Email Us Forum Mail Article Print Article

Strauss Stars On Test Debut

Saturday, May 22 2004

Day 1: Match Report

England's newest Test player Andrew Strauss survived a huge defection of the stumps and a dropped catch in the space of four balls while in the nineties to score a wonderful Test Century on his debut and lead England through to 246/2 at close of play.

The morning though belonged to Chris Carins who bludgeoned 87 runs from a mere 42 balls in a assault that saw the New Zealand side lift their overnight total to 386. However the day didn't start well for the tourists as Jacob Oram who dominated throughout the evening session on day one lasted just an over before he edged behind a Harmison delivery through to the waiting Jones.

Chris Carins strode out to the middle in his final test series and was intent on making an impact, and a impact he made as deliveries right from the off were being sent to all parts of the Lord playing surface (and stands!), meanwhile when the night watchman Tuffey did get any strike he was more than happy just to defend his corner and offer invaluable support to Carins.

Six overs later (96th) and a seven-wicket partnership of 37 Harmison struck for his second wicket of the morning clean bowling Tuffey for just 8, and just seven balls later the New Zealand wicket keeper McCullum was sent packing by Jones for just 5 again dismissed clean bowled showing that the England bowlers had learnt a lesson from yesterday just to pitch the ball up that bit further than they had been doing.

The useful batting of Vettori coming in at number 10 just emphasizes just how long this New Zealand batting line up is, and looked to have luck on his side with his third delivery he pushed his defence at a regulation ball from Harmison as the ball bounced up in the air the Vettori in a desperate attempt to find where the ball was he swung around and dug the ball into the base of leg stump with the bat but somehow even with the incredible force in which the ball thumped into the stumps the bails just refused to fall, today though was Harmison's morning and he wasn't about to let Vettori get away with it and he demonstrated with devastating effects to Vettori just how to dislodge the bails.

With the last batsman at the crease Carins upped the anti again and bombarded the England bowlers racing pasted his 50 In just 37 balls included 9x4's, Carins didn't let the continuous fall of wickets disrupt his concentration and he didn't stop there lunching four towering sixes that in the process took him past the landmark of most sixes hit in test matches (85) and his 86th wasn't far away as he lunched Flintoff into the Tavern stand.

By the time Carins had reached 82 and eyeing one of the quickest test centuries of all time he made went for the hook shot of a short ball by Flintoff but slightly missed timed the shot and Harmison running around at third man was able to take a simple catch.

Chris Carins had added 48 for the last wicket with Martin who added just a single from the 6 balls he faced. Overall Carins added 82 of the 102 runs to be added in the morning session.

England's openers Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss had an awkward session to bat, but both looked comfortable in batting through to the lunch break 10 & 15 not out respectively.

After lunch both batsman set about building a solid foundation and eating into the 386 run lead that the New Zealanders had. Andrew Strauss was looking in good touch and showing little nerves for his test debt even out scoring Trescothick for much of the time. Trescothick meanwhile showing he is back to his best timing the ball of the middle of the bat and leaving balls outside his off stump that just a few weeks ago would have found the outside edge.

The pair continued to pile on the runs throughout the afternoon and Marcus Trescothick bought up a thoroughly deserved half century in 95 balls including 9x4's and just a few balls later Strauss took the quick single on to bring the England hundred up inside the 29th over.

Just a over later and it was Andrew Strauss's turn as he eased through for a couple and in the process bringing up his maiden half century in 90 balls including 5x4's. The pair continued to dominate the pedestrian New Zealand attack that offered little verity and no hunger for wickets, with the bowlers seemly more interested in getting the ball on the right line and length than showing any aggression and Innovations.

Both batsmen seeing through the session unscathed and taking the score along to 136 for no loss (Trescothick 60*, Strauss 65*) at the tea interval.

After tea the England batsman soon found their strides again and continued to score a ease taking the score past the 150 mark just a couple of overs into the last session of the day. Both batsmen played a game of cat and mouse with each batsman taking it in turns to just edge past each other's personal score.

However after Tea New Zealand started to find some motivation and Trescothick inparticully playing and missing at a number of balls for the next hour or so meanwhile Andrew Strauss was no doubt wondering what all this test cricket fuss is about as he edged closer and closer to a chanceless maiden test century in the late afternoon sun that bathed the ground all day while the rest of London was in the middle of thunderstorms.

Just as England were in touching distance of a opening stand of 200; Trescothick got the slightest of edges through to the keeper to send him on his way for a superb 83 that included so many of the typical Trescothick shots that the world has come accustom to from the devastating cut to the little dink down towards third man.

Andrew Strauss hit the 90's at the other end and the solid, composed player was put to one side and a anxious player appeared he was desperate to get out of the 90's and bring up that 100 that he had played so hard for. Strauss had gone chanceless for his previous 94 runs but in the space of 4 balls the New Zealand team were cursing their luck as first Strauss got a huge inside edge that saw the ball cannon of the outside of off stump, the force was so great that it completely changed the direction that the ball was heading and sent the keeper completely the wrong way. Just three balls later Strauss took a lose drive at a wide ball (identical to Fleming's dismissal) however the catch was floored and Strauss lived to fight another day.

Mark Butcher then had a survived a scare as what seemed to be a good lbw shout was turned down, which after TV replays showed that the ball would have just clipped the bails, but there was enough doubt in the mind of the umpire to turn it down.

Andrew Strauss 45 minutes after entering the 90's was finally in sight of the goal he had been working so hard to achieve when he faced Chris Martin on 98, the first five deliveries of the over were perfect for the situation however as the pressure was building and building on Strauss, Martin delivered a full and very wide one that Strauss just swung his bat at and spanked it through the covers, the ball pulling up just a matter of inches inside the rope but it didn't matter as Strauss ran the required runs to bring up a wonderful maiden test hundred that was full of silky shots and guts and determination, a truly wonderful way to start life within the national team and now the selectors have the biggest headache in a while of how to accommodate everyone for the next test.

Strauss's 100 came up in 276 minutes off 199 balls, 12x4

Just as the players were thinking of batting through for the next day New Zealand struck a decisive blow with the wicket of Strauss for 112 caught of the bat pad. Vettori picking up his first wicket in 5 tests innings, his last success was a 4-wicket haul in the first test of the recent SA series. The blow was just in the same way as England did on day 1 with the wicket of Richardson. Strauss was finally dismissed falling for 112 with the score on 239.

England had reached the close of day 2 with the score on 246/2 with Mark Butcher undefeated on 22 and Matthew Hoggard coming in, as a night watchman was undefeated on 0.

Day 3 is sure to be a crunch day where it will see if England can build a lead of any sorts or if New Zealand can wrestle back the incentive.


Match Summary
New Zealand 386
England 246/2

Match 100's

* Strauss 100 in 276 mins off 199 balls, 12x4

Posted by Richard