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England
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15-19 Jun 2000 (John Ward)
Day1: England 179 all out; West Indies 50/2
It could be termed another bright new sunset for English cricket. All the patriotic optimism of those who made England odds-on favourites to win the series was shown up for what it really was – a bad case of counting chickens before they hatch.
It was the old warrior Courtney Walsh, with five wickets, including his 450th in Tests, who put the skids on England, but the pressure applied by his long-time partner Curtly Ambrose should not be overlooked.
These two have plenty of incentive to go out with a bang, and England’s batsmen today were just not up to the job. England were bowled out for a mere 179, but at least they did their best to ensure it would not be a walkover by taking two West Indian wickets for 50 runs by the close.
The weather gave this first Test match between England and the West Indies a boost by brightening up and giving warm sunshine on the first morning of the match. The Edgbaston pitch was as usual the source of discussion, with its recent reputation of aiding the seamers and rushing matches to early conclusions. Many felt it would be different this time, as pitches in county matches have been considerably improved this season – but the proof of the pudding is always in the eating. The Test pitch did have a greenish tinge to it, and Jimmy Adams may well have had little hesitation in putting England in to bat when he won the toss.
England’s only change from the team that played Zimbabwe was to play off-spinner Robert Croft in place of leg-spinner Chris Schofield, with the West Indian left-handers in mind. The tourists omitted opener Adrian Griffith, who is in poor form, and replaced him with Chris Gayle, while they opted for a four-man pace attack in Ambrose, Walsh, Franklyn Rose and Reon King.
The ground was perhaps not quite half full when play began, Ambrose bowling to Mike Atherton as he did in the last Test between the two countries on this ground five years ago. On that infamous occasion the ball reared over Atherton’s head from slightly short of a length and the match had ‘three-day England defeat’ written all over it. This time the first ball passed peacefully down the leg side, although the tall paceman did make a few lift normally before the over was completed.
The first runs came off Walsh’s first ball to Mark Ramprakash, who reported fit to play; the batsman nudged it between third slip and gully to the third-man boundary. Atherton got his first runs in Ambrose’s next over, tucking him past midwicket for two. So far the pitch appeared to be behaving itself perfectly, giving pace but no excessive movement, and all the statistics were being efficiently recorded on Edgbaston’s superb electronic scoreboard, brand-new this season.
The opening stand continued soundly, with Ramprakash scoring most of the runs down to the still-vacant third-man boundary off Walsh while Ambrose bowled with superb economy, his opening spell of seven overs costing just four runs.
In compensation, though, Walsh had the satisfaction of removing Ramprakash (18) for his 450th Test wicket. The batsman played forward and got an inside edge on to the pad, providing short leg Wavell Hinds with the easiest of catches. England were 26 for one with Hussain at the wicket.
King replaced Ambrose, to be pulled for two fours in an over by Atherton, but if the latter felt relieved it was a false sense of security. The persevering Walsh continued, and in his ninth over dismissed Atherton (20), fishing outside off stump and snicking a regulation catch to keeper Ridley Jacobs. England were 44 for two, and this was a critical stage of the match as Graeme Hick joined his captain.
Hick has rarely enjoyed the West Indians, and this day he was to enjoy them still less. He tried half-heartedly to force Walsh through the off-side field and found the edge; the ball rebounded off Gayle at third slip, only for Sherwin Campbell at second to dive and hold it before it touched the ground. Hick failed to score, and England were 45 for three and in trouble; all three wickets to the venerable Walsh.
Walsh kept bowling right up until lunch, 13 overs without a break, as the West Indies pulled out all the stops to crush England beyond repair, while Hussain and Stewart dug themselves deeper into their trenches and clung on to survive. At the interval they were 51 for four (Hussain 2, Stewart 4).
Ambrose took up the attack again after lunch and once more Adams’ faith in his vintage bowlers was justified. Stewart (6) defended a ball just outside off stump without getting in line and paid the penalty, playing on to his leg stump via the inside edge. At 57 for four, the vultures were hovering.
