Cricket: Chappell plays a straight bat

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Trevor Chappell played it straight as he deflected reference to the infamous underarm incident. He preferred, instead, to talk of rising Bangladeshi batting star Mohammad Ashraful and other players.

Chappell, coach of the Bangladesh team who arrived in Auckland yesterday at the start of their four-match tour, made no great predictions but did speak enthusiastically about Ashraful and others worth a look.

Cast into the role of spokesman as the government-appointed manager and assistant manager await visas in Dhaka, Chappell said Ashraful was a useful performer with bat and ball.

Understating the youngster's ability? Perhaps.

Ashraful has, after all, already claimed a place in cricket history.

Despite being on the wrong end of an innings and 137-run loss to Sri Lanka - that country's biggest win in 112 tests - last September, Bangladesh carved out their own piece of test lore when Ashraful, batting at No 6, became the youngest player to score a test century - and on debut.

At just 17 years 63 days, he beat the 30-year-old record set by famous Pakistani Mustaq Mohammad as the youngest test century-maker. He also beat the debut mark set two months earlier by Zimbabwe's Hamilton Masakadza.

While Chappell singled out his young batting star and pace bowlers Manjurul Islam and Masharafi-bin-Murtaza as players to watch, the feeling remained he is keener to see the team as a whole make some progress on this tour, which includes tests in Hamilton and Wellington.

"We will set out trying to win," said Chappell. "But if we find ourselves in a position where that is not possible, then we will be trying not to lose."

That is understandable as Bangaladesh have managed only one (weather-affected) draw and six losses in seven tests since their admission as a test-playing nation.

"Our first step will be in trying to play all five days. When we can do that, we will be looking to win games."

Although Bangladesh has a population of 130 million, their touring party is named from just six first-class teams.

It is their second New Zealand tour. They were here in 1997 with a team which included newly-appointed captain, wicketkeeper Khaled Masud.

Eight of the 15 players who arrived yesterday are back for a second tour.

But, as Chappell pointed out: "Everybody is better than us at present. New Zealand in New Zealand will be difficult."

And, that infamous incident at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 1, 1981?

"I thought that might come up. I have been here a couple of times since - once to play in a benefit match for Bruce Edgar, who was at the other end when it happened.

"I'm still trying to dismiss it and get on with life. Fortunately, we will be gone from here when it [the anniversary of that one-day international] comes around again."

The visitors will have the first of a number of practice sessions at Eden Park this morning.

Their first match, against a Districts Association XI, will be played in Wanganui from Friday to Sunday.