The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 17

THE GUARDIAN Friday July 15 1988 SPORTS MEWS 17 Cricket I Tour de France The mountains take a cruel toll Stepfian Biertoy in L'AIpe d'Huei MikeSelvey will not be touring again. There is no doubt that Cowdrey will brighten the place up: he is a genuinely likeable person. Whether he is a Test match cricketer is a different matter. He has already played in five Tests, during David Gower's successful tour of India in 1984-6, but his 96 runs were scored at an average of 19.2 and his four wickets cost 72 apiece. Cowdrey will now be co-opted on to the selection panel when it meets on' one name that willnot figure on the short list isrthat of Gatting.

Lord's announced yesterday that he feelshe is not in the right frame. oF. mind to give of his best for England. This is the second time this season Gatting! has pulled out of a Test: he-'ttpted out of the second following his loss of the "Not in the right frame ofmind" is a euphemism for stuffed" is not clear. called not Disgusted but Gru-geon of Tunbridge Wells, pointing out that the last time Kent had a similar change of fortunes, they went on to take the title, and noting that the captain on that occasion was Chris's father, Colin.

Now Chris is following in his father's footsteps as England captain. The last time England had three skippers in a series, in 1966, also against West Indies, Cowdrey senior's was one of the heads to roll. Cowdrey was only one of a number of names considered by the selectors. Others included Graham Gooch, Kim Barnett, Mark Nicholas and Peter Wil-ley, with Gooch the most likely if he could be persuaded not only to take the job, but to consider touring again in the winter. Although Gooch was never actually offered the job, he was certainly sounded out, but made it known he would prefer not to be asked, adding that he means of a tape recording: "Your task, should you decide to accept it, will be to thrash West Indies twice.

This tape, in keeping with England's batting so far, will self-destruct in five seconds The chairman of the selectors, Peter May, who by a slightly unfortunate coincidence happens to be Cowdrey's godfather, was publicly lower-key yesterday. "Our performance in the series to date has been disappointing," he said, "and we believe that Chris's style of leadership is what is now required." There is no doubt that Cowdrey has decent credentials this year if results are the criterion, for he has led Kent with such enthusiasm that a pretty ordinary side is some way clear at the top of the championship table. Indeed such has been his impact in that part of the world that it prompted a letter to yesterday's Times from someone FTER what has seemed an eternity of speculation, and dithering, the England- selectors have named Chris Cowdrey, the 30-year-old Kent captain, as their leader for the final two Tests of the series against West Indies. So by the end of the five-match series England will have had three captains. Mike Gat-ting, who led in the drawn first Test at Nottingham, was sacked after alleged high living at the team hotel and replaced by John Emburey for the matches at Lord's and Old Trafford, in both of which England suffered heavy, embarrassing defeats.

It is in the face of such adversity that the selectors have turned to Cowdrey, and one assumes, given the Impossible nature of his Mission, that he was asked if he wanted the job by had begun in Morzine with the crowds huddled in thick jumpers. Fignon's official fan club waited in vain on the skirts of La Madelaine, the first climb, for their1 hero, but he was gone, abandoning at the start of the stage. By the end many of the other leading riders were as good as finished. One of these was Kelly, who finished thoroughly disheartened nearly 24 minutes down. He is 33 next year.

"I now realise I will never win a Tour de France," he said. "It was my worst day in the mountains." The French were on holiday but found little to cheer them. By the first climb Bernard was sweating profusely and was clearly on his way out. Mottet also lost time and is now nearly seven minutes behind Delgado. Ronan Pensec continued to show more guts and heart than Mottet and Bernard put together, finishing eighth on the day and ninth overall.

Canada's Steve Bauer, although losing the leader's jersey, produced yet another superb ride. He has loved wearing the maillot jaune, and he rode every metre of the mountains with a fierce pride. Wherever he is ultimately placed, Bauer will never forget this Tour. Herrera again finished as fresh as an edelweiss, while Hampsten, although losing more than four minutes to Delgado, is still in with a shout on a day when Breukink and Zim-mermann saw their chances shredded, losing respectively 16 i I The godson also rises Chris Cowdrey has impressed May Glamorgan West Indies Essex Derbyshire Barnett bores on Oujon the opener cuts a dash David Foot at Swansea JEFF DUJON looked out across Swansea Bay at the slate-grey water and decided only the colour had changed. He was here in sunny 1976, when the sky and sea were blue, and he was playing for Swansea in the South Wales Cricketjjeague.

