England shine in 3rd Test
Friday, August 15 2003
The fiftieth test match to be held at Trent Bridge was started earlier today with glorious sunshine in the latter stages of a fierce heat wave across Britain, eclipsing that of the more exotic reaches of Europe.
A fresh optimism amongst the English was noticeable in the crowd numbers after the inclusions of Edward Smith and James Kirtley. However, the sanguinity was soon evaporating like the Trent waters of recent days as Vaughan fell for 1 run and walked back to the pavilion amidst more tumult from reporters about his appointment of captain. Trescothick was shortly taking his seat up to view the day's play from a more distant vantage point as he too edged through to Boucher's uncertain gloves.
In the meantime, Mark Butcher had slowly began constructing what would best be described as the paradigmatic century effectuation. Often edgy and gritty in the morning, Butcher's knock eventually flourished into an often dismissive display which emphasised the lowest point the South African attack have actualized since starting the series. He finished his day when Makhaya Ntini finally found his edge for a catch behind, 105 runs better off than his skipper.
Nasser Hussain has been under the scrutinous eye of his nation's media for some time and showed how much he can revel in the pressure during the day's play. He can battle with the best and today did just that, playing a determined innings including some delightful drives and commanding pulls for his 108 not out. He had an LBW appeal correctly turned away after further inspection proclaimed the ball to be too high at the moment it struck the pad. Hussain gave another rather public display of his passionate facet when he gestured and mouthed to the press areas after reaching the 13th century of his illustrious career.
When England's third wicket fell, they were 218 runs up with the debutante Ed Smith walking in. The South Africans will be forgiven if they had ideas of bowling out their hosts for under 300 - the last two England outings did little to suggest otherwise. Smith is made of better stuff than that, though, and despite a distinctly nervous start, he soon found his range and gave the attendees a glimpse of his stroke playing abilities, all and sundry were duly impressed. He finished his day unbeaten on 41 and well set to mark his debut with a maiden fifty - or maybe more....
England finished on 296 for 3. Stewart, Flintoff, Giles, Kirtley, Harmison and Anderson yet to bat.
South Africa's wicket takers were Pollock - Vaughan (1 for 41), Hall - Trescothick (1 for 65) and Ntini -Butcher (1 for 81).
Posted by Lee
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