England begins its climb towards 'respect'

By Ted Corbett

LONDON, MAY 18. England had a perfect start to their seven-Test summer when it bowled Zimbabwe out in 30.3 overs at Lord's today. From the selectors to the coach and almost every member of the side England got everything right. Yes, it was only Zimbabwe but it is the start of a climb towards ``respect'' which is Nasser Hussain's new target.

You won't hear that England achieved perfection every day of this season so it is worth saying now. Luckless Zimbabwe had the worst of the pitch and only a curse from Dame Fortune.

The England selectors promised last week-end that if the cloud cover was thick or the wicket green they would give a new chance to Ed Giddins, the maverick fast bowler who got himself fit last winter by cruising down the Amazon, dabbling with piranhas and then honing his body at the Lilleshall sports training centre.

Giddins had to wait, but once Nasser Hussain had won the toss and put Zimbabwe in there was always a hope that he would run through any side. But first Andy Caddick took the wickets of Grant Flower, yorked, Trevor Gripper, caught off his gloves and Alistair Campbell who settled all the obvious doubts in the mind of umpire David Orchard by walking. He had figures of three for five but at the end he could not get back on because Giddins took out a batsman an over.

A stand of 38 by Murray Goodwin and the captain Andy Flower turned three for eight into 46 for four when Giddins had Flower caught off his fourth ball. Flower must have thought he had the ball in the middle of the bat but the late swing gave Mike Atherton a gentle shin high catch at first slip and in the following over Goodwin was brilliantly caught by the athletic Nick Knight, left-handed at second slip. Zimbabwe was batting badly.

Neil Johnson, who is too talented to bat lower in the order than No. 3, and Guy Whittall took the score to 67 when Whittall tried to pull a ball in the last over before lunch and was bowled off an inside edge. Cloud and rain brought one interruption before lunch and another soon afterwards and, predictably, Heath Streak was caught at slip off Giddins' first ball after the second break.

In his next over Giddins, bowling well within himself, had Bryan Strang caught at short-leg by Mark Ramprakash and in his seventh over Johnson caught at the second attempt off a skier. Giddins had bowled only 36 deliveries to take five for 15 which must have made his jungle safari seem more than worthwhile.

When Darren Gough captured the final wicket Zimbabwe was all out for 83, the lowest score by a visiting Test side at Lord's since 1976.

Zimbabwe was, memorably, shot out for 63 as it attempted to win needing only 99 in Port of Spain in March but although 30.3 overs seems a remarkably short innings India was whipped out for 83 in 27 overs at Mohali last year. England will not want to remember that it almost won that same match.

Eleven sides have made lower totals in Tests at Lord's; but batting in mid-morning under dark clouds at this ground has always been a perilous business as India found here in 1979 when it was all out for 96. That is the last time England bowled any side out for fewer than 100.

England's new opening pair - Ramprakash is Atherton's 12th partner after Gooch, Larkins, Robin Smith, Lathwell, Stewart, Knight, Crawley, Gallian, Butcher, James and Maddy - put bat firmly to ball although Streak got as much reaction from the pitch as Caddick and Giddins.

Ramprakash should have been caught from a straightforward chance behind the wicket off Streak, who changed to the pavilion end after two overs, but off the last ball before tea he was lbw to Streak playing forward for 15, with England on 29.

The forecast thunderstorm arrived during tea and after a downpour so violent that the 18-strong groundstaff crew were driven to shelter half the surface was put under covers.

The day was abandoned to the weather two hours before the close in bright sunshine; but if you play a Test in May such eccentric happenings can be expected.

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