The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Thorpe scores century

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 16, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Thorpe scores century

By Ted Corbett

MANCHESTER. Aug. 15. In the midst of one of the dullest sessions of play of this summer pre-lunch play in the third Test between England and the West Indies included an over by Fidel Edwards so dramatic that it lasted more than 11 minutes.

It included a three-minute break for an injury to Graham Thorpe who was nine short of a century, a no-ball for too many deliveries above shoulder height and one missile at 95.6 miles an hour.

England had resumed at 233 for five, with Thorpe on 89 and the night watchman Matthew Hoggard ready to face the new ball which Brian Lara, the West Indies captain, grabbed at the first opportunity.

Best rhythm

Thirty minutes later Edwards was bowling only his third over of a slow morning, but he had his best rhythm of the series and the confidence to let fly.

The first ball was timed at 95 miles an hour, lifted off just short of a length, hit Thorpe on the hand and the helmet and dropped near the leg stump. The ball was so savage that Thorpe leapt into the air; the blow to the hand required attention and the strike on the helmet so hard that one of the bolts flew away towards fine leg.

Thorpe escaped to the other end from a leg bye off the next ball and Hoggard faced the rest of the over, hitting a two and evading the next two, one of which was again near 96 miles an hour.

After the no-ball for height Edwards produced an 89 miles an hour swinging length ball around off stump. Afterwards his bowling clearly deteriorated.

Sober celebration

You could tell how shaken Thorpe was by his celebration for his 15th Test century — his third against the West Indies and his second at Old Trafford — was sober compared with his dervish whirl a couple of months ago at Trent Bridge.

It may also have been to do with the tempo of play: two hours, 65 runs of which 21 were extras in 22 overs. Disgraceful, even taking Thorpe's injury into account. Lara has despaired of orthodox success and switched to contrived declarations, slow over rates and gamesmanship for wickets.

Thorpe, having taken two hours before lunch to score 20 runs, was caught at slip 20 minutes after off Dwayne Bravo who went on to persuade Geraint Jones to play on and caught and bowled Ashley Giles: three wickets in 14 balls for a 20-year-old cricketer with 77, six for 55 and a future.

England, all out 330 and 65 behind, was without Thorpe whose broken little finger means he is doubtful for the final Test on Thursday.

If the West Indies dawdled when it was bowling it hardly hit motorway speeds batting. Sylvester Joseph was caught at mid-off driving Andrew Flintoff at 41 but 50 did not come up until the 15th over.

At tea, even with a lead of 123, the West Indies seemed unable to believe it was in a position to win.

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