England's mission is winning the Wills Cup (19 October 1998)
England, in their first appearance in Bangladesh, are determined to play all the three matches to win the Wills International Cup
19-Oct-1998
19 October 1998
England's mission is winning the Wills Cup
by Zahid Newaz in Dhaka
England, in their first appearance in Bangladesh, are determined to
play all the three matches to win the Wills International Cup. "Our
mission is very clear and that is clinching the trophy," said England
one-day captain Adam Hollioake after arrival in Dhaka Sunday evening.
Addressing a press conference at Sonargaon Hotel, he said they had no
reason not to lift the first ever knock-out tourney trophy as almost
the same oneday specialised team won in Sharjah. Hollioake, who led
the team in winning the Akai-Singer Cup in the desert city last year,
said: I don't feel any pressure being captain of the specially one-day
team.
"We are confident to play the final and win the cup," said the England
captain, who played only 19 one-day matches with a average score of
26.62. He also captured 21 wickets.
He said as the tournament comprises all the test-playing teams, it
will be a huge confidence building opportunity for them for the World
Cup in his homeland next year.
England will play two practice matches against New Zealand and
Bangladesh before they take on South Africa in the Wills Cup on
October 25. About the practice match against Bangladesh on October 23,
the England captain echoed his coach David Lloyd's view that they are
taking the match "very seriously".
"Bangladesh is an emerging force for one-day cricket," Lloyd said
adding they never met Bangladesh, but watched the ICC champions on
television. He said they are familiar with the cricket-loving nation's
emotions with cricket and the huge crowd even in the league matches in
Bangladesh capital.
"All the players in England team are special weapons," Hollioake told
CricInfo365 after his team's press conference at Sonargaon Hotel on
Sunday evening.
Asked whether he considers Neil Fairbrother, who has a good experience
of playing in Dhaka, as a special one, Hollioake said : It's a plus,
but all the players are equally good.
Swashbuckling batsman Fairbrother helped local giant Abahani to clinch
the Damal Summer Cricket Trophy in 1993 with a brilliant 90 against
arch rival Mohammedans. Fairbrother, who returned to the England team
for the Wills Cup, played 56 one-day matches scoring 1,539 runs. With
a career best of 113 runs, he also scored 11 half centuries. The
average of the middle-order batsman is 37.53.
The England squad:
Adam Hollioake (capt), Ian Austin, Alistair Brown, Dougie Brown, Mark
Ealham, Neil Fairbrother, Matthew Fleming, Ashley Giles, Graeme Hick,
Nick Knight, Graham Lloyd, Peter Martin, Jack Russell, Chris
Silverwood.
Source :: CricInfo365