Playthrough - England in the 1990s... and beyond

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
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:wi: West Indies (1) vs (1) England :eng: - Fifth Test at Antigua Recreation Ground :wi:

West Indies XI
:wi: :ar: Phil Simmons
:wi: :bat: Stuart Williams
:wi: :bat: Brian Lara
:wi: :bat: Jimmy Adams
:wi: :bat: Keith Arthurton
:wi: :bat: Shiv Chanderpaul
:wi: :wk: Junior Murray
:wi: :bwl: Winston Benjamin
:wi: :bwl: Curtly Ambrose
:wi: :bwl: Kenny Benjamin
:wi: :bwl: Courtney Walsh :c:

England XI
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :c:
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Michael Atherton
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

Quite unhelpfully for the West Indies ahead of a series decider, both Desmond Haynes and Richie Richardson sustained injuries at Barbados, which meant the return of Phil Simmons and the debut of Stuart Williams. For England, a dismal debut for Ilott seems likely to have curtailed his career after just one match - he is replaced by a second spinner in the form of Such. Robin Smith has also been dropped for the first time in his Test career; instead, Michael Atherton returns to the team to bat at number three. As for the conditions, it's the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Yet again, Gooch won the toss and batted first. Although the openers couldn't add to their impressive collections of Test centuries, one man who could was returning number three Michael Atherton. The Lancastrian made a wonderfully controlled 127, overcoming an objectively excellent fast bowling attack to register his second Test century. His main partner in crime was Graeme Hick, who was excellent as usual but fell short of three figures yet again - this time on 81. After that, wickets started to fall - a brief partnership between Atherton and Thorpe notwithstanding. By the time last-man Peter Such arrived at the wicket, Thorpe had reached an excellent half-century but looked likely to be stranded. He... wasn't. Instead, he raced to a superb maiden Test century, dragging his team past 400 in the process.

After losing all their momentum to a last-wicket stand of 61, the West Indies needed to get back into a rhythm. The early loss of Simmons was not promising (though nor was it surprising), but a partnership of high quality between Williams and Lara soon put them back on course. A fine debut innings of 97 fell just short of a century for Williams, but Lara had no such trouble. His century meant that he had scored 393 runs between dismissals. The man to end that streak - Tufnell - had done a long time between wickets himself, and will have been grateful for the breakthrough. Their nemesis finally gone, England set about chasing parity in the game; it still seemed a long way off until a highly unexpected triple-wicket maiden from Angus Fraser changed the game entirely. In ten hectic minutes, the West Indies lost their last five wickets for nine runs in the space of only 12 balls, and DeFreitas finished with another five-for.

A lead of seventeen isn't much to work with, but some aggressive batting from England meant that it grew rapidly. Gooch and Stewart both scored half-centuries in a partnership that came at five runs per over, helping England to start the final day 189 runs ahead. When exactly would they declare? How much was Gooch willing to risk in order to chase the Wisden Trophy that had been in West Indian possession since 1973? The question was somewhat taken out of his hands by a flurry of English wickets, although the fact that he will have instructed batsman after batsman to go out and play their shots is an answer in and of itself.

With a target of 284 to win, and 75 overs in which to do it, everyone present was expecting a thriller. And they were absolutely right to. Aggressive contributions from Simmons, Williams and Chanderpaul, pitted against important wickets from Fraser and Tufnell, helped the West Indies to reach tea 173 for five - with 111 more runs to win, the classic cliché of all results being on the table very much applied. Junior Murray, who had hitherto had a very quiet Test series, set his sights on one result in particular: a West Indian win. His aggressive 88 carried the West Indies almost all the way to the line: with six overs left, the West Indies needed just 14 more runs. England needed three wickets. The draw was still somewhat possible.

DeFreitas (bowling to Murray) - • • • W • • - The crucial wicket of Murray came from the worst ball of the over. Short and wide and top-edged to Angus Fraser.

Such (bowling to Ambrose - 15 to win from 30) - 1 • • • • • - A very tidy over from the off-spinner.

DeFreitas (bowling to Ambrose - 14 to win from 24) - • • • • • W - Full, straight, and reverse swinging into the left-hander! A plumb LBW and a huge moment for England.

Fraser (bowling to Benjamin - 18 balls left to draw) - • • • • • • - An immaculate maiden, well defended by Kenny Benjamin.

DeFreitas (bowling to Walsh - 12 balls left to draw) - 4 • • • W - OUT! Caught by Gooch diving full-stretch to his left in the slips! What a way to win back the Wisden Trophy.

West Indies 1 - 2 England. What a series.

1612016088304.png

I'm also adding a Player of the Season award in the style of the Allan Border Medal - the Barrington Medal.

Drawn or lost match
Best player - 3 points
2nd best player - 2 points
3rd best player - 1 point

Won match
Best player - 5 points
2nd best player - 3 points
3rd best player - 2 points
4th best player - 1 point

Standings
1. Phillip DeFreitas - 8 points (+5)
2. Angus Fraser - 7 points (+2)
3. Graham Gooch - 6 points
4. Alec Stewart - 4 points
=5. Michael Atherton - 3 points (+3)
=5. Mark Ramprakash - 3 points
=5. Peter Such - 3 points
=8. Graeme Hick - 2 points
=8. Phil Tufnell - 2 points
=10. Chris Lewis - 1 point
=10. Graham Thorpe - 1 point (+1)
And I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but it looks like Phillip DeFreitas has won another Barrington Medal. In fairness to him, 20 wickets at 26.50 is a very solid return for the series, but Gooch's 571 runs @ 57.10 would seem more deserving. It goes to show that cricket isn't just about your numbers, it's about when and how you earn those numbers, because without DeFreitas' bowling at important times in the Third and Fifth Tests, England couldn't have got near winning that series.
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
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Location
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Records

Highest Innings Score
for :eng:
571 for 5 dec. vs West Indies, The Oval 1991
vs :eng: 571 all out, Australia, Adelaide Oval 1991

Lowest Innings Score
for :eng:
122 all out vs New Zealand, Edgbaston 1990
vs :eng: 83 all out, West Indies, Queens Park Oval 1994

Highest Innings
for :eng:
294, Graham Gooch vs West Indies, The Oval 1991
vs :eng: 239*, Brian Lara, West Indies, Kensington Oval 1994

Best Innings Bowling
for :eng:
8 for 47, Peter Such vs India, Calcutta 1993
vs :eng: 7 for 66, Wasim Akram, Pakistan, Headingley 1992

Best Match Bowling
for :eng:
12 for 173, Phil Tufnell vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 1993
vs :eng: 11 for 137, Wasim Akram, Pakistan, Headingley 1992

All-Time Record for Most Runs in a Series
1016 - Graham Gooch vs West Indies, 1991

