da cassino online： Dominic Cork, with a memorable bowling performance on his return to Testcricket after a twenty-month absence and a very commendable effort fromDarren Gough, restricted West Indies to a moderate score after the touristsseemed well on the way to
Andy Jalil29-Jun-2000Dominic Cork, with a memorable bowling performance on his return to Testcricket after a twenty-month absence and a very commendable effort fromDarren Gough, restricted West Indies to a moderate score after the touristsseemed well on the way to posting an imposing total.Claiming four for 39 from twenty six overs, which included an inspired spellof three for 16 from eleven overs after tea, Cork was chiefly responsible forcrippling the West Indian batting. Gough had not been particularly effectivein his earlier spell but he, too, came back strongly after tea, striking twovitally important blows with the dismissal of Brian Lara and Jimmy Adams.While Gough will be pleased with his spell late in the day and Cork will havegood reason to celebrate his return to the big stage, the rest of England’sbowling was disappointing and, on 162 for one (a run out), West Indies couldhardly have wished for a better start.To get back in the series after their crushing defeat in the first Test,England, ideally, needed to put West Indies under pressure from the start.But having called correctly at the toss, which was a good one to win in theconditions – it was overcast and there was some early life in the pitch -England failed to take advantage. To make it worse for themselves they evenfailed to accept chances that were offered by both opening batsmen early intheir innings.With an attack that lacked variety, England bowlers made little impressionduring the first half of the day. As off-spinner, Robert Croft was omittedfrom the final eleven, it left England with just seam bowling at theirdisposal. Of these bowlers, only Gough and Andy Caddick have had creditableperformances this season. With Matthew Hoggard making his debut, Corkreturning to the Test scene after a long gap and Craig White after an evenlonger absence, the selectors were taking a bit of a chance.If their argument was on the basis that the West Indians’ seam attack hasbeen so effective, then they would do well to remember that the tourists’bowling has in its ranks two of the great exponents of the art. CourtneyWalsh, at 37 and Curtly Ambrose at 36 still remain a very formidable pair.One need not look any further back than the last Test, at Edgbaston, forproof of their present standing.White was unimpressive in his eight overs, one of which provided Wavell Hindswith three stylish cover drives. Hoggard’s bowling was promising in his earlyspell but later fell apart and Franklyn Rose helped himself to a 6,4,2 and 4in one over.Some injudicious stroke-play and the late spells of Cork and Gough saw thetourists lose eight for 96 to end the day on 267 for nine. If England can batwell, they have a chance to put themselves in a strong position in thismatch.