975. What they got was a petulant inning of 36 off 174 balls from Sunil Gavaskar.
Sunil Gavaskar the Indian vice-captain is in danger of being dropped as a disciplinary measure for Wednesday’s World Cup 1975 clash with East Africa at Headingley. The Indian world-class opener ridiculed national prestige by using Saturday’s match against England at Lord’s on 7th June 1975, for batting practice.
Manager Gopinath Ramchand made this clear yesterday when he told me: A batsman who can score only 32 after batting through an 80-over inning of 132 for three has no ease at all so far as I’m concerned.
Selfish
It was the most disgracefully selfish performance I have ever seen on cricket and the dropping. Sunil Gavaskar will be discussed at great length when our tour committee will meet tomorrow. Ironically Sunil Gavaskar is a high-quality performer who amassed a record 774 runs aggregate from four Tests in the West Indies four years ago. As a member of that three-man committee, so are Ramchand and the captain, Venkataraghavan, and such is their bitterness at the moment that believes Gavaskar will need the devil’s own luck to escape with mare caution.
Ramchand is still fuming at the senselessness of a situation that six times brought Indian Supporters onto the field in angry protest added cuttingly: Gavaskar’s excuse was that the wicket was too slow for him to play shots. “Frankly, that was a stupid thing to say after England bad won the match with 34 for four.
I even told him during his innings to get himself gut if he found the wicket too slow. “The entire party is upset about it because the most ridiculous thing of all was the effect Gavaskar’s attitude had on Brijesh Patel normally our most adventurous batsman. By the end of the match, he was pushing the ball back to the bowler in just the same way.”
Promises
Gopinath Ramchand has now promised a completely new World Cup deal from India. He says: I guarantee we shall make amends from now on. Every player in the party will be told personally that he must get runs or get out “Our national pride is important to be thrown away at Lord’s like this. Lord’s are not unduly alarmed by Saturday’s invasions of the pitch ‘and plan no police reinforcement for future matches.
But MCC secretary Jack Bailey confirmed: “Anybody who comes on to the playing area will be liable to be removed from the ground.” Meanwhile, after four matches, it is More or less possible to read the competitions as far as the last four.
Massive
In Group, A. England massive victory stemming from Dennis Amiss 137 vies with one Just, as convincing, New “Zealand’s over East Africa. The two countries meet in Nottingham on Wednesday with both. It is believed, that certain to qualify’ because the loser has the consolation of a soft one against East Africa (England) or India (New Zealand).
The key to the powerful Group B rests with Pakistan, as they fall to West Indies at Edgbaston, as is likely, and then Australia will join the favorites with victory over Sri Lanka. ‘If not, then the situation could reach the intriguing point of a triple tie with the odd one out determined by odd one out determined.
