da dobrowin： The start of the third Test almost feels like the start of a new Test seriesafter a yawning five-week gap
Andy Jalil03-Aug-2000
Ramnaresh Sarwan – playing in only his
Third Test
Photo © AllSport
The start of the third Test almost feels like the start of a new Test seriesafter a yawning five-week gap. On a day when Manchester enhanced it’sreputation of providing wet condition when it’s least required, play wasrestricted to just three hours.In the past, the trend, which was primarily fashioned in Australia, was tobisect a Test series with a plethora of one-day matches; not so much inEngland but certainly in many other countries.
Sensibly, that was altered and the limited-overs games now, usually, eitherpreceed or follow the Tests. However, with Euro 2000 taking up most of June,a clash of interest for the enthusiasts of the game of the small leather balland its bigger brother, was avoided and the limited-overs competition dividedthis Test series.The day will, however, be monumental for two members of the team, both formercaptains, Alec Stewart and Michael Atherton who are making their hundredthappearance for England. It is the first time in Test history two players havereached this milestone in the same match. While the start of play was delayedby an hour, with mopping up operations taking place, the two centurionsceremoniously, collected their momentoes.In between three stoppages for intermittent showers, only forty two oversplay was possible during which England’s bowlers rapidly gained ascendency.Jimmy Adams, the West Indies captain, had decided to make first use of a drypitch which did appear to have a slight tinge of green and which had toremain under covers for much of yesterday.Despite the pitch at Old Trafford having been of greater assistance tospinners on the county circuit this season – a fact that West Indies’ captainmay well have noted – England’s pace bowlers found considerable movement.They bowled with discipline, keeping excellent line and length.Darren Gough and Andy Caddick were quick to strike with Gough moving one awayslightly from Sherwin Campbell in the third over and three overs laterCaddick trapped Adrian Griffith leg before wicket. It was the ideal start forEngland with West Indies two down for twelve. Wavell Hinds and Brian Larathen appeared to be putting up a stand which hinted that a recovery was onthe way. Lara was particularly cautious having survived a confident appealfor lbw on the first ball from Caddick.He had taken 19 balls to get off the mark and Caddick meanwhile had completedhis accurate first spell of nine overs, conceding only eight runs for hiswicket. However, with the total on 49 both batsmen departed. Hinds, on 26,was most unfortunate to be given out, caught behind, to a ball that he didnot appear to make contact with.Eight balls later Lara fenced at Gough and edged the ball to third slip. Itwas a restrained innings from such a fine stroke-maker, he had batted forover an hour and a half for 13.Much will now depend on the last pair of the tourists’ specialist batsmenAdams and the twenty-year-old Ramnaresh Sarwan who is playing in only histhird Test match. They took the total to 87 for four and have a major taskahead in re-building the innings which has been severely dented by England.