England 'Knighted'

BY PELHAM JURIANSZ

Wednesday 4 September 1996


The impossible happened, Pakistan were ''knighted'' out of the Texaco Trophy by some effervescent batting by England's Warwickshire opener Nick Knight. Knight, batting with considerable ease and composure went on to delight the miserable English fans to lead them to victory in the Tournament. It would seem that the English are better one day players more suited to the ''Cowboy'' game than the longer version of it.

I call the English ''miserable fans'' because they were completely outplayed in the three Tests. Pakistan with a superlative performance completely outplayed the bewildered Englishmen who turned tables on them in the form of Nick Knight and a few of the changes that were made to the side. At the time the changes seemed ludicrous with more than half the side being changed but in hindsight the selectors should be complimented for the choice of players. Obviously they know their onions better than we do!

To get back to the Test it was the wizardry of Mushtaq and the devastating pace of Wasim and Waqar the two w's who undid the English batsmen and spun a web around them. Even the most optimistic of English supporters would not have given them a ghost of a chance of winning, but obviously the wiser selectors and Nick Knight thought and performed otherwise.

The inclusion of Darren Gough and Peter Martin was a breath of fresh air. Matthew Maynard and Adam Hollioake too performed to expectations and beyond, though I wonder if there was a hint of nepotism in Lloyd's selection (his father being the coach). Alan Mullaly was slightly expensive in the third one-dayer but Robert Croft continues to impress with his off spin. The Australians must be wondering what they have to do to counteract Nick Knight when the ''Ashes'' are up for grabs next summer. Nick Knight is the best thing that has happened to English cricket this summer. With three International centuries he should be the hero!


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 14:49