Partnerships
1. 190 - Graham Gooch & Tim Robinson vs Australia :aus: 1991
2. 192 - Alec Stewart & Mike Atherton vs Sri Lanka :sri: 1993
3. 325 - Graham Gooch & Robin Smith vs West Indies :wi: 1991
4. 247 - Robin Smith & Graeme Hick vs Pakistan :pak: 1992
5. 176 - Graeme Hick & Jack Russell vs West Indies :wi: 1991
6. 133 - Graham Thorpe & Jack Russell vs West Indies :wi: 1994
7. 174 - Chris Lewis & Phillip DeFreitas vs Australia :aus: 1993
8. 54 - Chris Lewis & Andy Caddick vs Australia :aus: 1993
9. 69 - Gladstone Small & Angus Fraser vs Australia :aus: 1990
10. 61 - Graham Thorpe & Peter Such vs West Indies :wi: 1994

Honours Board
:bat:
:wi: vs :eng:, 1989-90
Graham Gooch - 112
Robin Smith - 101
Robin Smith - 112
Graham Gooch - 100

:eng: vs :nzf:, 1990
Graham Gooch - 127
Rob Bailey - 196

:eng: vs :ind:, 1990
none

:aus: vs :eng:, 1990-91
Robin Smith - 110
Graham Gooch - 170

:eng: vs :wi:, 1991
Robin Smith - 127
Graham Gooch - 175*
Graeme Hick - 108*

Graham Gooch - 165
Graham Gooch - 294
Robin Smith - 145


:eng: vs :sri:, 1991
Alec Stewart - 166
Graeme Hick - 100


:nzf: vs :eng:, 1991-92
Alec Stewart - 126*
Graham Gooch - 124
Graeme Hick - 107


:eng: vs :pak:, 1992
Graham Gooch - 103
Robin Smith - 132
Graeme Hick - 147

Graham Gooch - 150*

:ind: vs :eng:, 1992-93
Graham Gooch - 132
Alec Stewart - 151*

Mike Atherton - 147
Robin Smith - 137


:sri: vs :eng:, 1992-93
Alec Stewart - 137
Robin Smith - 102*


:eng: vs :aus:, 1993
Alec Stewart - 132
Alec Stewart - 111
Graham Gooch - 139
Chris Lewis - 114*

:wi: vs :eng:, 1993-94
Graham Gooch - 143
Alec Stewart - 156
Graham Gooch - 167
Mike Atherton - 127
Graham Thorpe - 111


:bwl:
:wi: vs :eng:, 1989-90
Angus Fraser - 5 for 47
Gladstone Small - 5 for 72

Chris Lewis - 6 for 70

:eng: vs :nzf:, 1990
none

:eng: vs :ind:, 1990
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 116
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 72


:aus: vs :eng:, 1990-91
Angus Fraser - 5 for 116
Devon Malcolm - 6 for 75

:eng: vs :wi:, 1991
Steve Watkin - 5 for 56
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 138
Devon Malcolm - 5 for 47
Angus Fraser - 5 for 86

:eng: vs :sri:, 1991
none

:nzf: vs :eng:, 1991-92
Angus Fraser - 5 for 51
Phil Tufnell - 7 for 57

:eng: vs :pak:, 1992
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 100
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 31
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 45


:ind: vs :eng:, 1992-93
Phil Tufnell - 8 for 114
Peter Such - 8 for 47

Phil Tufnell - 5 for 72
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 167

Phil Tufnell - 7 for 171

:sri: vs :eng:, 1992-93
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 102
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 71


:eng: vs :aus:, 1993
Phil Tufnell - 7 for 105
Phillip DeFreitas - 5 for 19
Phillip DeFreitas - 5 for 62


:wi: vs :eng:, 1993-94
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 141
Peter Such - 6 for 119
Angus Fraser - 5 for 21
Phillip DeFreitas - 5 for 98
Career Statistics
Includes all players who debuted before 1990 and played from that date onwards either in real life or in this universe.


Cap Numbers
Player#DebutLast Test
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch461:eng: v :aus: (1), 1975:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham474:eng: v :aus: (3), 1977:eng: v :ind: (3), 1990
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting477:pak: v :eng: (3), 1977-78:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93
:eng: :bat: David Gower479:eng: v :pak: (1), 1978:eng: v :wi: (2), 1991
:eng: :ar: John Emburey480:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1978:eng: v :aus: (4), 1989
:eng: :bat: Wayne Larkins484:aus: v :eng: (3), 1979-80:eng: v :ind: (1), 1990
:eng: :bat: Allan Lamb494:eng: v :ind: (1), 1982:wi: v :eng: (4), 1989-90
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle495:eng: v :ind: (1), 1982:eng: v :aus: (6), 1989
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings497:eng: v :pak: (1), 1982:wi: v :eng: (5), 1989-90
:eng: :bwl: Neil Foster502:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1983:eng: v :pak: (1), 1992
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson511:ind: v :eng: (1), 1984:eng: v :wi: (5), 1991
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small521:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1986:eng: v :sri:, 1991
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas522:aus: v :eng: (1), 1986-87:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :bat: Neil Fairbrother525:eng: v :pak: (1), 1987:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1987-88
:eng: :ar: David Capel526:eng: v :pak: (3), 1987:eng: v :aus: (6), 1989
:eng: :bwl: Paul Jarvis527:nzf: v :eng: (1), 1987-88:eng: v :pak: (5), 1992
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith530:eng: v :wi: (4), 1988:wi: v :eng: (4), 1993-94
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey531:eng: v :wi: (5), 1988:eng: v :wi: (4), 1991
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard532:eng: v :wi: (5), 1988only Test
:eng: :bwl: Syd Lawrence534:eng: v :sri:, 1988:eng: v :sri:, 1991
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport535:eng: v :sri:, 1988:eng: v :aus: (1), 1989
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell536:eng: v :sri:, 1988:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser537:eng: v :aus: (3), 1989:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton538:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm539:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:wi: v :eng: (1), 1993-94
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden540:eng: v :aus: (6), 1989only Test
- - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart542:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell543:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis544:wi: v :eng: (4), 1989-90:wi: v :eng: (3), 1993-94
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick545:wi: v :eng: (5), 1989-90:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell546:eng: v :ind: (3), 1990:nzf: v :eng: (4), 1991-92
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin547:eng: v :wi: (1), 1991:eng: v :wi: (2), 1991
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such548:eng: v :wi: (3), 1991:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury549:ind: v :eng: (1), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash550:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve551:ind: v :eng: (3), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick552:eng: v :aus: (2), 1993:wi: v :eng: (3), 1993-94
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain553:eng: v :aus: (3), 1993:eng: v :aus: (5), 1993
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott554:wi: v :eng: (4), 1993-94only Test
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe555:wi: v :eng: (4), 1993-94:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94

Captains
PlayerMatWDLFirstLast
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch45191016:eng: v :wi: (5), 1988:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick1100:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93only Test