He was then a 20-year-old only draining of Test cricket. Yesterday he scored 141 for the West Indians. It was an innings of stylish quality, especially in those moments when he seemed to grow in stature as he stretched to punch through the Mike Selvey at Southend FESTIVAL games on the out-grounds have always been the lifeblood of Essex cricket, and the Southend week, with the holiday crowds, generally draws more spectators than most. Unusually, more people tend to come on a Wednesday or Thursday than at the weekend. On the evidence of yesterday's play a full day's play at that the reason is that they save the weekends for enjoyment.

Only a crackpot would have braved the elements yesterday and sat through cricket that was going nowhere from the moment Kim Barnett decided to prolong the Derbyshire first innings into the morning session. That piece of initiative saw four runs added to the overnight 332 for the loss of the last two wickets, both of which fell to Neil Foster, who ended with six for 86. It also wasted 25 minutes of a rain-threatened match. Gooch, the Essex captain, was left with few options. By dropping vital catches on the first day his side had let Derby- Lancashire Leicestershire THE French Alps are magnificent.

Here is grandeur. Here is I romance. And here, yes terday tea-time, was sheer, bloody nell on men. Alter a stage ot near-crip pling difficulty the final 120 Kilometres including three of the highest climbs of the Tour tour riders pumped weary lees to within a few feet of each other in the nnal mile. It was a truly marvellous fin ish, with Steven Rooks of the Netherlands, third in Wednesday's first Alpine stage, somehow finding something extra in his aching calves and thighs to break clear of his PDM team mate and fellow countryman, Gert-Jan Theumsse, Spain's Pedro Delgado who thus took over the yellow jersey and Fabio Parra of Colombia.

It was on L'Alpe d'Huez last year that Delgado also took the lead, which he lost on the final time trial in Dijon to Ireland's Stephen Roche. This time he has far longer to defend it. usually the Alps are close to the climax of this great race. Not this year. All is clockwise, and after today's nasty individual race against the clock from Grenoble to Villard-de-Lans the riders hurtle south-west for the Pyrenees and more joint-wrenching, soul-searching mountain climbs.

Yesterday's finish, in spite of its thrills, was appallingly marshalled. The crowds at the top of this ski resort were, as usual, vast and hugely enthusiastic. uniy the narrowest ot tarmac strips was left for the leading riders as they toiled for the line, but the photographers on their motorbikes continually revved into their paths. Twice Parra tned to attack and found his way blocked by a auuee oeast. Alter winning the previous day's stage the Colombian again rode wonderfully and deserved better than to be so thoughtlessly impeded.

But kooks thoroughly de served his win. The 27-year-old Dutchman had battled wheel-to-wheel with Delgado, who had initiated the day decisive attack on the Col du Glandon. Here the road lurches past diz zying drops, and the snow creeps down to within feet of whirring wheels and pedals. This most gruelling ot days Boxing Tyson is ffSRANK BRUNO'S onoff I title fight with Mike Ty-U son, scheduled for Sep tember 3, looks like taking piace alter an. Last night Michael Winston, the world heavyweight champion's lawyer, said the bout would go ahead despite the fact that Tyson is still trying to break his contract with his, manager Bill Cayton, who arranged the Wembley fight.

Tyson shocked the boxing world last month when he announced, after his rapid demolition of Michael Spinks in Atlantic City, that he was quitting the ring. Yesterday cayton said an agreement had been reached with Winston, who was hired by Tyson to fieht his case. "I will remain manager, of course, in all senses of the word. The contracts will be worked out with me as the manager," Cay ton saia. Cayton added that he be lieved the arrangements with promoter Jarvis Astaire will be worked out shortly, and that the fight will be formally announced "within a day or Sports Politics Luton pitch for 250m home PLANS for a 250 million stadium and leisure complex on the site of a disused quarry at Sundon Springs, near Luton, were unveiled yesterday.

