Date-stamped : 30 Nov93 - 19:54 Eng v Ind, ODI4, 1 Mar 93, Scoring Charts Runs / Over 18| 16| 14| Ind 12| 10| | | 8| | | | || | 6| | | | | | ||| ||| | 4| | | ||| | || ||||| ||| | 2|||_||_||||||||||||||||||||___.____.____.____.____. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 18| 16| 14| Eng 12| 10| ||| 8| | | | |||| 6| || | | | |||| |||| 4| ||| | | || ||||| |||||| 2|||||||_|||||||||||||||||||___.____.____.____.____. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Thanks to Sridhar Venkataraman on r.s.c. Contributed by probal (probal@*rutgers.edu) The Guardian 1 March 1993 - Smith sees future as England opener - David Hopps in Jamshedpur IT WAS around these parts, in the eastern state of Bihar, that the Buddha is said to have found enlightenment under a banyan tree. Beneath the ochre fumes of the Tata steelworks, England will settle today for something more humdrum, namely a 31 lead in the one-day series and the recovery of a little more self-respect. Cricket is often proclaimed as a spiritual game but in a frantic international here it would be unwise to expect too much. One of the principal attractions of the Buddha is his human im- perfections. He existed for two years on a single grain of rice per day, then for four more years eating nothing at all. He then concluded that starvation was not the way forward. England, who have eked out a meagre existence on the field, came to that con- clusion weeks ago. Robin Smith, though, might benefit from the tour far more than he initially realised. His own human frailties have been laid bare as he has doggedly sought even a chink of light about how to bat on turning pitches. There are easier places to start than in front of 80,000 fervent Indians on a sharply turning pitch in Calcutta. If Smith was only partially successful, it was not for the want of trying. But the chastening experience might have revealed his long-term future: his enthusiasm has visibly developed for the role of opening batsman. ''I hope Graham Gooch will still be around against Australia next summer, and, if I'm selected, I'll be just as happy to play in the middle order,'' he said. ''But I see opening as an option, certainly on next winter's tour to the West Indies. I enjoy tak- ing on the fast bowlers.'' Gooch's tactical retreat to No. 6 for the last four one-day games, while sad and unnecessary, allows England the chance to examine Smith's opening credentials at some length. He has equipped himself reasonably well, scoring 17 and 56 in the Madras Test when Gooch dropped out with food poisoning, and 29 in Friday's one-day international in Bangalore. A hard and bouncy pitch here offered him further cause for opti- mism. If he does open in the West Indies, where his fondness for taking on the challenge against the quicks would be tested to the limits, life would be nothing if not interesting. Jamshedpur is one of India's more inaccessible venues. The Aus- tralians played here nine years ago but the luggage van tran- sporting their kit from Calcutta was delayed and the match was reduced to 25 overs a side before being abandoned because of rain amid widespread irritation. By chartering a small plane from Calcutta, England's travelling time between Bangalore and Jamshedpur was kept to around 12 hours. Others were not so fortunate, including the MCC president Dennis Silk, who spent nearer 30 hours in transit from the time he waved goodbye to his suitcases. Nothing about modern touring can unsettle him after an MCC visit to New Zealand more than 30 years ago in which the players were billeted out for the entire trip. Silk, the captain, broke three fingers before he was over the jet lag and hardly played again. ''I'm following the team in my capacity as MCC president, but I don't feel it is right to intrude upon their privacy,'' he said. it.'' Silk's refusal to ask favours, a course not always followed by those of similar standing, enabled him to sample a rigorous jour- ney. It began predictably with a four-hour flight delay, and gained in notoriety when the Indian Airlines flight hit an air pocket a few minutes from landing: the screams from the flight deck, which were inadvertently picked up by the intercom, pos- sessed the mix of excitement and apprehension more commonly asso- ciated with a funfair roller coaster. MCC's president then happily experienced a pothole-ridden coach journey, a brief roadside flirtation with some half-hearted dacoites (Indian highwaymen), a tandoori omelette at a basic roadside stopover and an Indian coach driver who could not find the hotel but was reluctant to admit it. Silk was born in Eureka, California, so can also claim to know a thing or two about en- lightenment. Jamshedpur is not only dominated by the Tata steel company, it is virtually run by it. Formed in 1912, it holds a 99-year lease on the city from the Indian government. Plans to liberalise the steel industry, including the