Batting & Fielding
PlayerMatInnNORunsAvg100s50sBestCtSt
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton25473172739.2521014710-
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey1528181530.191219615-
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell4406516.25--482-
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham (RET)1081767565633.471425208135-
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick712216416.40--37*--
:eng: :ar: David Capel (RET)1118029316.27-2984-
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:2438360917.40-1826-
:eng: :ar: John Emburey (RET)608918154021.49-87533-
:eng: :bat: Neil Fairbrother44051.25--33-
:eng: :bwl: Neil Foster (RET)39601260012.50--42*13-
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser4057850310.27--347-
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting7012114403737.7391920753-
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo:1162158932345.042252294132-
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)12421517850642.96154721575-
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings (RET)1319333220.75-1954-
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick28514205543.7241314748-
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain2303411.33--333-
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden1112---2*1-
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott12226---25*--
:eng: :bwl: Paul Jarvis1015418917.18--35*1-
:eng: :bat: Allan Lamb (RET)601059322433.58912137*53-
:eng: :bat: Wayne Larkins (RET)1019034818.31--435-
:eng: :bwl: Syd Lawrence22063.00--4--
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis35558121925.9413114*30-
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm253591746.69--14*6-
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard120136.50--10--
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport2307023.33--361-
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle2136351215.51-2667-
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash815148834.86-576*--
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve120126.00--6--
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson :slvo:41716236236.3341217514-
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell518717229932.84113128*14110
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury1102121.00--21--
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small2026738220.10-2592-
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo:51958399245.88102214516-
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart24473214348.70761666-
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such10135455.63--14*4-
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe24027568.75112-
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:3145101584.51--368-
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin2405513.75--27--

Bowling
PlayerMatOvrRunsWktsAvgEcon5WI10WMBest
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton2573305933.894.2--3/32
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey1543175287.504.1--1/0
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell41914691142.632.5--3/72
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham (RET)10837791122340028.133.02748/34
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick72787431841.282.7--4/71
:eng: :ar: David Capel112096281252.333.0--2/13
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:2485724146934.992.8415/19
:eng: :ar: John Emburey602371510513836.992.16-7/78
:eng: :bat: Neil Fairbrother4290-4.5---
:eng: :bwl: Neil Foster391451390211533.932.7518/107
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser401645402512033.542.44-5/21
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting70125317479.252.5--1/14
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo:1163067401743.532.4--2/12
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)124620120.003.3--1/1
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings1351314543146.902.8--4/90
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick2861229638.173.8--3/38
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain2--------
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden137146348.673.9--2/91
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott1381271127.003.3--1/106
:eng: :bwl: Paul Jarvis1035910692641.123.0--4/50
:eng: :bat: Allan Lamb (RET)60523123.004.6--1/6
:eng: :bat: Wayne Larkins (RET)10--------
:eng: :bwl: Syd Lawrence268223455.753.3--2/74
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis35101727697536.922.71-6/70
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm2587928468732.713.22-6/75
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard1--------
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport292339937.663.7--4/87
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle2162518074837.642.92-5/95
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash8120-2.0---
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve114390-2.8---
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson :slvo:41100-0.0---
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell51--------
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury113760-5.9---
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small2078419806033.002.53-5/48
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo:51--------
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart24--------
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such1048614424830.043.02-8/47
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe2--------
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:361651484417727.372.91558/114
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin264223544.603.51-5/56

Records and stats are updated again.

Honestly, now I've slept on it I can barely believe we burgled that series. Almost nobody actually had a good series - especially with the ball. Tufnell averaged over 50, Caddick averaged over 60, and Mark Ilott happened. We really turned up at the big moments, but apart from that we were dreadful
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
Okay, so I'm also tempted to keep track of Test rankings (of a sort) in this thread, with a note on how my results playing as England change them. If I do, this is what those rankings will look like.

World Test Rankings
Minumum qualification: 5 series

RankTeamRating
1:wi: West Indies750
2:pak: Pakistan708
3:eng: England667
4:saf: South Africa600
5:ind: India467
6:aus: Australia417
7:nzf: New Zealand231
8:sri: Sri Lanka208
-:zim: Zimbabwe125


Opp.HomeAway
:eng:L (1-0)L (3-2)
:ind:W (4-0)D (0-0
:nzf:W (2-0)D (1-1)
:pak:L (3-2)L (1-0)
:saf:--
:sri:W (1-0)W (1-0)
:wi:L (2-1)L (2-1)
:zim:--
Opp.HomeAway
:aus:W (3-2)W (1-0)
:ind:L (3-0)W (2-1)
:nzf:W (2-1)W (2-0)
:pak:W (1-0)L (1-0)
:saf:--
:sri:W (1-0)W (1-0)
:wi:L (2-1)W (2-1)
:zim:--
Opp.HomeAway
:aus:D (0-0)L (4-0)
:eng:L (2-1)W (3-0)
:nzf:W (2-1)D (0-0)
:pak:L (1-0)D (0-0)
:saf:D (1-1)D (1-1)
:sri:W (3-0)W (1-0)
:wi:D (1-1)L (3-0)
:zim:--
Opp.HomeAway
:aus:D (1-1)L (2-0)
:eng:L (2-0)L (2-1)
:ind:D (0-0)L (2-1)
:pak:L (2-1)L (3-0)
:saf:--
:sri:W (1-0)W (1-0)
:wi:D (1-1)L (2-0)
:zim:--
Opp.HomeAway
:aus:W (1-0)L (1-0)
:eng:W (1-0)W (3-2)
:ind:D (0-0)W (1-0)
:nzf:W (3-0)W (2-1)
:saf:--
:sri:W (1-0)D (1-1)
:wi:D (1-1)L (2-0)
:zim:--
Opp.HomeAway
:aus:D (1-1)D (1-1)
:eng:--
:ind:W (1-0)-
:nzf:--
:pak:--
:sri:-W (1-0)
:wi:-L (1-0)
:zim:--
Opp.HomeAway
:aus:L (1-0)L (1-0)
:eng:L (1-0)L (1-0)
:ind:L (1-0)L (3-0)
:nzf:W (1-0)D (0-0)
:pak:D (1-1)L (1-0)
:saf:L (1-0)-
:wi:D (0-)-
:zim:--
Opp.HomeAway
:aus:W (2-1)W (2-1)
:eng:L (2-1)W (2-1)
:ind:W (3-0)D (1-1)
:nzf:W (2-0)D (1-1)
:pak:W (2-0)D (1-1)
:saf:W (1-0)-
:sri:-D (0-0)
:zim:--
Opp.HomeAway
:aus:--
:eng:--
:ind:D (0-0)L (1-0)
:nzf:L (1-0)-
:pak:-L (2-0)
:saf:--
:sri:--
:wi:--

Oh, also, our Test series win over the West Indies was the first time they'd lost since New Zealand beat them in 1979-80. Pretty remarkable.