The scheme could also mean a new home for soccer club Luton Town, who may move there from Kenilworth Road. John Smith, the club's chief executive, said: "We are totally committed to relocate there. If we are to move football into the next century we must provide the most modern facilities." The arena would be the cen tre-piece of a vast leisure and recreation project covering the 355-acre site. The project has been out together by the Lon don developers Brookmount with Blue Circle industries, who own the quarry. The most striking feature of the proposed 90,000 all-seater arena will be a hydraulic loia-away root.

The stadium would cater for major sporting events, con certs, conventions and trade shows. Other planned facilities include an exhibition area, an open-air theatre, a multi-screen cinema, a science museum, a waterice leisure centre, a 600-bedroom hotel, a shopping mall, and space for 19,500 cars. shire off the hook, and he now needed either to build a substantial first-innings lead, with time not on his side, or to de clare way behind and throw the ball back into bametrs court. In the end he chose to get full batting points Detore immedi ately declaring, 38 behind, and leaving Derbyshire to face 22 overs, during which they lost three wicKets tor 55. With the exception of the steady Allan Warner, the Der byshire attack, lackine Michael Holding and including Simon Base for the first time in a county match, was not at its best.

Devon Malcolm was er ratic and Base, none for 99 from 18 overs including 10 no-balls, win leave ueroysnire support ers wondering whether the 2,000 fine levied on the club for poaching him from Glamorgan was money well spent. Essex thus rattled alone. Gooch hit seven fours in his 53 and there were two vigorous stands between Allan Border and Alan Lilley, which brought 77 from 17 overs, and then Border and the highly promising zu-year-oia Nasser Hussain, wmcn added 81 22 overs. showers of Gower could badly upset their applecart. The score stood at eight for two when he sauntered in.

lin ers and Cobb having departed to catches oh the new bail. Wat kinson, who shared the new ball with Allott in the absence of the injured Wasim Akram, did bowl him off a no-ball but otherwise Gower's progression to 50 was littered with strokes of typical elegance. Stepping back to Simmons, he placed as perfect an off-drive as the aver age man is likely to see against the ropes. After reaching his half-century in 69 balls with seven boundaries, he drove Watkin-son, off the front foot this time, through cover for an eighth. Oh wondrous shot! A century, his first this year, was there for the taking.

Of course, everyone knew he would not get there. Rather like an alcoholic, Gower must face a ball at a time, and sometimes the temptations are too great. He had batted regally for two-and-a-half hours when he swept Folley behind square to Wat-kinson in the outfield. Sailing Xeryus flies the flag for France Bob Fisher BRUNO TROUBLE'S 44ft Xeryus was presented at Beaulieu yesterday, just 24 hours before her maiden race in the Cowes-to-St Malo event. In launching their first boat for the Admiral's Cup series already in the belief that a second-season craft is always faster than a new one the French have shown just how serious they are about next year's cup.

The 166-mile race to St Malo, which has drawn a field of more than 200 boats, will provide some stiff competition for Xeryus, which is sponsored by Givenchy. But Trouble has planned his boat well the gear arrangement in particular and she snouia De among tne front-runners. A sponsored boat will also be well to the fore in the 110-mile Round The Mull race, which starts tomorrow. The 77ft Drum, backed by Whyte and Mackay. is easily the big gest boat in the fleet and should be first into Crinan.

debut for in 1974, Brian Close was waiting for him at the end as he climbed up all those stone steps and said of the innings: "You'll do lor me. lad." Richards declared at 302 for three, with Arthurton 45 not out. The Swansea-Caribbean connection was strong indeed. Arthurton had also been here, playing club cricket last summer. Glamorgan were left just an hour batting, enough to sample the speed of Bishop, in particular, and Patterson.

Hop kins picked up several usetui boundaries by the close, when they were 43 without loss. as Hampshire slump to 40 for photograph: frank baron Round-up Lamb blazes to fastest hundred MHERE it wasn't raining yesterday, it was pouring runs and burning underpants, writesChris Curtain. Further foul weather meant that one-day rules were invoked at Trent Bridge, and not a ball was. bowled at Edgbaston, but Allan Lamb thought it a fine day at Bristol where he hit the fastesteAundred of the season so-fajs after first setting fire to Wayne Larkins's underpants and running them up the pavilion flagpole. He's funny that way.