removal of tariffs and easing of price controls, have led to an uncertain future. Tata Steel is now in the hands of Jamshedji Rustomji Tata, the son of the founder and now well into his 80s. His appearance to- day, at one of two sports grounds owned by the company - a more modern football stadium stands alongside - was keenly anticipat- ed. ''Mr Tata doesn't like VIP treatment,'' said one official, be- fore pointing to a position alongside the sightscreen and adding: ENGLAND 12: Gooch (capt), Smith, Stewart, Hick, Gatting, Fair- brother, Lewis, Reeve, Jarvis, DeFreitas, Malcolm, Emburey. The Guardian 2 March 1993 - England protest at hail of missiles - David Hopps In Jamshedpur Fourth one-day international: India v England ENGLAND's team manager Keith Fletcher has appealed to the Indian authorities to take immediate steps to prevent a repeat of the crowd disturbances yesterday which placed players on both sides at risk of serious injury. To field on the boundary edge as objects rained from the ter- races was to be placed in persistent physical danger. Players on both sides were bombarded with lumps of concrete, bricks, glass bottles and earthenware pots. Devon Malcolm, mis- fielding under a hail of stones, narrowly missed being struck by an 8in steel bolt which embedded itself in the turf. The bolt was passed on to the match referee Cammie Smith who forwarded it to Indian officials along with Fletcher's formal complaint. As the stadium is surrounded by steel mills, police are likely to narrow down the suspects to about 40,000 employees. England's six-wicket victory, which put them 31 up in the six- match series, was achieved with only two balls remaining in a de- valued contest reduced by rain to 26 overs. Paper aeroplanes, water bombs and cold curry are commonly thrown on to the outfield by high-spirited Indian crowds seeking a spot of light relief. But this behaviour had more sinister implica- tions. Long before the end any pretence at crowd control had vanished. The police, who have been quick to beat spectators locked outside the ground with valid tickets throughout this one-day series, viewed the events with breathtaking indolence. ''It is not going to be long before a player is seriously in- jured in this country,'' said Fletcher. ''The Indians have got to get their act together as far as crowd control is concerned be- fore the next World Cup. ''The behaviour was totally unacceptable. The police did nothing about it. There were certain places where you could not ask a player to field tight to the rope.'' G Y Lele, joint secretary of the Indian Cricket Board of Con- trol, blamed the disturbances on spectators trying to get them- selves on television and also on the rough handling by stewards of a few spectators who ran on to the outfield. ''People object to being beaten by volunteers rather than the police,'' he said. ''We told the volunteers that if they wanted to beat someone they should take them outside and do it. We are taking this matter very seriously.'' For courage in the face of adversity Neil Fairbrother's unbeaten half-century also merited praise. His reputation as one of the world's finest one-day batsmen was enhanced by a perfectly paced innings, most of which he hobbled through with the assistance of a runner. Fairbrother, who had suffered bruising on the inside of the left knee in Bangalore, was struck there twice more yesterday by the Indian fast bowler Salil Ankola, crying out the second time in pain and disbelief. As his one-day game is heavily based on hectic ones and twos, and the adrenalin surge which goes with it, Fairbrother risks be- ing unsettled by a runner more than most. This seemed particular- ly likely when he was joined by Smith who had just run himself out attempting a ludicrous third to Ankola fielding at third man. As it was, Smith proved a perfect judge. With 138 needed, England had been in mild disarray at 43 for three. But Kumble's leg-spin was mellowed by a sound pitch, and Fairbrother found stout support from Lewis, victim of an abysmal lbw decision, and Reeve. Fairbrother's most adventurous footwork was a pirouette, per- formed after he had been hit on the knee while Smith ran a leg- bye on his behalf. His most crucial footwork manufactured an on- drive for four against Srinath which reduced a target of 35 off the last four overs to manageable proportions. There is no more scientific slogger in the game. Prabhakar had some sly old tricks in store, including a head- high full toss which, had it been quicker, would have been clas- sified as a beamer. With the scores level Fairbrother slashed him through the covers for a most satisfying final boundary. Jamshedpur might have been Rotherham in early May as the smoke stacks discharged polution into a murky sky. Cooler temperatures and a firm pitch encouraged England's all-seam attack into a con- trolled performance which limited India to 137 for seven. Since