It would also make us the new Bannerman Shield holders
 
Last edited:

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
New Zealand tour of England, 1994

Itinerary

02 Jun 94 - :eng: England vs New Zealand :nzf: - First Test at Trent Bridge - Match drawn
16 Jun 94 - :eng: England vs New Zealand :nzf: - Second Test at Lord's - England won by 4 wickets
30 Jun 94 - :eng: England vs New Zealand :nzf: - Third Test at Old Trafford - Match drawn

England Squad

:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo: :c:

:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo:
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe

:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey :redo:
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell

:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis

:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork :redo:
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough :redo:
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm

:eng: :bwl: Peter Such
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:

The first tour of the 1994 summer will see a Ken Rutherford-led New Zealand team arrive on English shores with a very limited team. As for England, they've got an almost unchanged squad, and why wouldn't they: an excellent victory against the West Indies in the West Indies - something no other team has done for pretty much as long as any of the squad has been playing Test cricket - was not a performance after which the coaching staff would be inspire to drop many of their players. Indeed, only two would get the chop: Mark Ramprakash, who doesn't currently make a full-strength England team, and Mark Ilott, who probably won't make a full-strength England team ever again. In their place come Nasser Hussain, who will hopefully be given a chance to atone for a ropey start to Test cricket with an opportunity against the Kiwis, and Darren Gough, who is a brash young tyro from Up North.

The development of this increasingly strong attack is no doubt being helped by the increasingly common practice of keeping those players in the England squad out of the county game for the duration of tours, a practice brought into the English game at the turn of the 1990s. It also seems that this particular England squad may be trialling something it is not familiar with: a rotation policy. It is as yet unclear whether that will include rotation of the captaincy: Gooch has said that the absolute latest he intends to remain in the team is the end of the upcoming Ashes, but that he will step aside if it is what is best for the team. If he does that, then they'll be needing a new captain, with Hick and Stewart looking like the frontrunners.
 
Last edited:

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
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:eng: England vs New Zealand :nzf: - First Test at Trent Bridge

England XI
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :c:
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Michael Atherton
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough (debut)
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell

New Zealand XI
:nzf: :bat: Bryan Young
:nzf: :bat: Blair Hartland
:nzf: :bat: Ken Rutherford :c:
:nzf: :bat: Martin Crowe
:nzf: :bat: Stephen Fleming
:nzf: :ar: Shane Thomson
:nzf: :wk: Adam Parore
:nzf: :ar: Gavin Larsen
:nzf: :bwl: Matthew Hart
:nzf: :bwl: Dion Nash
:nzf: :bwl: Heath Davis

- - -

New Zealand win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

Despite speculation that England might field a somewhat weakened team against the touring New Zealanders, the side that took to the field at Trent Bridge was more or less full strength. There were a couple of changes to the pace department, with Andy Caddick and Darren Gough forming an exciting young fast bowling duo - the latter on Test debut. New Zealand meanwhile continue for some reason to pick Blair Hartland, something I find too funny to actually continue analysing the rest of the side which seems kinda "meh". Heath Davis might offer some extra pace though.

On the first day though, it Hartland and the rest of the Kiwi top order who more or less did their jobs. The ungainly opener nudged and edged his way to a half-century before finally being dismissed by Phil Tufnell, and captain Ken Rutherford made a brave 87 to continue his streak of scoring runs against England but not really against anyone else. He would be dismissed by the Kiwi-raised Caddick. However, England's comeback to a position of strength with New Zealand at 226 for five was entirely thanks to Phillip DeFreitas, who found his rhythm to take three for 38 on the opening day. One must assume that the Kiwis rested better overnight though, because they came back and rebuilt their innings. A classy 98 from Stephen Fleming underpinned a comeback that took the touring side past the 400 mark, made more painful by a stubborn 44 from Nash at number ten.

Alec Stewart's first-over dismissal did not start the innings as England would have wanted it to carry on, but Gooch and Atherton's aggressive partnership seized back the momentum; they added 167 in roughly three hours of batting, with Atherton recording his third and most impressive Test century. A few more contributions from the middle order would have been nice - Chris Lewis was the only other man to pass 30, and his 39 was not exactly telling. Indeed, the biggest problem for the English batsmen was the left-arm spin of Matthew Hart, taking a disciplined five for 82 despite limited support from his bowling colleagues.

A first-innings lead of just under a hundred was an excellent platform for the Kiwis to work from, and a surprisingly assured 78 from Bryan Young carried New Zealand almost 250 ahead before the second wicket fell. England needed someone, ideally one of their fast men, to seize control of the situation, and that someone was the debutant Gough. He bent his back and ran through the Kiwi middle order on his way to five for 50; support from the spin of Tufnell ensured that England were faced with a target that was at least theoretically achievable, even if chasing 363 definitely was not part of the plan four days prior.

The strategy quickly became obvious: to have one batsman trying to score quickly, and the other preserving their wicket. Graham Gooch did excellently, flaying a dominant 84 before falling LBW to Matthew Hart. Graeme Hick then took on the role of aggressor, getting as far as 40 before he too fell leg before wicket. At that point, there was a decision to be made, and England decided to regroup with Atherton and Thorpe prioritising crease occupation over run-scoring. England had shut up shop, and made it almost to the close without any drama. Until, that is, they lost six for 27 in a handful of overs. With Gough and Tufnell at the crease and 40 minutes left in the day, England were having a Normal One.

But then, something miraculous happened: the tail-enders batted pretty well. Gough, on debut, looked like he was still going for the win: he thumped six boundaries on the way to a weirdly chanceless 35 not out. Tufnell meanwhile batted like his usual self, except without the usual emphasis on getting out. Until the very last ball of the day. Slightly back of a length and towards his body from Gavin Larsen, Tufnell panicked. He fended it towards the packed slip cordon and...

1613047927302.png
It went down!

England escaped with a draw that looked like it had slipped away.

1613047988171.png

I'm also adding a Player of the Season award in the style of the Allan Border Medal - the Barrington Medal.

Drawn or lost match
Best player - 3 points
2nd best player - 2 points
3rd best player - 1 point

Won match
Best player - 5 points
2nd best player - 3 points
3rd best player - 2 points
4th best player - 1 point

Standings
1. Mike Atherton - 3 points (+3)
2. Graham Gooch - 2 points (+2)
3. Darren Gough - 1 point (+1)
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
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PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
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Location
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This thread is a great (and nostalgic) read. Stat packed too! I'm thinking of a 70's equivalent.....but I just know that I don't have this kind of dedication......or patience.
If you're interested in doing so, I'd say go for it. I found this series really therapeutic to do while I had more deadlines than time in the day, and now that I don't have that it's really nice to pick it back up like an old friend
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
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Location
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:eng: England (0) vs (0) New Zealand :nzf: - Second Test at Lord's

England XI
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :c:
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Michael Atherton
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork (debut)
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell

New Zealand XI
:nzf: :bat: Bryan Young
:nzf: :bat: Blair Pocock
:nzf: :bat: Ken Rutherford :c:
:nzf: :bat: Martin Crowe
:nzf: :bat: Stephen Fleming
:nzf: :ar: Shane Thomson
:nzf: :wk: Adam Parore
:nzf: :bwl: Matthew Hart
:nzf: :bwl: Dion Nash
:nzf: :bwl: Chris Pringle
:nzf: :bwl: Michael Owens

- - -

New Zealand win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

There were changes on both sides for the Second Test, including an England debut for Dominic Cork that had seemed to be on the cards for several months before actually happening here at Lord's. Chris Lewis also found himself left out, with Nasser Hussain preferred in the hope that he can become more familiar with playing at Test level. For New Zealand, half of the bowling attack was changed as Chris Pringle and Michael Owens come in for Heath Davis and Gavin Larsen because clearly the Kiwis needed a little bit more right-arm fast-medium in their side. Blair Hartland has also been dropped at last, but replaced with another Blair.

