|
|
The hare and the tortoise
Wisden CricInfo staff - March 24, 2002
Andrew Flintoff smeared a 33-ball half-century, equalling the sixth-fastest in Test history. Only Ian Botham has scored a faster fifty for England. Flintoff was playing in his 14th Test match.
Coincidentally, Allan Lamb also scored a 33-ball half-century in the second Test between New Zealand and England at Auckland ten years ago.
Determined to ensure a draw, Stephen Fleming dropped anchor to spectacular effect on the final day, taking 108 balls and 142 minutes over his 11.
Lou Vincent battled to his second fifty of the match, adding 71 to his first-innings 57. It was the second impressive match-double of his five-Test career. He scored a memorable 104 and 54 on debut against Australia at Perth, but made only 35 runs at 8.75 in his next three Tests.
Andy Caddick took 6 for 63, making him the first English bowler to take consecutive six-fors since Ian Botham took 6 for 58 and 7 for 48 in the Jubilee Test against India in 1979-80. It was Caddick's twelfth five-for in Tests, only five of which have come in the first innings.
Ashley Giles took 4 for 103 to continue his success in overseas Tests. He has now taken 35 wickets at 31.23 away from England, as opposed to 2 at 107.00 at home.
Opening together for only the second time in Tests, Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick shared their first fifty partnership. In under two years of international cricket, Trescothick has now added fifty with five different opening partners: Michael Atherton, Mark Butcher and Vaughan in Tests, and Alec Stewart and Nick Knight in one-dayers.
Ian Butler answered his critics by taking 4 for 60 in England's first innings, the best figures of his embryonic Test career. He has now taken nine of his 22 first-class wickets in his two Test matches.
Playing in his 37th match, Mark Butcher reached 2000 runs in Test cricket when he reached 42 in the first innings. Since returning to the side last summer, he has averaged 44.06.
© Wisden CricInfo Ltd
|
|
|
