The Hindu : Anderson's hat-trick, Trescothick's fireworks spell Pakistan's doom

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 21, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Anderson's hat-trick, Trescothick's fireworks spell Pakistan's doom

By Ted Corbett

England's James Anderson (centre) is congratulated by teammates on completing his hat-trick with the dismissal of Pakistan's Mohammad Sami in the second one-day International at The Ovalon Friday.

LONDON June 20. He is as fresh-faced as a Hogwarts six former, so shy you know that he would rather face Brett Lee than a television interviewer, and a month short of his 21st birthday; yet today he took the first hat-trick by an England one-day International bowler and headed down a path that may one day see him replace David Beckham in the star stakes although not the queue at the bank.

James Anderson, a lad trying out his fast bowling in the quieter backwaters of north Lancashire only a year ago, had a day that often escapes cricketers in 10 years international experience. With the first ball of the second one-dayer against Pakistan at the Oval, he captured the wicket of opener Imran Nazir.

He then bowled eight overs for only 27 runs and finished by cutting short the Pakistani tail: Abdul Razzaq caught at mid-off, Shoaib Akhtar caught behind and Mohammad Sami yorked in successive balls.

In the sort of heat that has the average Englishman reaching for the air-conditioning switch — 24 degrees to be exact — The Oval crowd erupted.

Fifteen bowlers have completed 18 one-day hat-tricks in 2026 matches in the last 30 years; no Englishman has done so in 373 games.

As Anderson led England off the field, the roars from the capacity crowd brought only a diffident grin and he was clearly embarrassed to be interviewed before he left the field.

"All three balls were meant to be yorkers,'' he confessed. "I back myself to clean up tail-enders with yorkers. It's been a great day.'' Never mind that only the ball that bowled Sami was remotely near yorker length, Anderson is clearly built for success.

Sixteen one-day games have brought 30 wickets at 20 while two Tests have given him 11 wickets at the same cost. He is a treasure, living proof that English cricket can find young talent to match Beckham, Michael Owen, Justin Rose and Tim Henman and a desperately needed boost for a game already drawing in new crowds by way of the Twenty20 bish-bash.

His four for 27 was his best bowling performance in six months as a one-day fast bowler and today's burst reminded one of Nasser Hussain's words in the Australian tri-series final: "You are The Man!''

So he may be and for — fingers crossed — years to come.

Marcus Trescothick, who has been in the dumps recently, set England on the way to victory by seven wickets when he blazed away for twelve 4s in 50 out of 75, and celebrated as if he was enjoying his batting again.

He hit Mohammad Hafeez's fourth ball on to a distant roof so that England was half way to its target in 10 overs with Trescothick on 69, and at times he was striking the ball for 4 and turning away without attempting to run.

England needed only 22 overs to reach its target. One big hit too many had him caught at 86 off 55 balls with two 6s and sixteen 4s.

In its own way it was as powerful a statement as Anderson's hat-trick which may explain why the new captain Michael Vaughan went in to bat with a grin visible under his helmet and sent two of his first four balls crashing through the covers.

Those boundaries enabled him to catch up with Vikram Solanki who had been batting an hour. One can only assume Solanki was mesmerised by Trescothick's fireworks display.

From Anderson's first minute success Pakistan was always in trouble against a swinging ball, Anderson's precision and Darren Gough who had two wickets in two balls in the 19th over.

Pakistan's only consolation was an undefeated 75 out of 185 from Yousuf Youhana, who alternated watchfulness and extravagant strokes. Half the side was out for 73 by the 23rd over and only an aggressive seventh-wicket stand of 72 off 76 balls with Azhar Mahmood produced a respectable score.

But on the day that ends with the publication of the fourth Harry Potter book it was only right that a young magician should wave his wand to produce a magic hat-trick.

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

Sport