The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Fleming scores century

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Friday, Jun 11, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Fleming scores century

By Ted Corbett

NOTTINGHAM, JUNE 10. The third slip went to extra cover in the fifth over, the swing that was apparent at pre-match nets was difficult to discern once play began and when the 22nd over began Ashley Giles joined the attack with his left-arm spin; but by then we knew we were in for a long and probably tedious Test. Trent Bridge in traditional mood and a score of 500 in the offing as England tried for a clean sweep in the third Test against New Zealand. Giles' premature arrival was probably the worst news for England. He already has enough critics to fill a West End theatre so I will not add to the clamour for his head but there is a single statistic that takes some of the weight from his shoulders. In the last 63 Tests only one spinner — Phil Tufnell in the second innings of England's victory over Australia at the Oval in 1997 — has taken five wickets in an innings. Many have tried — like Robert Croft, Peter Such, Ian Salisbury, Graeme Hick, Michael Vaughan, Mike Atherton and Chris Schofield — but none has succeeded in finding that combination of line, length, turn, turning pitch and indolent batsmen that unhinges half an innings.

Yet England might have had two wickets — or to be rather more precise about it, the same wicket twice — in the early overs. In the fourth, after Stephen Fleming won the toss for New Zealand, Mark Richardson was dropped by Andrew Strauss at short leg. The ball flicked to Strauss's right and hit him on the thumb and flicked the helmet. He failed to hold the rebound. It would have been not out anyway because it touched the helmet. In the 13th over when Richardson was 16 he appeared to edge a ball from Matthew Hoggard to the wicket-keeper but umpire Daryl Harper turned down the appeal.

Richardson and Fleming took their time after those two awkward moments so that by lunch they had 82 on the board in 29 overs. Fifty had come in the 18th over; Giles had made all the difference to the over-rate. A start time of 10.30 a.m. is unnaturally early to be fully awake and alert but the great god money has spoken so that all the six Tests broadcast on Channel 4 this summer will begin at 10.30 so that it finishes before their highly-valued news programme. If only the authorities would fine teams that did not finish on time. Umpire Taufel turned down another concerted appeal for a catch behind off Richardson's shoulder when Harmison made another one lift.

By the 35th over both batsmen were beyond fifty and 100 had been scored and none of the England bowling was anything but intelligent trundle. Michael Vaughan rang changes — Harmison and Giles from both ends, short spells, Flintoff round the wicket, an orthodox field and two short legs for Harmison, his trump card — but the slow and easy pitch was not impressed; both the umpires and the pitch dozed.

Two leg before appeals went unanswered presumably because umpire Taufel thought the ball hit outside the line. New technology could — and should — answer all these doubts. After 45 overs — half way — Giles had bowled ten, the batsmen had 135 and the mind sped back to 1989 when Mark Taylor and Geoff Marsh batted all day as the basis for their stand of 329 and Australia's 602. New Zealand was 135 without loss; Test cricket for the purists and the pundits; fun to play maybe but not a joy to watch.

The 150 came in the 49th over with a four through mid-wicket and a six into the mid-wicket crowd, both by Fleming off Giles. But Richardson was out at 163 when he flicked the ball off his legs straight to short mid off. He has batted 20 hours and 11 minutes in the series. Just before tea at 196 for one Fleming went casually to his seventh Test century, which he missed by seven runs at Headingley. His caution paid off for, after a big shout for leg before by Saggers on 96, he picked a

loose ball off his toes into the stand at square leg. It was one of the few stylish moments of a drab day.

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