England reaches 106 for three in Test against Australia
By Vic Mills
LEEDS, England (JP): England reached 106 for three at stumps on the first day of the fourth Cornhill Test against Australia at Headingley. Interruptions for rain and bad light had earlier restricted play to just 36 overs.
The day began with Australian captain, Mark Taylor, winning the toss for the fourth time in the series and inviting England to bat under overcast conditions and on a pitch that promised assistance to faster bowlers.
With Andrew Caddick omitted from the side that lost heavily in Manchester, England awarded a first Test cap to the Gloucestershire left-arm swing bowler, Mike Smith.
Bad light and showers permitted just four overs before an early lunch was taken with England nine without loss. The restart lasted just five balls before heavy rain and thunder sent the players scurrying back to their newspapers and cards schools.
Opener Mike Atherton and Mark Butcher began positively when play eventually got under way just before five o'clock. The ball seamed around on the controversial second choice pitch, but the batsmen were spared its worst excesses as Glenn McGrath and Paul Reiffel strayed in line and length.
Butcher in particular took heavy toll on McGrath with boundaries through square leg and mid-off. Not to miss out on the fun, Atherton took consecutive fours off McGrath with sweetly timed shots off his legs through backward square.
It was with a certain amount of relief, and a huge slice of luck, that Australia made the break through. With the score on 43, Butcher (24) turned Reiffel off the meat of the bat to a crouched Greg Blewett at short leg. The ball smacked into his midriff, where, amid a tangle of arms, elbows and thighs, he pouched the catch.
England stumbled to 58 for two, Blewett again to the fore, when a delivery from Jason Gillespie bounced a little more than Alec Stewart (7) anticipated forcing the Surrey batsmen to glove a gentle, looping catch to short leg.
Atherton and Nasser Hussain steadied the innings, as the noisy but well behaved crowd of 15,500 basked in the early evening sunshine.
Drama
But the drama was not over as the previously wayward McGrath produced the delivery of the day to dismiss Hussain (26) and leave England 103 for three. The Essex right-hander could do little but edge a delivery that seamed and bounced to Taylor at first slip. Atherton (34) and nightwatchman Dean Headley (0) added another three runs as they successfully negotiated the remaining two overs.
Earlier in the day, Australia made both a verbal and written complaint to the England Cricket Board (ECB) about the decision to switch the pitch for the fourth Test.
Tour manager Alan Crompton officially complained to David Graveney, the England chairmen of selectors, and indicated he would be writing to Tim Lamb, the chief executive of the ECB.
England claim they decided on the switch following an inspection last week by ECB Pitches Inspector, Harry Brind, because the alternative was better suited to Test cricket. Brind informed John Carr, the ECB's Operation Manager, of his decision and Graveney cut short his holiday in Spain to examine the new surface.
Crompton has not been satisfied with England's explanation, and believes Graveney had a greater say in the decision.
"We have no problem with changing pitches to produce a better Test pitch and a better match," Crompton said.
"But it is totally inappropriate that the decision should be made by the English chairman of selectors.
"Our only concern is the identity of the person who took the decision to change the pitch. We have no other concern and we made this clear before a ball was bowled so there is no suggestion of sour grapes."