The Hindu : Sport : Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior make merry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 19, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior make merry

Ted Corbett

England makes most of West Indies’ limited bowling resources

Collingwood hits his fifth Test century
Collingwood and Prior had a stand of 169

RESOLUTE KNOCK: Paul Collingwood once again proved his worth with a gritty century. — Photo: AP

CHESTER-LE-STREET: Once again West Indies threatened to undermine England at the Riverside but without the injured Dwayne Bravo’s bowling and with its quickest bowler Fidel Edwards also nursing his ankle, it allowed Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior to complete a stand 169 for the seventh wicket and gain a first innings lead.

Even though so much time had been lost to rain, there were still 190 overs left when the fourth day began and that was plenty of time to win or lose a low-scoring match on a lively pitch. There were difficulties galore in the middle; on the outer there was just one subject of conversation — how Michael Vaughan could be replaced as captain of the one-day side.

Vaughan being replaced?

Each newspaper had a hint of Vaughan’s departure and soon after the start the ECB press people said there would be a short statement at the close of play. I have spoken to half a dozen reliable people who say he has offered to stand down and the rumours combined with the media blitz meant that an unstoppable bandwagon was rolling which meant the selectors had no choice but to get rid of the batsman who has never fulfillled his promise as a one-day player.

Vaughan has mentioned the wish of the new coach Peter Moores to have only players who will still be around for the next World Cup. Vaughan, 32, is unlikely to be a regular then, even if his knee holds up. The favourites to succeed him are Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen who sounds the most interesting choice not least because he has little leadership experience. But he is sure to be involved in the next World Cup and that seems to be the only measuring stick at the moment.

Andrew Strauss, back to form — the papers said — after his fifty overnight, went quickly for 77, caught behind off Edwards. Ian Bell never looked at home in his 50 minutes at the crease for 11 and Collingwood has developed an aversion for the quick stuff.

The genuine measure of the pitch was given by Matt Prior who is a fine judge of the innings that is needed. He dropped anchor with Collingwood and they took the score from 165 for six when Bell was out to 202 at lunch. Prior was almost run out by a sharp throw from Denesh Ramdin off his second ball.

Edwards, who had four wickets, was ignored by Daren Ganga because he had injured his ankle. As Bravo’s left ankle had gone again, West Indies was forced to rely on its part timers Chris Gayle and Samuels.

Prior hits out

After a long spell on 25, Prior caught a breeze, hit Samuels for six and three off successive balls as Samuel went for 16 in an over which left England only 18 runs short of the West Indies total of 287.

Ganga took the new ball as soon as it became available and Prior slammed the first two deliveries for four and six to reach his fifty off 87 balls; Corey Collymore’s first went for 16.

Collingwood reached his fifth Test century off 149 balls with his 13th boundary as 13 came off the second new ball over. West Indies thought it had Prior caught behind but by this point the West Indies’ out-cricket was in disarray. It had conceded 96 runs off the last 15 overs. The England pair pinched runs as they pleased until Prior was caught by Devon Smith at deep mid-wicket to give Edwards his fifth wicket. The session had cost West Indies 139 runs and its last chance to squeeze a win from this final Test.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport