Dicky Rutnagur, one of the big hitters in squash journalism for magazines and newspapers for nearly 50 years until his death in 2013, analysed the Benson and Hedges British Open at Abbeydale, forecasting the most dramatic of showdowns, a final between Geoff Hunt, whom the Australians claim is the world No.1, and Jonah Barrington, whom the British say is the authentic world champion. Abbeydale would tell…
Hunt: now with added aggression
Geoff Hunt’s last year has seen him, in effect, come to full bloom. His third World Championship; the start of his pro career; and his M.B.E in the Honours’ list.
‘In that last year alone,’ Geoff has said, ‘my squash ability and feeling of inner strength and toughness have noticeably increased.’ This claim, coming from a person who is realistic yet modest must be one of the highest significance in assessing his chances of winning back the British Open title, which he won in 1969.
Barring accidents and the most dramatic reversals of known form, the championship should culminate in a fine and his old rival Barrington.
Since they established themselves as the two foremost players in the world, Barrington and Hunt have met five times in tournaments. Barrington has won four of these encounters, the exception being the final of the individual event of the 1969 World Championships.
Two seasons ago, they also played a series of 15 matches in more relaxed circumstances. These contests were not advertised as exhibitions, but there was no doubt that the prime consideration was the entertainment of the spectators.
Jonah could not adopt – in fact, he would not have been able to make the effort two or three times a week – to adopt such tactics that have brought him his wins in tournament play. The series ended in a heavy win for the Australian.
There are many facets to Hunt’s squash, but lightning speed and explosive power are its essence. When confronted by a ‘stayer’, he turns on his power in bursts. On four of their five tournament encounters. Barrington has managed to withstand these assaults, but only just.
Reports from Australia, substantiated by eyewitness accounts from South Africa, where Hunt and Ken Hiscoe were on tour a few weeks ago, indicate that these outbursts of aggression have been more frequent and more sustained. It is also believes that Geoff’s opponents can expect fewer errors from him than before.
It would seem that the age of 24 has brought Hunt’s squash to its height, and the price on his recovering the most coveted title in the world can be no longer than evens.
Barrington: one question mark over him
And then there is Jonah, four times winner in the last five years, and this time on a hat-trick. Until as late as Christmas week a question mark hung over his appearance. He was suffering from residual toxaemia as a result of impacted wisdom teeth.
Being a perfectionist, Jonah never feels he is fit enough. But when last seen in London, at the final of the Amateur, he seemed genuinely dispirited by the weakness and listlessness left behind by his illness.
The ultimate cure, a dental operation, would have kept him away from the court and training for longer than Jonah could afford at that crucial stage of his preparation. So he had to make do with containment of the infection with antibiotics and pain-killers.
Considering altitude training as the only means of regaining his fitness, Jonah flew to Kenya for three weeks after Christmas.
Strange as it may seem, we know less of the current ability of our own main hope than we do of the overseas contenders. Jonah has not been seen on the tournament circuit since last season.
Each season sees Jonah return a different and more complete player. While Hunt, his main rival, will have to contend with the vigorous squash of Hiscoe in the vital late stages, Barrington will be seeking short cuts past Mohammed Yasin, a pretty complete and capable player, and then probably Gogi Alauddin.
Though the field is one of the strongest ever to line up for this great event, one’s money can safely be placed on the competition developing into a straight fight between Barrington and Hunt.
And if you do come to see this epic, make sure you pick up a sandwich on the way, for you certainly won’t get away early.