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

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
World Test Rankings, as of 31 Sep 1996
Minumum qualification: 5 series

RankTeamRating
1:eng: England786
2:saf: South Africa727
3:pak: Pakistan643
4:wi: West Indies625
5:aus: Australia583
6:ind: India429
7:sri: Sri Lanka357
8:zim: Zimbabwe167
9:nzf: New Zealand156
*If two teams are level on points, their head-to-head against each other is taken into consideration

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

Pakistan are the Bannerman Shield holders (I should probably stick a list of Bannerman Shield series in a spoiler here)
Records

Highest Innings Score
for :eng:
589 for 6 dec vs South Africa, Headingley 1994
vs :eng: 571 all out, Australia, Adelaide Oval 1991

Lowest Innings Score
for :eng:
74 all out vs Australia, The WACA 1995
vs :eng: 62 all out, India, Trent Bridge 1996

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: 8 for 79, Javagal Srinath, India, Lord's 1996

Best Match Bowling
for :eng:
12 for 173, Phil Tufnell vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 1993
vs :eng: 12 for 152, Javagal Srinath, India, Lord's 1996

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

Tied Test Match
:aus: Australia vs England :eng:, The WACA 1995

Partnerships
1. 323 - Mike Atherton & Alec Stewart vs India :ind: 1996
2. 262 - Graham Gooch & Mike Atherton vs New Zealand :saf: 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. 137 - Mike Atherton & Chris Lewis vs South Africa :saf: 1994
7. 174 - Chris Lewis & Phillip DeFreitas vs Australia :aus: 1993
8. 110 - Jack Russell & Dominic Cork vs South Africa :saf: 1995
9. 95 - Robin Smith & Dominic Cork vs Australia :aus: 1995
10. 61 - Graham Thorpe & Peter Such vs West Indies :wi: 1994

Most Test Runs for England
1. :eng: :bat: Graham Gooch - 11,242 runs @ 48.04 (28 centuries, best 294)
2. :eng: :bat: David Gower - 8,506 runs @ 42.96 (15 centuries, best 215)
3. :eng: :bat: Geoffrey Boycott - 8,114 runs @ 47.72 (22 centuries, best 246*)

Most Test Wickets for England
1. :eng: :ar: Ian Botham - 400 wickets @ 28.13 (27 5WI, best 8/34)
2. :eng: :bwl: Bob Willis - 325 wickets @ 25.20 (16 5WI, best 8/43)
3. :eng: :bwl: Fred Trueman - 307 wickets @ 21.57 (17 5WI, best 8/31)

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

:eng: vs :saf:, 1994
Graham Gooch - 241
Graham Gooch - 175
Mike Atherton - 242

Graeme Hick - 101
Graeme Hick - 131


:aus: vs :eng:, 1994-95
Robin Smith - 106
Alec Stewart - 159

Robin Smith - 134
Alec Stewart - 115

Mike Atherton - 157*
Robin Smith - 100

Graham Gooch - 205
Robin Smith - 204

:eng: vs :wi:, 1995
Alec Stewart - 162
Graham Gooch - 117
Graham Gooch - 135
Robin Smith - 129*

Alec Stewart - 115
Graham Gooch - 159
Mark Ramprakash - 100*


:saf: vs :eng:, 1995-96
Robin Smith - 118*
Michael Atherton - 109
Graeme Hick - 106
Graham Thorpe - 107*

Michael Atherton - 108
Graeme Hick - 113
Graham Thorpe - 114*


:eng: vs :ind:, 1996
Alec Stewart - 200
Mike Atherton - 129

Robin Smith - 117*

:eng: vs :pak:, 1996
Alec Stewart - 149
Alec Stewart - 153

Robin Smith - 104*

: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


:eng: vs :saf:, 1994
Phil Tufnell - 7 for 124
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 117

:aus: vs :eng:, 1994-95
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 79
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 122
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 96

:eng: vs :wi:, 1995
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 97
Devon Malcolm - 7 for 86

Devon Malcolm - 5 for 68
Devon Malcolm - 5 for 46

:saf: vs :eng:, 1995-96
Devon Malcolm - 6 for 76
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 79