Hussain and Nick Knight fought tenaciously, with the third-man area proving again most lucrative for Knight in particular, who was frequently beaten outside off stump, especially by Rose. Eventually Rose moved a ball into Hussain (15), forcing him into a stroke. He was given out caught at the wicket by umpire David Shepherd, with the replay showing that the ball may have brushed his glove. England sank deeper into the mire at 82 for five.
Andy Flintoff began with two fours, helped by some misfielding, and looked quite comfortable, which Knight rarely did. It was King who eventually got Knight, outside the off stump again, snicking a catch to Lara at first slip to depart for 26; England 112 for six. Without addition, Flintoff (16) flirted unnecessarily outside off stump to Walsh, returning to finish the job, and Lara picked up another catch. The bowling was good but the pitch was good, and England’s batsmen just inadequate, especially when it comes to getting behind the line of the ball.
Croft gamely hit three off-side fours in the over before tea, when England were struggling on 129 for seven (Croft 18, Caddick 0). The weather, now overcast and rather gloomy, seemed to be coming out in support of the country’s batting.
Walsh and Ambrose were on again after tea, to administer the coup de grace. Croft (18) was another to go to a catch at the wicket, pushing like so many others at a fine ball from Walsh that moved away and took the edge of a bat pushed meekly at it. England were now 134 for eight and seemingly beyond redemption.
Darren Gough roused a cheer as he neatly leg-glanced Walsh to the boundary. He and Caddick fought it out, occasionally finding a ball with some width they could put away, but it seemed only a matter of time. The 150 came up as Caddick turned Walsh through midwicket for two, and the great fast bowler finally retired with figures of 21-9-36-5. Gough played a rousing drive off King over extra cover to the boundary, and then a more classic four in the same area to Rose; he seemed to have taken a step back in time to become once again that inspiring lower-order hitter he once was.
Caddick too began to hit out when opportunity arose, but the partnership came to a sad end when Caddick called Gough for a quick single that the keeper fielded before throwing down the stumps at the bowlers’ end. The third umpire showed Gough (29) out by a matter of inches, and England were 173 for nine after a plucky stand of 39. Many of the crowd stood in tribute to Gough as he walked out.
Another six runs were added before last man Ed Giddins (0) got rather above himself, tried to pull King and skied a catch off the top edge that wicket-keeper Jacobs easily held running round to square leg. England were all out for 179, with Caddick hitting a gallant 21 not out. 40 minutes were left for play, or more pertinently 18 overs, as the West Indies make it a point of honour never to bowl their overs within the specified time.
England began with an attacking field, which almost brought them an early wicket. The left-handed Gayle slashed at Caddick and the ball flew low at about ankle height to fourth slip, who was unable to hold it.
The first runs came in the third over, as Campbell drove Gough straight for two. He then played a spectacular but mistimed hook that carried for three wide of mid-on. This brought Gayle to face, and a wicket for England. Gayle (0) played back to a ball that pitched straight, but might possibly have been too high or missed off stump – perhaps a marginal decision, but given out by umpire Venkat. West Indies were 5 for one.
Runs came slowly, but Hinds unleashed a classic off-drive for four off Caddick; perhaps overcome by his own talent he then pushed a firm overhead catch to Hussain off Caddick for 12; West Indies 24 for two and in danger of losing their advantage. England’s opening bowlers were generally doing a good job, bowling some difficult balls and taking nothing for granted.
This brought in Brian Lara, to a mixture of applause and boos. He was slow to get moving, but then off-drove Caddick to the boundary, although his timing was not of the best. Giddins came on for Caddick after the latter had bowled six overs, and Campbell immediately cut his first-ball loosener fiercely for four. But generally neither batsman looked comfortable, and their concentration was not helped by several mindless spectators who cantered across the field of play, showing off to the crowd, and were ignored by the stewards who were, it appears, afraid to do anything about it for fear of trouble if one of these sensitive souls got hurt!
Croft came on to bowl just before the close, conceding just a single in two overs as the West Indians played safely for the close.
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Results - Forthcoming Desktop Scoreboard |
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