Gooch again lost the toss though, and Rutherford again chose for the Kiwis to have first and best batting use of the wicket. On the opening morning, DeFreitas was the pick of the bowlers with nine probing overs, while Cork's maiden Test wicket of Rutherford came from the best delivery of the session. However, all of this just served as a platform for Phil Tufnell to bowl his best spell in several matches: bowling scarcely a poor ball, his first 14 overs conceded only 22 runs, runs more than counterbalanced by the three Kiwi wickets he took for his troubles: the three big wickets of Young, Crowe and Fleming. This left a lot of responsibility in the hands of Adam Parore, but his organised batting looked to be entirely up to the task. With support from both Thomson and Hart, he progressed to 83 and helped New Zealand towards 300. His innings was finally ended by an excellent DeFreitas inswinger that clean bowled him, bringing in Chris Pringle. Pringle was faced with the exact same delivery first up, and he too was unable to get bat on it. And so, the hat-trick ball against Michael Owens. Full. Straight. Hitting the pad... AND THE STUMPS. Phillip DeFreitas has a Test hat-trick, and New Zealand are 296 all out.

In reply, the English batsmen looked comfortable: both Gooch and Stewart scoring serenely until the former was the first to go with the score on 85. Little was he to know that nobody else to come in the batting order would be able to better his 38. Plenty got in, with the scorecard covered in batsmen who scored between 22 and 31, but none went on to make an important contribution. Hussain looked fairly comfortable for his 31, but again - it should have been more. New Zealand escaped with a first-innings lead of 38, and Dion Nash escaped with six first-innings wickets. There were rumblings of "not taking this series seriously" from TV pundits, and that batting performance was not England's best defence.

Yet again, England were banking on a rescue from their bowling attack, and Darren Gough gave it everything: his first twelve overs yielded one wicket for only fourteen runs. However, that wasn't enough to overcome the efforts of Pocock (55), Crowe (54) and Thomson (61): to do that it took a five-for-five collapse at the hands of Tufnell and the debutant Dominic Cork. While the English bowlers were excellent, they still can't win this Test on their own. They have however given their batsmen a chance of winning it: a target of 304 to win, and seven hours of batting in which to do it.

As it turned out, England did not need seven hours. A spellbinding 196-run opening partnership between Atherton and fourth innings specialist Alec Stewart saw England almost all the way to the winning line within a couple of sessions of cricket. Even a classic England collapse couldn't derail things: losing five wickets for 40 matters considerably less when you've got nine wickets left and only 50 to get. Ultimately, Russell nudged the winning runs, but Stewart and Atherton were the heroes: Atherton in particular continued what has been a real coming of age series, also notable for his slightly increased scoring rate. On this occasion, he hit sixteen fours and his first ever Test match six, thumped over mid-wicket from the bowling of Thomson.

1613056756540.png

I'm also adding a Player of the Season award in the style of the Allan Border Medal - the Barrington Medal.

Drawn or lost match
Best player - 3 points
2nd best player - 2 points
3rd best player - 1 point

Won match
Best player - 5 points
2nd best player - 3 points
3rd best player - 2 points
4th best player - 1 point

Standings
1. Mike Atherton - 6 points (+3)
2. Alec Stewart - 5 points (+5)
=3. Graham Gooch - 2 points
=3. Phil Tufnell - 2 points (+2)
=5. Phillip DeFreitas - 1 point (+1)
=5. Darren Gough - 1 point
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
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PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
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Location
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:eng: England (1) vs (0) New Zealand :nzf: - Third Test at Old Trafford

England XI
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Michael Atherton
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey (debut)
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell

New Zealand XI
:nzf: :bat: Bryan Young
:nzf: :bat: Blair Pocock
:nzf: :bat: Ken Rutherford :c:
:nzf: :bat: Stephen Fleming
:nzf: :bat: Martin Crowe
:nzf: :ar: Shane Thomson
:nzf: :wk: Adam Parore
:nzf: :bwl: Matthew Hart
:nzf: :bwl: Dion Nash
:nzf: :bwl: Chris Pringle
:nzf: :bwl: Michael Owens

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

England, emboldened by their win in the Second Test, decided to rest/rotate some of their players ahead of the South African series. Gooch rested himself, allowing Hick to gain some captaincy experience, while Robin Smith, Chris Lewis and Angus Fraser returned to the side in place of him, Thorpe, and Cork. Richard Blakey was also given a chance to play Test cricket with Russell - who had played the last 53 straight Test matches - complaining of some back pain. New Zealand, by comparison, made only one change: the recall of Greatbatch to the troublesome opening pair.

The English batting was not aggressive, perhaps reflecting the fact that it was full of players playing for their place, but it was still more impressive than it had been in any first innings all series. This was despite only one batsman making fifty: Robin Smith constructed an absolute monument, his over ten-hour 191 making a clear statement that he should never have been moved from his favoured number four position. He found good support from Atherton (43), Lewis (33), Blakey (29) and - improbably - Tufnell (29 not out). It was also comfortably Tufnell's longest and best innings in his Test career.

Angus Fraser then backed it up with a sublime new ball spell of nine overs, four maidens, one for nine. Incredibly, his second spell was even better: a burst of seven overs, one maiden, two for seven just before lunch on the fourth day. England did have other bowlers, but none were as worth watching as a top-of-his game Fraser. And nor, really was the batting. Much like England, the New Zealanders couldn't quite find their timing on a sluggish Old Trafford wicket. One thing it wasn't doing though was turning, as Tufnell bowled another average-denting spell with no wickets to show for it. Chris Lewis kept toiling away with ball in hand and ended up with four good wickets to add to his collection,

Once the Kiwis had declared, England's batsmen again sacrificed their averages in the quest to push for a win: Hick told them they had 20 overs to bat, and he was true to his word - pulling his batsmen back to the pavilion after a frenetic passage of play that yielded 154 runs. The hope must have been for Gough or somebody to run through the Kiwi batting like the Queen's Park Oval Test in the winter, but it never looked likely. Eventually the two captains shook hands on a draw.

After the game, Hick told Test Match Special that he had ".... enjoyed the opportunity to captain England but didn't like the way rotation was implemented this series. There was too much change, too often; it's important to give young players opportunities, but it serves everyone badly if those opportunities come in an unsettled side." It's a lesson that rings true, and one which it seems fortunate that England have been able to learn in a series where they so clearly had the better players (but still nearly lost anyway).

1613061470218.png

I'm also adding a Player of the Season award in the style of the Allan Border Medal - the Barrington Medal.

