Windies 31-year unbeaten series record against England is in danger

Much of the euphoria after England’s comprehensive first Test victory dissipated in the rain and gloom of Nottingham over the final two days. England bowled without control on Sunday and batted without concentration on Monday. In the end the home team were happy to escape with a draw after succumbing for 147 in their second innings.

“We did not bowl two or three balls in an over in the right place and some of our shot selection after we had been 200-1 in the first innings was not brilliant,” conceded England captain Nasser Hussain.

Hussain, suffering like all his teammates from limited match practice in the damp English summer, fell cheaply for the third time in a row at the pivotal number three position.

Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, the ageing but still potent West Indies’ opening bowlers, would also have noted with interest the reaction of Mark Ramprakash to his early dismissal on Monday.

Ramprakash looked the part in his new role of opener with a composed 56 in the England first innings but managed only four in the second. He thrusted his bat at a television camera tracking his progress to the pavilion, betraying the tensions which have bedevilled him since a highly promising debut against West Indies nine years ago.

Graeme Hick, successfully targeted by the West Indies in the same 1991 series, showed in his century at Lord’s that he can still murder second rate bowling. Under greater pressure at Trent Bridge he scored five in the first innings and threw his wicket away after mustering 30 in the second.

The England pace attack were off-song after their efficient demolition job at Lord’s, leg-spinner Chris Schofield showed his inexperience with a succession of full tosses and Andy Flintoff once again did not look the part with either bat or ball.

“I don’t see it as a step back or a step forward,” said Hussain. “I would say in this series, and the series before, there’s been a gradual improvement. West Indies will be difficult opponents and, considering we have not beaten them for 31 years, I can’t see how the bookies can make us favourites.”

Zimbabwe, in addition to the turmoil back home, have endured a succession of personal tragedies on their maiden tour of England. They wore black armbands throughout the Test in memory of the murder on his farm of Tony Oates, whose son had played for Zimbabwe.

During the match they learned that the mother of Gary Brent, 12th man in the first Test, had died of a heart attack and that the aunt of all-rounder Guy Whittal had died of cancer. “It’s been a difficult few days but these things happen and the guys got on with it quite well,” said captain Andy Flower.

“The bowlers did a brilliant job and they are proud of the way they performed.” (Reuters)