Overnight, it was all set up so nicely
Colin Croft08-Aug-2000Overnight, it was all set up so nicely. The West Indies had led by 235 overnight on the 4th day, at 381-6, and all expected that a declaration would be forthcoming after the first hour of Day 5, with perhaps an additional 30-40 runs. In effect, the eventual West Indian declaration did not come until about 75 minutes had elapsed, before the luncheon interval, by which time Franklyn Rose had been LBW to Craig White for 10. In the meantime, Ridley Jacobs and Curtly Ambrose had bludgeoned a further 54 after the fall of Rose’s wicket before the end of the innings, at 438-6, with Jacobs getting a good 42 not out, while Ambrose got a useful 36 not out.Even before the declaration, it was very evident that the rains would make an appearance some time sooner rather than later, and that did happen. Set a whopping 293 to win in a possible 71 overs, England might have struggled even on a normal day, as that was a tough ask. As it was, the rains put paid to any plans that either team would have had, and even though Courtney Walsh did get his 472nd Test wicket, that of Mike Atherton, again, this time nibbling to the wicket-keeper Jacobs, a result was impossible. Atherton made 28, but that, as the saying goes, was that. By the time the rains came, England had made 80-1, with the impressive Marcus Trescothick managing 38 not out to add to his 66 in the 1st innings. Not a bad start for a Test career.Both captains should have been very pleased with the efforts of their players, as both teams showed great fighting spirits when situations looked marginal, while some consistency was achieved by both teams; the West Indies in batting more than bowling, with Brian Lara and the other batsmen showing some great improvement from Lords; England bowling more than batting, even with the excellence of Marcus Trescothick and Alec Stewart. In the end, it was a toss up as to whom would get the “Man of the Match” award, as there were only two real contenders, Brian Lara with his first Test century for 16 months, or Alec Stewart, with a Test century on his 100th Test. Sentiment and form, too, won out, with Stewart getting the nod.Afterwards, Jimmy Adams, the West Indies captain, Nasser Hussain, the English captain, and Alec Stewart, the M-o-M award winner, spoke:Jimmy Adams:”The weather had the final say. We lost quite a lot of time today, and there was not enough time to get a result for either team, but that has been the story of the summer so far, really. We had a bit of an idea that it would not be a good afternoon, and it turned out that way in the end. The day and the game might have become interesting without the bad weather.We had to get to a position of strength before we could think about a declaration, a position in which we could set attacking field placings. We were operating under the assumption that we would have 72 overs and we intended to attack for 72 overs. We thought our declaration total would have allowed us to do so. Unfortunately, our plans were destroyed by the weather and we could not get in 72 overs.This game saw a very good performance for the batsmen, but I must also have a special emphasis on the bowlers too. They came out on that 3rd day and bowled the West Indies back into the game on a good pitch. We are very pleased that Brian Lara has come back to some form too. I think that we can still see some better batting performances from him, but that should not take away from what he has done here. He batted brilliantly.I think that England won the 1st two days and the West Indies won the 2nd two days. The weather won the last day. Maybe it was “even-stevens.” The consistency was nice to see, but we will take it day by day, Test by Test, and at the end of the tour, we shall assess again. It is an ongoing process. It is interesting that Brian Lara, as you say, looks ominous with two Tests to go.Oh, incidentally, I have noticed that Headingley does not serve up too many draws!!”Nasser Hussain:”We were just going to play our own way to try to win this game. I had a chat with the chaps in the morning and we decided that each of us will play in his own unique way to make sure that a proper attempt could be made to win this Test. We had to make sure that our body language was correct throughout, especially in the morning, to try to bowl out the West Indies, and not just to go through the motions and depend on a declaration. I think that we achieved that.I also said that when we came to bat, then everyone would bat their own way. If anyone wanted to bat for four hours, then that was his responsibility to play that way. If anyone wanted to play a few dazzling strokes and go for broke, then they could do that too. I think that (Marcus) Trescothick and (Mike) Atherton showed that and it was a nice little session too. With all of the rain, the wicket did zip up a bit, with the covers on and off and stuff, and the West Indies bowlers could have gotten stuck in. Our batters did a good job this afternoon.I am sure that neither team will win the series 3-0 now (laugh). I just think that it (the series) would go down to the (Kennington) Oval for the 5th Test. I hope that the response and support continue to come in and that both (Headingley) Leeds and the (Kennington) Oval will be sold out. I think the support is great for cricket.What we have got to do is to keep our feet on the ground, keep working hard, and look for positive results from now to the end of the summer. We really have not done anything yet, and the next ten days of international cricket (Test 4 and Test 5) are what people would remember.”Alec Stewart:”It was a very memorable Test match for me. With both me and Athers (Mike Atherton) making our 100th Test appearance, it was a great achievement. To get a century in this game made it that bit more special. I think I played very well overall, but at the beginning, I did scratch around a bit. I thought that (Courtney) Walsh bowled exceptionally well to me initially. Afterwards, though, everything seemed to fall into place for me, head and feet being in the best positions for me to hit the ball well. I think I timed the ball as well as I could have here.To reach 100 Test matches, only achieved by only five Englishmen before me, is a great honor. Athers and I are in some great company there. Additionally, just to join (Sir) Colin Cowdrey in scoring a century in that 100th game is really special. My form has gone on from the Nat West Series in the Test series and now this Test match. I know that it will not last forever, but I have a right to enjoy it all now. Hopefully, I would still have this type of form when we get to Headingley (Leeds).We are disappointed that we could not win this game, but you must also give them some credit too. They were ably led by the batting of Brian Lara, a really brilliant innings, showing us all what a genius he really is when he has a bat in his hand, and he was very well supported by Jimmy (Adams) and the rest of the team. Having said that, though, we did stick to the task at hand, and with someone playing as well as Lara played, it was not going to be easy, but our bowlers stuck to the task and I give them great credit too. When we batted, we also showed some resolve, with (Marcus) Trescothick twice showing that he is quite capable, while (Mike) Atherton and (Nasser) Hussein hung in well.The last Test match that the West Indies played, they lost, then they had a very disappointing one day series, but we knew, and I am sure that they knew, that they were a good side, and that they would bounce back. They certainly did that in the way they bowled in the latter part of our first innings, and obviously in the way they batted, led by Brian Lara.Look, we know that Brian Lara is a genius, and that he is looking ominous, as in 1995, he started his century streak with a century at Old Trafford then too. He is not the number one or number two batsman in the world now, but he is capable of doing the same as those guys at any time. We have some good players who have to do their best to get him out too.It was like playing on an uncovered wicket with all of the rain that we had, but the pitch settled down well. It was disappointing that the rain came, as the game was well set. With all of the rain, obviously we would not have approached the target set, but it was nice to see that we only lost one wicket today. If we had played a full day, you never know what could have happened.The ball does move around a bit, seam sometimes, at Headingley (Leeds), but saying that, I am sure that Andy Foggarty, the groundsman at Headingly Leeds would be doing his best to produce a good Test cricket wicket. I know that the Yorkshire people will come out in support of us and all that we have to do is to come out and produce a good game on the field.The sides are evenly matched. We got hammered in the 1st Test at Edgbaston. We bounced back at Lords for the 2nd Test. We are evens here. It is now two to play. With two Test to go, it should be a good end to the series too.”Leeds is another matter altogether. The ball normally controls the bat there, so the bowlers would be in their element. Obviously, the team which bowls better, and the team which catches better, should come out the winner. Batsmen, watch out at Leeds!!