Drawn or lost match
Best player - 3 points
2nd best player - 2 points
3rd best player - 1 point

Won match
Best player - 5 points
2nd best player - 3 points
3rd best player - 2 points
4th best player - 1 point

Standings
1. Mike Atherton - 6 points
2. Alec Stewart - 5 points
3. Robin Smith - 3 points (+3)
=4. Graham Gooch - 2 points
=4. Angus Fraser - 2 points (+2)
=4. Phil Tufnell - 2 points
=7. Phillip DeFreitas - 1 point
=7. Darren Gough - 1 point
=7. Chris Lewis - 1 point
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
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PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
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Location
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Records

Highest Innings Score
for :eng:
571 for 5 dec. vs West Indies, The Oval 1991
vs :eng: 571 all out, Australia, Adelaide Oval 1991

Lowest Innings Score
for :eng:
122 all out vs New Zealand, Edgbaston 1990
vs :eng: 83 all out, West Indies, Queens Park Oval 1994

Highest Innings
for :eng:
294, Graham Gooch vs West Indies, The Oval 1991
vs :eng: 239*, Brian Lara, West Indies, Kensington Oval 1994

Best Innings Bowling
for :eng:
8 for 47, Peter Such vs India, Calcutta 1993
vs :eng: 7 for 66, Wasim Akram, Pakistan, Headingley 1992

Best Match Bowling
for :eng:
12 for 173, Phil Tufnell vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 1993
vs :eng: 11 for 137, Wasim Akram, Pakistan, Headingley 1992

All-Time Record for Most Runs in a Series
1016 - Graham Gooch vs West Indies, 1991

Partnerships
1. 190 - Graham Gooch & Tim Robinson vs Australia :aus: 1991
2. 196 - Alec Stewart & Mike Atherton vs New Zealand :nzf: 1994
3. 325 - Graham Gooch & Robin Smith vs West Indies :wi: 1991
4. 247 - Robin Smith & Graeme Hick vs Pakistan :pak: 1992
5. 176 - Graeme Hick & Jack Russell vs West Indies :wi: 1991
6. 133 - Graham Thorpe & Jack Russell vs West Indies :wi: 1994
7. 174 - Chris Lewis & Phillip DeFreitas vs Australia :aus: 1993
8. 54 - Chris Lewis & Andy Caddick vs Australia :aus: 1993
9. 69 - Gladstone Small & Angus Fraser vs Australia :aus: 1990
10. 61 - Graham Thorpe & Peter Such vs West Indies :wi: 1994

Honours Board
:bat:
:wi: vs :eng:, 1989-90
Graham Gooch - 112
Robin Smith - 101
Robin Smith - 112
Graham Gooch - 100

:eng: vs :nzf:, 1990
Graham Gooch - 127
Rob Bailey - 196

:eng: vs :ind:, 1990
none

:aus: vs :eng:, 1990-91
Robin Smith - 110
Graham Gooch - 170

:eng: vs :wi:, 1991
Robin Smith - 127
Graham Gooch - 175*
Graeme Hick - 108*

Graham Gooch - 165
Graham Gooch - 294
Robin Smith - 145


:eng: vs :sri:, 1991
Alec Stewart - 166
Graeme Hick - 100


:nzf: vs :eng:, 1991-92
Alec Stewart - 126*
Graham Gooch - 124
Graeme Hick - 107


:eng: vs :pak:, 1992
Graham Gooch - 103
Robin Smith - 132
Graeme Hick - 147

Graham Gooch - 150*

:ind: vs :eng:, 1992-93
Graham Gooch - 132
Alec Stewart - 151*

Mike Atherton - 147
Robin Smith - 137


:sri: vs :eng:, 1992-93
Alec Stewart - 137
Robin Smith - 102*


:eng: vs :aus:, 1993
Alec Stewart - 132
Alec Stewart - 111
Graham Gooch - 139
Chris Lewis - 114*

:wi: vs :eng:, 1993-94
Graham Gooch - 143
Alec Stewart - 156
Graham Gooch - 167
Mike Atherton - 127
Graham Thorpe - 111


:eng: vs :nzf:, 1994
Mike Atherton - 117
Alec Stewart - 132
Mike Atherton - 105

Robin Smith - 191

:bwl:
:wi: vs :eng:, 1989-90
Angus Fraser - 5 for 47
Gladstone Small - 5 for 72

Chris Lewis - 6 for 70

:eng: vs :nzf:, 1990
none

:eng: vs :ind:, 1990
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 116
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 72


:aus: vs :eng:, 1990-91
Angus Fraser - 5 for 116
Devon Malcolm - 6 for 75

:eng: vs :wi:, 1991
Steve Watkin - 5 for 56
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 138
Devon Malcolm - 5 for 47
Angus Fraser - 5 for 86

:eng: vs :sri:, 1991
none

:nzf: vs :eng:, 1991-92
Angus Fraser - 5 for 51
Phil Tufnell - 7 for 57

:eng: vs :pak:, 1992
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 100
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 31
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 45


:ind: vs :eng:, 1992-93
Phil Tufnell - 8 for 114
Peter Such - 8 for 47

Phil Tufnell - 5 for 72
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 167

Phil Tufnell - 7 for 171

:sri: vs :eng:, 1992-93
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 102
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 71


:eng: vs :aus:, 1993
Phil Tufnell - 7 for 105
Phillip DeFreitas - 5 for 19
Phillip DeFreitas - 5 for 62


:wi: vs :eng:, 1993-94
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 141
Peter Such - 6 for 119
Angus Fraser - 5 for 21
Phillip DeFreitas - 5 for 98

:eng: vs :nzf:, 1994
Darren Gough - 5 for 50
Phillip DeFreitas - Hattrick
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 71
Career Statistics
Includes all players who debuted before 1990 and played from that date onwards either in real life or in this universe.


Cap Numbers
Player#DebutLast Test
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch461:eng: v :aus: (1), 1975:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1994
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham474:eng: v :aus: (3), 1977:eng: v :ind: (3), 1990
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting477:pak: v :eng: (3), 1977-78:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93
:eng: :bat: David Gower479:eng: v :pak: (1), 1978:eng: v :wi: (2), 1991
:eng: :ar: John Emburey480:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1978:eng: v :aus: (4), 1989
:eng: :bat: Wayne Larkins484:aus: v :eng: (3), 1979-80:eng: v :ind: (1), 1990
:eng: :bat: Allan Lamb494:eng: v :ind: (1), 1982:wi: v :eng: (4), 1989-90
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle495:eng: v :ind: (1), 1982:eng: v :aus: (6), 1989
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings497:eng: v :pak: (1), 1982:wi: v :eng: (5), 1989-90
:eng: :bwl: Neil Foster502:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1983:eng: v :pak: (1), 1992
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson511:ind: v :eng: (1), 1984:eng: v :wi: (5), 1991
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small521:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1986:eng: v :sri:, 1991
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas522:aus: v :eng: (1), 1986-87:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :bat: Neil Fairbrother525:eng: v :pak: (1), 1987:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1987-88
:eng: :ar: David Capel526:eng: v :pak: (3), 1987:eng: v :aus: (6), 1989
:eng: :bwl: Paul Jarvis527:nzf: v :eng: (1), 1987-88:eng: v :pak: (5), 1992
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith530:eng: v :wi: (4), 1988:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey531:eng: v :wi: (5), 1988:eng: v :wi: (4), 1991
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard532:eng: v :wi: (5), 1988only Test
:eng: :bwl: Syd Lawrence534:eng: v :sri:, 1988:eng: v :sri:, 1991
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport535:eng: v :sri:, 1988:eng: v :aus: (1), 1989
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell536:eng: v :sri:, 1988:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1994
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser537:eng: v :aus: (3), 1989:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton538:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm539:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:wi: v :eng: (1), 1993-94
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden540:eng: v :aus: (6), 1989only Test
- - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart542:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell543:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis544:wi: v :eng: (4), 1989-90:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick545:wi: v :eng: (5), 1989-90:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell546:eng: v :ind: (3), 1990:nzf: v :eng: (4), 1991-92
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin547:eng: v :wi: (1), 1991:eng: v :wi: (2), 1991
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such548:eng: v :wi: (3), 1991:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury549:ind: v :eng: (1), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash550:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93:wi: v :eng: (5), 1993-94
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve551:ind: v :eng: (3), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick552:eng: v :aus: (2), 1993:eng: v :nzf: (1), 1994
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain553:eng: v :aus: (3), 1993:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott554:wi: v :eng: (4), 1993-94only Test
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe555:wi: v :eng: (4), 1993-94:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1994
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough556:eng: v :nzf: (1), 1994:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork557:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1994only Test
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey558:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994only Test

