Cricket: Selectors never too safe

By RICHARD BOOCK at the World Cup

Twenty years after his final World Cup game, Sir Richard Hadlee has resumed official duties at the cup - this time in triplicate.

The veteran of the 1975, 1979 and 1983 campaigns has arrived in South Africa to act in his official capacity as chairman of selectors, holding the casting vote on team composition for the duration of the tournament.

The move represents something of a departure from tradition. Most teams abroad draw their tour selectors from within the side, as was the case in Australia last year, when captain Stephen Fleming, vice-captain Chris Cairns and coach Denis Aberhart handled the role.

But not only has Hadlee turned up, he has in tow a pair of security men whose sole task is to shadow his every move, as if the World Cup organisers have uncovered an assassination plot from a group of disgruntled former batsmen.

Wherever Hadlee goes in South Africa, his CPOs (close protection officers) go. Everywhere.

Presumably, if Indian Sanjay Manjrekar (his 400th test victim) or Australian Greg Matthews (humiliated by Hadlee on eight occasions), should leap from the shadows brandishing sawn-off Gunn and Moores, it is these fellows' duty to throw themselves in front of him.

Grassy knolls will be inspected, rooftops will be cleared, and anyone approaching to shake the great bowler's hand will be first taken aside to make sure they are not wearing buzzy rings.

Anyone wanting an audience with the moustachioed one will have to satisfy the CPOs of their authenticity, and woe betide those who cannot name where he took his nine for 52; have not heard of the Ilford second XI; or don't understand the significance of "the car."

Whatever else, the precautions just go to show what a dangerous task selection really is these days, and how lax New Zealand Cricket has been in not appointing bodyguards to protect Hadlee from over-zealous autograph hunters.

If something is not done soon, there is a slim chance that someone soon will find Hadlee dazed, lost for words, and covered in ink stains.

And it is a sobering thought that, at a time when England are moaning about their safety in Zimbabwe, and New Zealand are baulking over Nairobi, the world's greatest fast bowler has only bodyguards and not an armed motorcade.

Worse still, the Herald understands there is no witness relocation programme organised for Hadlee when he returns home, apparently on the grounds that there is no place in the world where he wouldn't be instantly recognised.

It is this, probably, that has the tournament organisers feeling so edgy about hosting such a ready-made target for every unhinged cricket enthusiast in the country.

Doubtless his bodyguards will have a list of potential suspects, possibly headed by the entire 1985 Australian team and Derek Randell's elderly mother.

It's about time they started rounding up these desperadoes.


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