England ended the Test series with relief, the balance has shifted. Sidhu, as depressed at the absence of an English spinner as a child shorn of a favourite toy, stared mournfully skywards when faced by Malcolm, hoping for either a wide or bad light. Kambli, after blocking one delivery from Lewis on the forearm, a disconcerting reminder of an injury earlier in the tour, was run out by a remarkably slick pick-up and throw by Malcolm at third man. Tendulkar had an air of desperation about him before he fell to Jarvis's yorker, and there was even an excellent catch for the old fella Gooch, pocketed over his shoulder at mid-off in a manner to take years off him. England were in the wars again yesterday. As well as Fairbrother's injury, Stewart pulled out with back spasms (which forced Gooch to open) and Gatting left the field unwell. With Gooch heading home at the end of the week, England have limited batting cover. But all three players should be fit within two or three days, and there are no plans to request a replace- ment in Sri Lanka. The Guardian 3 March 1993 - England refuse to face another bar- rage - David Hopps In Gwalior England's management yesterday reacted to the missile-throwing which marred Monday's one-day international in Jamshedpur by cal- ling for an emergency meeting with the Indian authorities to en- sure that there is no repeat tomorrow. If there is, England will consider taking their players off the field. No one should be surprised if England line up with four slips, two gullies and three short legs. Mike Brearley, who once put every English fielder on the boundary, including the wicketkeeper David Bairstow, to win a one-day game in Sydney, was subject to nothing worse than a barrage of abuse. If Graham Gooch risks the same here, he might not have a fit XI to call upon for the final international on Friday. ''Bihar is a lawless state,'' Raj Singh, an influential member of the Indian board, said yesterday. ''People are restless. Fifty per cent of them live below the poverty line, and cricket is a manifestation of social attitudes.'' Such an analysis, though accurate enough in itself, hardly ex- cuses the scenes which occurred. Bombay had barely returned to peace after the worst communal violence since partition, yet ef- ficient policing during the third Test a fortnight ago ensured that a vibrant crowd never turned sour - apart from a battery thrown at Phillip DeFreitas. In Jamshedpur, by contrast, the troubles were predictable. ''We have a law-and-order problem - and the problem is the law,'' a spokeswoman for Tata, the steel company which dominates the town, admitted before the game. A police strike was abandoned with obvious reluctance. Security duties were carried out before the start by policemen in civvies, and during the game, when the violence was at its height, police stood idly in the gangways with no intention to intervene. It was an exercise in irresponsibility. For Madhavrao Scindia, president of the Indian board and the Maharaja of Gwalior, England's visit has moved full circle. When the tour began he was civil aviation minister during a pilots' strike (a position from which he has since resigned). From con- cerning himself with whether planes would take off, he now wor- ries where the rocks will land. The charter flight carrying both the England and India teams from Jamshedpur yesterday was not without incident. The plane landed despite a hydraulic malfunction when a bird made a hole in the fuselage. Only when the pilot revealed the difficulties after landing were the players aware of the situation. The joint secretary of the board has promised that plain-clothes policemen will be stationed within the Gwalior crowd to keep the peace, a tactic which was used with success in Bombay. But Gwalior has had its share of trouble: in 1991 the India opener Navjot Sidhu was hit by a rock during South Africa's tour. Sidhu has bombarded the crowd with sixes ever since. Even two more England one-day victories, which would give them a 51 series win, would not begin to erase the embarrassment they suffered in the Tests. But this is a more resilient squad than many people, despairing at their failure, are willing to recognise. Neil Fairbrother, whose gutsy half-century brought a last-over victory in Jamshedpur, was not merely churning out a familiar platitude when he said: ''We are all very conscious after our Test defeats of giving it everything we've got.'' Such integrity runs throughout this party. For them to be misrepresented back in England as a slovenly squad, moaning their way through India, is a fate they do not deserve. If Test cricket is largely won by skill, technique and variety, then one-day cricket often falls to the side with the greater honesty, discipline and team spirit. This one-day series matters little, but England can salvage some personal pride. 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