Angus Fraser - 6 for 68

:eng: vs :ind:, 1996
none

:eng: vs :pak:, 1996
Andy Caddick - 5 for 69
Darren Gough - 5 for 117
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 :wi: (5), 1995
: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:saf: v :eng: (1), 1995-96
: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 :pak: (3), 1996
: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 :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser537:eng: v :aus: (3), 1989:eng: v :pak: (1), 1996
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton538:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm539:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden540:eng: v :aus: (6), 1989only Test
- - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart542:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell543:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis544:wi: v :eng: (4), 1989-90:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick545:wi: v :eng: (5), 1989-90:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
: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:aus: v :eng: (4), 1994-95
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury549:ind: v :eng: (1), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash550:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93:saf: v :eng: (4), 1995-96
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve551:ind: v :eng: (3), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick552:eng: v :aus: (2), 1993:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
: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 :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough556:eng: v :nzf: (1), 1994:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork557:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1994:eng: v :ind: (2), 1996
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey558:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994only Test
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple559:aus: v :eng: (4), 1994-95:aus: v :eng: (5), 1994-95
:eng: :bwl: Richard Johnson560:eng: v :wi: (2), 1995only Test
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne561:eng: v :wi: (5), 1995:saf: v :eng: (2), 1995-96
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft562:saf: v :eng: (5), 1995-96only Test
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight563:saf: v :eng: (5), 1995-96only Test

Captains
PlayerMatWTDLFirstLast
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch552211616:eng: v :wi: (5), 1988:aus: v :eng: (5), 1994-95
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick188055:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996

Batting & Fielding
PlayerMatInnNORunsAvg100s50sBestCtSt
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne3528227.33-156*4-
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton :slvo:49918378045.5491624227-
: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 Caddick1319222113.00--37*2-
:eng: :ar: David Capel (RET)1118029316.27-2984-
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple2306321.00--301-
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork1216326620.46-1727-
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft1---------
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:3656678615.72-1827-
: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 Fraser5777116319.56--349-
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting (RET)7012114403737.7391920753-
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo: (RET)131244101124248.042860294147-
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough1623825617.07--35*1-
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)12421517850642.96154721575-
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings (RET)1319333220.75-1954-
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick55995357738.0581914779-
: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: :bwl: Richard Johnson11011.00--1--
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight1101818.00--182-
: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 Lewis569012197325.2917114*61-
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm3750132336.30--21*11-
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard120136.50--10--
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport2307023.33--361-
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle (RET)2136351215.51-2667-
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash1528286233.1517100*--
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve120126.00--6--
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson (RET) :slvo:41716236236.3341217514-
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell7712829330433.37118128*19821
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury1102121.00--21--
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small (RET)2026738220.10-2592-
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo::slvo:7614015633250.66193220420-
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart :slvo::slvo:51995466649.64151420012-
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such11146455.63--14*4-
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe16285101143.9633114*9-
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:6075153275.45--3617-
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin2405513.75--27--

Bowling
PlayerMatOvrRunsWktsAvgEcon5WI10WMBest
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne374199728.432.7--2/27
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton :slvo:491445001338.463.9--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 Caddick1355115374236.602.81-5/69
:eng: :ar: David Capel (RET)112096281252.333.0--2/13
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple285276555.203.2--3/99
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork1244212833536.662.9--4/138
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft136144272.004.0--2/74
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:361324353010433.942.7415/19
:eng: :ar: John Emburey (RET)602371510513836.992.16-7/78
:eng: :bat: Neil Fairbrother4290-4.5---
:eng: :bwl: Neil Foster (RET)391451390211533.932.7518/107
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser572333572217432.882.55-6/68
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting (RET)70125317479.252.5--1/14
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo: (RET)1313067401743.532.4--2/12
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough1662417094339.742.72-5/50
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)124620120.003.3--1/1
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings (RET)1351314543146.902.8--4/90
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick551916261348.153.3--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: :bwl: Richard Johnson1441550-3.5---
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight1--------
: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 Lewis561580426612334.682.71-6/70
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm371292419513730.623.26-7/86
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard1--------
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport292339937.663.7--4/87
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle (RET)2162518074837.642.92-5/95
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash15120-2.0---
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve114390-2.8---
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson (RET) :slvo:41100-0.0---
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell77--------
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury113760-5.9---
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small (RET)2078419806033.002.53-5/48
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo::slvo:76--------
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart :slvo::slvo:51--------
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such1155716144932.942.92-8/47
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe16--------
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:602836827129328.222.82358/114
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin264223544.603.51-5/56

Stats and records updated ahead of the much anticipated (by me) tour of Zimbabwe. Lots of players who have been very busy in the last few years will be getting some long-awaited time at home.