Captains
PlayerMatWDLFirstLast
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch47201116:eng: v :wi: (5), 1988:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1994
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick2110:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994

Batting & Fielding
PlayerMatInnNORunsAvg100s50sBestCtSt
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton28533212342.4641114711-
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey1528181530.191219615-
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell4406516.25--482-
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey1205829.00--291-
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham (RET)1081767565633.471425208135-
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick814216613.83--37*--
:eng: :ar: David Capel (RET)1118029316.27-2984-
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork1102222.00--22--
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:2744467416.85-1826-
:eng: :ar: John Emburey (RET)608918154021.49-87533-
:eng: :bat: Neil Fairbrother44051.25--33-
:eng: :bwl: Neil Foster (RET)39601260012.50--42*13-
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser4158850610.12--347-
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting7012114403737.7391920753-
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo:1182198955545.282254294134-
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough3535728.50--35*--
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)12421517850642.96154721575-
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings (RET)1319333220.75-1954-
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick31574214540.4741314750-
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain47012417.71--338-
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden1112---2*1-
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott12226---25*--
:eng: :bwl: Paul Jarvis1015418917.18--35*1-
:eng: :bat: Allan Lamb (RET)601059322433.58912137*53-
:eng: :bat: Wayne Larkins (RET)1019034818.31--435-
:eng: :bwl: Syd Lawrence22063.00--4--
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis37598130725.6313114*30-
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm253591746.69--14*6-
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard120136.50--10--
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport2307023.33--361-
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle2136351215.51-2667-
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash815148834.86-576*--
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve120126.00--6--
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson :slvo:41716236236.3341217514-
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell539119235232.67113128*14811
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury1102121.00--21--
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small2026738220.10-2592-
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo:52978420847.28112214516-
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart27533235547.108716610-
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such10135455.63--14*4-
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe48037546.87113-
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:3449122055.54--368-
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin2405513.75--27--

Bowling
PlayerMatOvrRunsWktsAvgEcon5WI10WMBest
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton28943961039.604.2--3/32
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey1543175287.504.1--1/0
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell41914691142.632.5--3/72
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey1--------
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham (RET)10837791122340028.133.02748/34
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick83298752141.672.7--4/71
:eng: :ar: David Capel112096281252.333.0--2/13
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork152147436.752.8--3/80
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:2798227487735.692.8415/19
:eng: :ar: John Emburey602371510513836.992.16-7/78
:eng: :bat: Neil Fairbrother4290-4.5---
:eng: :bwl: Neil Foster391451390211533.932.7518/107
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser411688410212333.352.44-5/21
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting70125317479.252.5--1/14
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo:1183067401743.532.4--2/12
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough31383161128.732.31-5/50
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)124620120.003.3--1/1
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings1351314543146.902.8--4/90
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick3161229638.173.8--3/38
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain4--------
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden137146348.673.9--2/91
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott1381271127.003.3--1/106
:eng: :bwl: Paul Jarvis1035910692641.123.0--4/50
:eng: :bat: Allan Lamb (RET)60523123.004.6--1/6
:eng: :bat: Wayne Larkins (RET)10--------
:eng: :bwl: Syd Lawrence268223455.753.3--2/74
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis37109730008137.042.71-6/70
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm2587928468732.713.22-6/75
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard1--------
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport292339937.663.7--4/87
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle2162518074837.642.92-5/95
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash8120-2.0---
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve114390-2.8---
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson :slvo:41100-0.0---
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell53--------
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury113760-5.9---
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small2078419806033.002.53-5/48
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo:52--------
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart27--------
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such1048614424830.043.02-8/47
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe4--------
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:391822523319027.542.91658/114
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin264223544.603.51-5/56

Stats and records updated - not much to report after that Kiwi series, except that Tufnell still managed to average 27 despite an absolute stinker in the third Test
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
Are you playing on the PC version or console? My version is on the PSP.....haven't played it in ages but just might dust it off.
I'm playing the PC version; my first experience of the series was CC 2002 on the PS1 though, back when I was much smaller than I am now!
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
South Africa tour of England, 1994

Itinerary

21 Jul 94 - :eng: England vs South Africa :saf: - First Test at Lord's - Match drawn
04 Aug 94 - :eng: England vs South Africa :saf: - Second Test at Headingley - Match drawn
18 Aug 94 - :eng: England vs South Africa :saf: - Third Test at The Oval - England won by 3 wickets

England Squad

:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo: :c:

:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo:
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe

:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell

:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis
:eng: :ar: Craig White :redo:

:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm

:eng: :bwl: Peter Such
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:

There were never going to be many changes in the middle of a Test summer, and England made only two to their Test squad. The first saw them get shot of Nasser Hussain for at least the near future, replacing him with a recalled Mark Ramprakash in a reserve batsman's slot. The other move made by the selectors was to drop Andy Caddick, whose stock has fallen considerably since he burst onto the scene in the Ashes last year. He was replaced not by a specialist bowler but by an uncapped batting all-rounder in Craig White; he saw off stiff competition from the promising duo of Alleyne and Wells largely by belting a hundred and taking a five-for against Essex a month or so ago. He's still very raw though, and is probably more with the squad for experience than anything more involved
 
Last edited:

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
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PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
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Location
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:eng: England vs South Africa :saf: - First Test at Lord's

England XI
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :c:
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Michael Atherton
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell

South Africa XI
:saf: :bat: Andrew Hudson
:saf: :bat: Gary Kirsten
:saf: :bat: Hansie Cronje
:saf: :bat: Kepler Wessels :c:
:saf: :bat: Peter Kirsten
:saf: :bat: Jonty Rhodes
:saf: :ar: Brian McMillan
:saf: :wk: David Richardson
:saf: :bwl: Craig Matthews
:saf: :bwl: Fanie de Villiers
:saf: :bwl: Allan Donald

- - -

South Africa win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

A return to full strength was in order for England, especially after the near-failed experiment with rotation in the New Zealand series. Indeed, every English player from Gooch to Russell to Gough to Tufnell would have to be on top form in order that they could stand up to a side as talented and determined as the touring South Africans. Of particular note was their pace battery, led by the young Afrikaaner duo of Fanie de Villiers and Allan Donald. How might a duo of Fraser and Gough match up against them?