Lamb's 88-ball century beat the mark set by Surrey's Jack Richards in June by 13 balls, as Northamptonshire plundered', the Gloucestershire attack' for maximum batting points before tea. Put in on a wet wicket, North ants enjoyed their best-start of the season as Larkins and Geoff Cook put on 106 in 25 overs. Lamb and Larkins then shared another century stand, beforfe the opener was out for men the light closed in; the visitors were 347 for five. At Guildford. David Smith continued on his merry way by reaching 157 before Surrey declared at four batting points (and 301 runs) for two wickets.

In reply Hampshire eot off to a bad and were 40 for three before Mark Nicholas stepped in. At Trent Bridge, play in what is now a 12-point match finally got under way after i. Nottinghamshire, now facing a Middlesex side with not one but two spurned England skippers, reached 60 for three off 20 overs. handed catch at leg-slip. Hooper was in rather more of a hurry.

His half-century looked a formality but he was out one run short, stumped by Metson when he misread Derrick's length and line. Richards saw the crease as a place of temporary residence. Thomas was unwise enough to bounce one at him. Richards's response, with an air of veiled indifference, was immediate. He leaned back and lazily hooked the next ball for four.

In the same over, he straight-drove, pulled and off-drove to the boundary. On this same St Helen's ground he had made his county MIDDLESEX Slack, Carr. 'M Gatting, A Needham, Brown, Ram-prakash, fP Downton, Emburey, nugnes, ft i-raser, rowans. Umpires: Plews and A White. Tour match GLAMORGAN WEST INDIES Swanssat Glamorgan are 259 runs behind and have all their first-Innings wickets in hand.

WEST INDIES First Innings Haynes Morris Ontong 14 tP Dujon Butcher Ontong 141 Hooper st Metson Derrick 40 LT Arthurton not out 4S I A Richards not out 23 Extras (b10. Ib12, w3, nb5) 30 Total (for 3 dec). Fall of wlckstsi 57. 160. 265.

302 DM not ball 0 Williams, A Harper. I Bishop, Marshall, Patterson, A Walsh. Bowllngi Thomas 14-2-52-0; Barwick 20-9-37-0; Derrick 18-5-49-1; Ontong 19-6-50-2; North 16-3-74-0: Butcher 2-0-18-0. OLAMOfUMN First Innings A Butcher not out-J A Hopkins not out-Extras (b2, W3, nb4) 12. 22; 43 Total- To bat: Morris, Maynard.

North. Holmes, Ontong, Thomas, tC Meraon, uerncx, 5 uarwick. Umpires: Wight and Balderstone. Second Eleven Championship Southampton! Gloucestershire 171 (M Al-leyne 89) and 2T-1. Hampshire 156-4 (R Scott 102no).

Newark! Nottinghamshire Lancashire, no play on first two days, rain. Heanon Derbyshire 351-9 dec (T O'Gor- man 162, LB Taylor 5-119). Leicestershire 83-5. Woreesten Warwickshire 261 (A Storle 109no) and 41-0. Worcestershire 200-6.

(L Vorster 56). SttUngboumst Essex 116 (D Kelleher 5-17) and 53-2. Kent 230 Hlnks 73. Farbrace 64). Minor Counties Championship Fennarai Staffordshire 208-4 dec (S Dean 111) and 104 (S Turner 5-64, Green 4-28).

Cambridgeshire 186-8 dec Perryman 4-74) and 125-2 (M Garnham 84no). Cambridgeshire won by 8 wkts. Today's fixtures TOUR MATCH (11.0-6.0). wanaaai Gla morgan west indies. BRITANNIC ASSURANCE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP (11.0-5.30 or 6.0).

Southend! Essex Derbyshire Bristol! Gloucestershire Northamptonshire. OM Traffordi Lancashire Leicestershire. Trent Bridgei Nottlnghamanire Migaiesex. uuiraronn surrey nampsnire. i Warwickshire Worcestershire covers off his back foot, or when he square-cut in the classic tradition.

