The Hindu : Sport : England continues to dominate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 15, 2006

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Sport

England continues to dominate

Ted Corbett

LONDON: Below the spacecraft that doubles as the Lord's Press Box, Pakistan's field is spread as if might be for the final of the World Cup rather than the first Test of four. Umar Gul is bowling short of a length as wide of the off stump as he dare; alternately Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell are putting careful bats to defensive balls. Stalemate even though England is approaching 500; not the sort of cricket that will drag the spectators back from long lunches.

Of course it may win Tests which is what England is planning. Even though 116 runs were scored before lunch when the Pakistan bowling varied between the dreadful and the appalling, those fans still watching would rather Andrew Flintoff were in the middle providing the action. One or two — the minority of Pakistanis a couple of neutrals, a bunch of cricket purists — would happily see a couple of wickets fall. Little chance of that on an unyielding pitch, under a bright blue sky in what we Englishmen believe passes for high summer. Until Danish Kaneria found line and length and just enough spin.

Cook departs

England, needing victory while Pakistan still lacking Shoaib Akhtar and Naved-ul-Hasan, began on 309 for three, against the new ball that Inzamam-ul-Haq kept in reserve overnight.

It soon brought it its only success of the first three hours when in the fifth over of the day Mohammad Sami whipped a fast delivery through Alastair Cook's unsure defence and scattered his stumps.

One good ball does not make a session and for the rest of the two hours to lunch Pakistan scattered the ball around like drunks tossing confetti at a wedding. Even Ian Bell, a shadow in this batting line-up, broke free to take boundaries on both sides of the wicket. Bell is at his best applying grit but on Friday the bowling was so inviting he made like Gary Sobers in a festival match.

Collingwood and Cook had put on 233 in 78 overs and now Collingwood, another batsman best when fighting rather than flaying the bowling, clearly set himself to both a personal best beyond 190 and a Test double hundred.

England totalled 425 at lunch; all Pakistan had to show was one wicket, a couple of half chances and six weary bowlers.

Brake applied

During the first hour after lunch, when acceleration might have been the order of the day, the brake was applied. Only 28 runs came in the first hour and at 441 Collingwood pushed forward and was stumped. At least Kamran Akmal is still as quick and sure as ever. Indeed he might give England's No.7 batsman Geraint Jones lesson both sides of the stumps for Jones, without a nought in 48 Test innings, averages seven in his last seven innings and his time is running out. He soon Stretched his duck-free run to 49 innings — compared to Aravinda de Silva's 75 before he failed to score — as England pushed beyond 450 and Jones hit Sami over point for six.

In a score so large there is usually a distinguished innings but not today. You can say Collingwood proved his worth, but Cook and Bell played flawed innings that proved how far they have to go.

Kaneria changed the game in six overs. Steve Bucknor gave Jones out lbw to Kaneria — slowly at 469 — but hardly as tardily as some Pakistani fielders who had decided chasing the ball was not worth much effort. Liam Plunkett was Kaneria's third victim, caught at slip, and the innings drifted to 495 for seven at tea, a shadow of the score that looked possible two hours earlier.

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