The Hindu : Third Test from today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 13, 2002

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Sport - Cricket

Third Test from today

By Ted Corbett

MANCHESTER JUNE 12. Wicket-keeper Alec Stewart plays in his 118th Test tomorrow when England tackles Sri Lanka in the third and final match of the series at Old Trafford so equalling the record set by Graham Gooch.

But what are the chances of Stewart setting a new mark? He is 39, he has no contract and in three Test innings this summer he has made 7, 26 not out and 7, although he has kept wickets immaculately. Why not revert to James Foster, fit again after breaking his arm, aged only 21, with a contract. He was also one of the successes of the winter tours even though he demonstrated his immaturity more than once in India and New Zealand. Let Stewart answer the question. "Age doesn't come into it,'' he says. "It's how fit you are. In my book it's better to be a young 39-year-old than an old 32-year-old. I would like to give myself a chance of playing this winter in the Ashes and the World Cup. The selectors have to work out their policy. Are they picking for the future, which Foster represents, or for now, which gives me a chance? If I perform well, I will at least give the selectors a headache. It would be nice to have one more crack at Australia.''

Sensible men, thinking logically, have come to the conclusion that Stewart is still fit enough, driven enough and full of cricket wisdom, an indispensable combination which Foster cannot put together.

Contrasting stories have emerged recently about the immediate future of Muttiah Muralitharan, a bowler whose unorthodox off-spin has troubled Stewart. One paper had him angry at being forced to play at Edgbaston when England set up its 1-0 lead; others protested he was a willing participant; a third had him going home at the end of this Test; another claimed he would play a full part in the one-day series. Confused? Those sparkling eyes will certainly be a-gleam tomorrow at Old Trafford, where he wrecked havoc for Lancashire, and those who watched him bowl 64 overs in the second Test find it difficult to believe he was forced to play. I think we will see much more of Murali and Stewart for some time to come.

It will be a memorable Test for two other men. John Crawley returns to the ground he left six months ago after one of the most acrimonious rows ever seen at Old Trafford, a ground used to trouble. ``I'd like to prove a point with a century,'' he says.

Steve Bucknor, highly esteemed umpire from West Indies - where he was a soccer World Cup referee before he began his international cricket umpiring - stands in a record 67th Test, so breaking the record set by Dickie Bird. Bird would have cried at such a landmark but the damp in this city will, once again, come from the weather which threatens to delay the start.

The teams:

England (from): Nasser Hussain (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, John Crawley, Graham Thorpe, Alec Stewart, Andrew Flintoff, Andrew Caddick, Alex Tudor, Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones.

Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillekeratne, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Buddhika Fernando, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ruchira Perera.

Match referee: Gundappa Vishwanath (India). Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and Dave Orchard (South Africa). TV umpire: Neil Mallender (England).

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