His mature first hundred of the tour took him just under four hours and often carried the stamp, however unfamiliar the role, of an opening batsman. In all, he hit a six and 22 fours, and was out to a stee-pling catch at long-on. Then he strained his ankle when fielding Williams was keeping wicket and needed a substitute. This was in effect a two-day match, with no apparent signs that the Glamorgan bowlers were going to make any real impact until Haynes wenttoaone- SURREY HAMPSHIRE Gulldfordi Hampshire (Opts) are 176 runs behind Surrey (5) and have six first-Innings wickets in nana. SURREY First tailings (overnight: 181-1) Smith not oul 1S7 A Stewart Nicholas Maru 72 A Lynch not out 48 Extras (Ib10.

nbB) 18 Total (for 2 dec) Fail of wickets conti 190. 301 Bowllngi Jeflerles 5-0-38-0; Connor 19-2-57-1; Andrew 15-0-77-0; Maru 24-5-85-1; Ayilng 14-3-34-0. HAMPSHIRE First innings Terry Ward Peters. 4 Smith Richards Peters. 18 S7 Nicholas not out- A Smith Feltham Blcknell 3 Turner Feltham 30 Ayling not out 7 Extras (Ib2, nb6) 8 Total (for 4, 46 overs) 126 Fan or wiensui 10, 34, 40, 11a.

Umpires! A Whitehead and A A Jones. WARWICKSHIRE WORCESTERSHIRE Edgbastora No play yesterday rain. Warwickshire (4pts) are 114 runs behind Worcestershire (0) and have all their first-Innings wickets in hand. QLOUCS NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Bristol! Bad light stopped play. Northamptonshire (4 pts) have scored 347 runs for five wickets against Gloucestershire (2).

NOirrHAMPTONSHIRt First Innings Cook Ibw 32 Larklns Lloyds Curren 134 Bailey Russell Alderman 21 A Lamb st Russell Graveney 117 oapei not 110 Williams Graveney Wild not out 2 Extras (bl. Ib5, wl. nb8) 18 Total (for 5, 79.2 overs) 347 Fan or wkksisi 100, isu, zk, air, oar. To bob tD Ripley, Cook, WW Davis, A Walker. aLOUCESTEXSHIRBV A Stovold, A Wright, Romalnes, Athey.

Bain-bridge, Curren, i Lloyds, tR Russell, 'D A Graveney, 0 Lawrence, Alderman, Kitchen end Leadbeater NOmNOHAMSHIRE MIDDLESEX Trent Bridget Nottinghamshire have scored 60 runs for three wickets In match reduced by rain to one Innings each. frOTTNiOHAMSHIRB Broad Downton Fraser 24 Newell Emburey Fraser 2 Robinson Ibw Cowans 1 1 Johnson not oul 12 0 Randall not out 4 Extras (Ib4, nb3) 7 Total (for 3). 80 Fafl of wfckata3.40.51. To ball Birch, 0 Stephenson, Evans. fC Scott, Cooper, 0 Mlllns.

Glee at Guildford Jack Richards dives to catch Chris Smith off Nick Peters yesterday, three in reply to Surrey's 301 for two declared and 20 minutes. It is almost too cruel to follow such a stage with an uphill fin ish time trial. These organisers would have made useful inquisitors. The rack? Luxury. Today: Grenoble to Villard-de-Lans (time trial).

Delgado new leader. coming It is believed Tyson will earn about 3 million from the fight, and Bruno 1 million. Winston said that the decision to go ahead had been made by Tyson's new advisers, who include Donald Trump. A spokesman for the property millionaire said: "Trump has advised Tyson that he should continue to fight, including the September 3 Bruno contest in England, and that Tyson should otherwise live up to the terms of his contract until such time as the courts rule on whether it's valid." The fight is a mandatory World Boxing Council defence for Tyson, whose 35 wins include 31 knockouts. Bruno is the top-ranked challenger according to the World Boxing Association and the WBC.

Herol Graham must defend his British middleweight title against Johnny Melfah before September 30, with purse offers made by August 10. The same applies to the Rocky Kelly- ueorge uoiiins British welter weight eliminator and Steve Boyle's lightweight defence against Joey Jacobs. Hockey Maximum gain for the juniors Pat Rowley In Santander ENGLAND'S commanding progress towards the final of the European junior championship, most probably against the holders, West Germany, continued yesterday with a reasonably comfortable 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, runners-up in the last tournament. And England, who thus gained maximum points from their group, finished the day as the only unbeaten side as the Germans, already sure of a semi-final place against the Netherlands, showed complacency in their last group match. They lost 2-0 to a Spanish team that played out of their boots to earn the runners-up spot in the other group at the expense of the Soviet Union, who beat Scotland 4-1.

