by Camilla Rossiter
Thursday, January 17, 2002

It was shaping up as the tour from hell. England's women were having an absolute shocker - humbled in the first three one-dayers against India, they lost each game by a massive margin and with it any chance of winning the five-match series. Coming on top of last summer's thrashing by those perennial tormentors Australia it could have gone down as one of England's lowest points. But all that changed in one day as Arran Thompson and Caroline Atkins restored some respect to the side, ensuring that the tour will go down in history for all the right reasons.

On Tuesday they put on a record-breaking 200-run opening stand together in the one-off Test against India in Lucknow, beating the previous world record of 178 made by Australian openers Belinda Haggett and Belinda Clark at Sydney in 1990-91. The two of them batted for seven and a half hours before Atkins was run out, ten short of her century. Thompson followed shortly, bowled for 85. Their achievement is even more striking when you remember this was only the seventh time the two have opened together, and each was playing in just her third Test. Beginners have rarely made such an immediate impact.

Yesterday, no doubt after a well-deserved cup of tea, Atkins said: "We were just really pleased to have that much time at the crease, and for us starting out as openers together it's great for our development and learning. It's hopefully given the team a great basis for the future." Thompson echoed her partner, adding: "Our weakness on tour has been forming partnerships and we really worked as a partnership out there."

It's not surprising they work well together, as their cricketing backgrounds are strikingly similar. Both have come up through county age groups, playing boys' cricket on the way, and both are studying for their degrees at University Cricket Centres of Excellence (UCCEs) - Atkins at Durham and Thompson at Loughborough - part of the ECB's drive to enhance the education of talented young cricketers of both sexes.

Atkins began playing cricket at the age of nine, for Burgess Hill boys' team in Sussex. She represented them through the age groups, eventually captaining the U-16 side. She has also played for Sussex since she was 11, and progressed through the England U-17s and A teams. Just 21 - her birthday was last Sunday - she only made her international debut last summer against Australia.

Her coach at Durham is Graeme Fowler, the former England batsman, now a BBC commentator. "The thing you realise within five minutes of meeting Caroline is her complete dedication," he said. "She was the first girl I took into the centre of excellence and I told her then I wasn't going to treat her any different from the lads. Straight away, she said: 'Suits me.' So she trains just the same as the fellers and she's keen as anything.

"Her biggest strength is her potential. She's still got a hell of a long way to develop. I think she'd admit that her technique is nowhere near finished, but she's a fantastic athlete. I'd be surprised if she was tired at the end of that innings, she's so fit."

Thompson, 20, captained England U-19s and won the best batsman award at championship level two years running, helping Lancashire gain promotion from Division Two last season. She played boys' cricket for Thornton-in-Craven from U-12 days onwards, as well as excelling at football and tennis. Her allrounder status extends to the pitch - she not only opens the batting but can bowl medium pace and keep wicket.

Paul Farbrace, who coached the England women's side until last year, remembers her as particularly keen and hard-working. "She's as committed and dedicated a young cricketer as you'll find," he said. "Arran prepares well, practices well and is hugely enthusiastic. She gives 100 percent to everything she does to make sure she gets it right. She plays straight and hits the ball hard and is very quick between the wickets."

The UCCE experience clearly benefited Thompson - she even switched from Sheffield University to Loughborough so she could take advantage of the scheme. Several senior members of the England squad were unable to tour due to their university commitments, but the UCCEs proved more understanding and the ECB's women's press officer, Andrea Wiggins, believes this is where they have a cutting edge.

"They see cricket as a priority. They accept that they have great cricketers coming to study and are much more accommodating. It means Arran and Caroline have access to top facilites, coaches and training while furthering their careers, and that they were both able to take time out from university to travel with England."

Caroline Atkins and Arran Thompson are typical of the new-look cricketer: hard-working, dedicated athletes moulded by a system that is finally taking sport seriously. If the UCCEs can turn out a few more like them English cricket will blossom. And maybe 200-run opening stands will be something we come to expect rather than marvel at.

Camilla Rossiter is an editorial assistant with Wisden.com.

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