It was the English duo who would get the opportunity to lay down a marker after Kepler Wessels won the toss and chose to bat; neither Fraser nor Gough, nor anyone else could take a wicket in the morning session. That isn't to say there wasn't excellent bowling - Lewis, DeFreitas and Tufnell all strangled the run supply admirably to build up the pressure over the break in play. When proceedings resumed, it was Tufnell who took the important wickets of both opening batsmen to bring two new batsmen to the crease with the score still below a hundred. Indeed, Tufnell was on absolute top form again: he claimed an astonishing first-day five-for that turned to seven on the second morning. For once, an opposing team took the England batting approach: starts for all, match-defining contributions for none.

England, by comparison, were able to count upon a match-defining contribution. It came from the chief purveyor of "daddy hundreds" himself, Graham Gooch: ably supported by an excellent 77 from Atherton, then an equally good 81 from Smith, the captain cruised to a commanding 241 before finally being dismissed on the fourth morning. Commentators expected England to declare straight away, but Gooch will have appreciated the recovery time afforded by an extra few overs of tail-end slogging from Darren Gough. One does wonder, however, whether affording cheap wickets to the South African bowlers was the right strategic option with England already 180 ahead.

Regardless, the English bowlers set about trying to win the Test match: an early wicket from Phillip DeFreitas set the right tone, but the likes of Kirsten and Wessels do not give their wickets away without a fight. Indeed, nobody in the South African top eight batted for fewer than a hundred balls with the exception of Hudson, which made every single wicket valuable. Perhaps too vulnerable: England did not get the chance to bat again until the final session of the game, by which time a target of over a run a ball seemed well beyond the home side's reach.

In their quest to chase down an exceedingly difficult target, England almost managed to lose an unlosable Test match. Once the dynamic Gooch had lost his wicket, the English batsmen crumbled while trying to go at an unfeasible run-rate. A horrendous snap of five wickets lost in ten balls (Hick, Lewis, DeFreitas, Gough, Fraser) left Tufnell and Russell in a hole where they had seven balls to survive - not many, but also not something their predecessors had managed. Thankfully from an English point of view, Russell took responsibility and saw the side home, but good grief. Not the sort of average-protecting antics we might have expected.

1613322731492.png

I'm also adding a Player of the Season award in the style of the Allan Border Medal - the Barrington Medal.

Drawn or lost match
Best player - 3 points
2nd best player - 2 points
3rd best player - 1 point

Won match
Best player - 5 points
2nd best player - 3 points
3rd best player - 2 points
4th best player - 1 point

Standings
1. Mike Atherton - 6 points
=2. Graham Gooch - 5 points (+3)
=2. Alec Stewart - 5 points
4. Phil Tufnell - 4 points (+2)
5. Robin Smith - 3 points
=6. Angus Fraser - 2 points
=6. Chris Lewis - 2 points (+2)
=8. Phillip DeFreitas - 1 point
=8. Darren Gough - 1 point
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
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PlanetCricket Award Winner
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Location
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:eng: England (0) vs (0) South Africa :saf: - Second Test at Headingley

England XI
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :c:
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Michael Atherton
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell

South Africa XI
:saf: :bat: Andrew Hudson
:saf: :bat: Gary Kirsten
:saf: :bat: Hansie Cronje
:saf: :bat: Kepler Wessels :c:
:saf: :bat: Peter Kirsten
:saf: :bat: Jonty Rhodes
:saf: :ar: Brian McMillan
:saf: :wk: David Richardson
:saf: :bwl: Craig Matthews
:saf: :bwl: Fanie de Villiers
:saf: :bwl: Allan Donald

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

There was little to report ahead of the Second Test: after a match that could so easily have gone either way before ultimately going neither way, both sides retained confidence that they were putting out their respective best elevens. At the toss, both captains admitted that they would be looking to bat before the match referee had even produced a coin: unusually for Headingley, the pitch looked suspiciously like the M621.

By the end of the first day, a draw was all but certain: England had made slow progress, but lost only a single wicket: that of Stewart for 35. The South African bowlers were good and disciplined, but the conditions just weren't offering any help for them to make that count. By the time that the second wicket fell (that of Gooch for 175), even the local seagulls seemed to have lost interest in the chips being sold from the present burger vans. As the third day progressed, Atherton and Lewis tried to push on a bit and make England's advantage count; their 137-run partnership proving to be the final nail in the coffin for the South African bowlers. Finally, after toiling for half the match in bright sunshine and conceding almost 600 runs, Graham Gooch called his batsmen in and let them rest.

Upon seeing that the fourth morning dawned dull and cloudy, the South Africans must have been wondering what they had done to anger the cricket gods. As the pitch started also to take a bit of turn, the cricket being played bore no resemblance to that which had gone before. For the first time, the bowlers were on top - despite a combative 72 from Cronje. By tea, England had reduced the tourists to 229 for seven, and the follow-on was a matter of when, and not if. The only problem with that assertion: a near five-hour vigil from Dave Richardson meant that "when" would turn out to be just after lunch on the final day, despite outstanding bowling performances from both Tufnell (six wickets) and Chris Lewis (three).

Ten wickets in sixty overs of cricket was the task ahead for England, something they'd not been able to achieve since Sabina Park in the winter. Standing in their way, eleven South Africans with absolutely no reason to take the slightest risk. The gamble from Gooch to open with spinners at both ends (although Mike Atherton's leg-spin lasted for only a single over) brought no reward. Indeed, despite some excellence from the English bowler sometimes a game is just a draw and there's nothing much you can do about it. But it's not every day that Angus Fraser can return figures of 13 overs, seven maidens, one for seven.

But it's still 0-0 going into the final Test.

1613324833075.png

I'm also adding a Player of the Season award in the style of the Allan Border Medal - the Barrington Medal.

Drawn or lost match
Best player - 3 points
2nd best player - 2 points
3rd best player - 1 point

Won match
Best player - 5 points
2nd best player - 3 points
3rd best player - 2 points
4th best player - 1 point

Standings
1. Mike Atherton - 9 points (+3)
2. Graham Gooch - 7 points (+2)
=3. Alec Stewart - 5 points
=3. Phil Tufnell - 5 points (+1)
5. Robin Smith - 3 points
=6. Angus Fraser - 2 points
=6. Chris Lewis - 2 points
=8. Phillip DeFreitas - 1 point
=8. Darren Gough - 1 point
 

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