Andy Billson put England ahead after six minutes and their centre forward Nick' Thompson, with his fourth goal of the tournament, made it 2-0 early in the second half before the Dutch scored from a penalty corner. Gower in Michael Henderson at Old Trafford THE ground which witnessed two of David Gower's most infuriating innings a. fortnight ago, in his 99th Test, yesterday welcomed a delightful knock that suggested he might offer something similar on his 100th ap pearance for England if selected at Headingley next week. We can all dream. There is nothine new under the sun, particularly when Gower has the bat in his hands.

The time has long since passed to curse his failings, which have blighted his game for a decade and will prevent him going down as a genuinely great player. For all that, when he plays something like, he is something else. in the 56 overs that the ram spared. Gower made a lordly 96 out of Leicestershire's 173 for six. If he declares first thing today, 131 behind, Lancashire will be mindful to balance another declaration against the knowledge that a further slice Rugby Union Africa seek five Wallabies COUTH AFRICA have asked 0the Australian RU for five players to take part in the World XV tour next month which forms part of Northern Transvaal's centenary celebrations and will include two games against the Springboks.

The South African Press Association, quoting unnamed sources in Brisbane, said the Australians involved were Nick Farr-Jones, David Campese, Ian Williams, Michael Lynagh, Steve Cutler and Simon Poidevin. The nine candidates for the three-year job. of Welsh coach were interviewed by the Welsh RU coaching committee last night. The coaching committee's recommendations will go before the specially-convened general committee today. New Zealand, worried by Michael Jones's ligament in jury, have named three players tor the two Hanker positions in their team for the second Test against Australia in Brisbane tomorrow.

Alan Whetton. Mike Brewer and Jones are all in contention. The New Zealand team is otherwise unchanged from that which won the first Test32-7. Scoreboard Britannic Assurance County Championship ESSEX DERBYSHIRE Souttwndi Derbyshire (Spts) lead Essex (6) by 91 runs and have seven second-Innings wicKera in nana. DERBYSHIRE Flrat Innings (overnight: 332-6) A Warner Childs Foster 11 Base not out 4 0 Malcolm Border Foster Extras (t2, Ib9, wl) 12 Total Fall of wlckata cento 334.

330 Bowllngi Foster 29-7-96-6; Lever 22-4-72-1; Gooch 14-5-33-2; Miller 22-8-45-0; Childs 2S-7-64-1; Stephenson a-o-i-o. ESSCX First Innings 0 A Gooch Ibw Warner Stephenson Newman Prlchard Bowler Warner. 63 10 98 A Border not out- 8S 37 47 0 as A Lilley Newman. Hussaln run out Miller not put- Extras (Ib5, w2, nb18) Total (lor dec). 300 VaU of vakkatai 44.

92. 12S. 202. 263. Bowllngi Newman 16-2-41-2; Malcolm, 14-1-58-0; Base 18-1-99-0; Warner 12-2-30-2; Bowler 13-2-49-0; Barnett 6.5-0-18-0.

DERBYSHIRE Saeond fcMinaa D. Bowlers? East Lever- 1 JG Wright ofastb Mlller- 34 17 3 1 Total (lor 3) FaN Of WlekatM 12. 49, 53. 08 Palmer and 0 Constant. LANCASHIRE LEICESTERSHIRE -OM Traffonb Leicestershire (4pts) are 131 runs behind Lancashire (5) and have four first-Innings wickets in hand.

LANCASHIRE-First innings Lancashire 304-6 dec(M WatWnson S5no, Fowler 75). Bowllngi 17-3-52-1; Agnew. 16-2-53-0; OeFrellas 22-687-1; Willey 24-9-42-2; Such 29-4-61-4. LCICESTBRSHIRE Briers Hughes Watkinson- a tiOBo negg aiioii- Willey Watklnson Simmons. '0 1 Qower Walkinson Folley.

Whitaker and Simmons Potter, Folley A OeFrellaa not out tP WhllKcasa not out Ib3, nb4) 1 4 10 4 14 Total (forS; 58. overs). 173 fall Of wtokatu 8. 8. 114 124.

155. 160. Tobab Such, Agnew, Ferris. nampsnire ana uirnensnaw. Hooerts ma hosier.

NewmaKnot out Bass nofjSout Extras (b1)ZL.