Also, no wonder we were hammered - only three of our batsmen passed 50 in the entire series and that's just not how you win cricket matches
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
England Tour of Zimbabwe, 1996-97

Itinerary

18 Dec 1996 - :zim: Zimbabwe vs England :eng: - First Test at Bulawayo - England won by 152 runs
26 Dec 1996 - :zim: Zimbabwe vs England :eng: - Second Test at Harare - England won by 6 wickets
03 Jan 1997 - :zim: Zimbabwe vs England :eng: - Third Test at Harare - England won by 86 runs

England Squad

:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:

:eng: :bat: Mark Butcher :redo:
:eng: :bat: John Crawley :redo:
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash
:eng: :bat: Graeme Thorpe

:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey

:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft
:eng: :ar: Craig White :redo:

:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley :redo:
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally :redo:

:eng: :bwl: Peter Such

After a protracted period of consistency in selection, the England squad that was announced to go to Zimbabwe over the Christmas period was an enormous departure from that principle. Gone were Atherton, Stewart, Smith, Lewis, Russell, Fraser, Malcolm and Tufnell, the players who had established themselves as the absolute core of the team over the last near-decade, and a focus instead on the younger talents who have yet to fully establish themselves in the England team. When pressed on why they had taken such a drastic measure, the TCCB (which had also announced its reformation into the England and Wales Cricket Board from the new year) explained that "Our long-standing players have had an enormous workload over recent years, and we believe they have more than earned a Christmas at home with their families. And that it presents us with the opportunity to blood our younger players in a controlled way is a great bonus."
 
Last edited:

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
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Location
Derbyshire
:zim: Zimbabwe vs England :eng: - First Test at Bulawayo

Zimbabwe XI
:zim: :bat: Grant Flower
:zim: :bat: Stuart Carlisle
:zim: :bat: Alistair Campbell :c:
:zim: :bat: Dave Houghton
:zim: :wk: Andy Flower
:zim: :bat: Andy Waller
:zim: :ar: Guy Whittall
:zim: :ar: Paul Strang
:zim: :ar: Heath Streak
:zim: :bwl: Bryan Strang
:zim: :bwl: Henry Olonga

England XI
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight
:eng: :bat: Mark Butcher (debut)
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey
:eng: :bwl: Glen Chapple
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally (debut)

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

Ahead of the opening Test match at Bulawayo, there had been much written about the changes made to the England side, but while there were a lot of fringe players - captain Hick being the only Englishman present with more than Gough and Thorpe's 16 Test caps, and the opening pair had just one cap between them - there was still a lot of quality in the England side. Indeed, this was close to the strongest possible eleven available from their present squad. "It is very unlikely that anybody else will play all three Tests," Hick explained after winning the toss and choosing to let his opening batsmen have first dibs on the surface, "but that doesn't mean we don't want to put our best foot forward as we start this Test series hopefully with a win."

That expectation did not start well when debutant opener Mark Butcher lost his middle stump to an in-swinger from Heath Streak, but once Nick Knight found his gear, he looked entirely at home in Test cricket. Breezing to his maiden Test century nearly an hour before the tea interval, he impressed to such an extent as to put Graham Thorpe's high-quality efforts at the other end very much in the shade, even as the Surrey man cruised to his fourth Test century. A 210-run fourth wicket stand certainly serves to take attention away from how a team lost the first three, as does the sight of a young-ish opening batsman in only his second Test match making his opportunity count to the tune of a career-changing 247. Knight's runs came from 525 balls, as he batted for eleven peaceful hours before being caught behind looking for the boundary that would have brought up yet another milestone. A maiden Test half-century for the equally inexperienced Blakey was also completed before the England captain called his men in to get a bowl at Zimbabwe before the end of the second day.

The prospect of a full day's bowling threatened to stretch the all-seam quartet of English bowlers to the limit, and so it proved: thanks to Andy Flower, Zimbabwe endured for almost 150 exhausting overs that took a huge toll on three of the four seamers. The only exception was Alan Mullally: the Southend-born but Australian-raised left-armer bounded tirelessly to the wicket for 38 excellent overs, and was rewarded with his first six Test wickets. He stood head and shoulders above the more vaunted duo of Caddick and Gough, as well as the disappointing Chapple, to collect the best figures on England debut since Chris Lewis in 1990. Regardless of his excellence though, a lead of 82 was not what Captain Hick would have hoped for when he declared the England innings on 500.

The strategy for the English batsmen was to score their runs as quickly as possible, and then get Zimbabwe back out to bat for most or all of the fifth day's play. This plan started poorly when Butcher fell to a carbon copy dismissal from a Heath Streak in-swinger, but the rest of the batsmen were noticeably more successful. Knight (49), Ramprakash (41) and Hick (43) all scored steadily for their contributions before Thorpe (61 off 87) and Hussain (27 not out off 11) really cut loose against Olonga in particular to put England into a position from which they could not lose.

Now, it may be fair to say that Andy Caddick felt the pressure of his disappointing first innings display, because he charged in with an extra yard of pace and immediately troubled the home top-order. Carlisle, Campbell and Grant Flower were dismissed within two overs of each other by the enlivened Caddick, before he extended his spell after the lunch interval to account for Andy Flower and Houghton as well. At this point he'd taken the first five wickets to fall, but also had taken barely a moment's break from bowling. It was time for the others to step up to the plate, and while they all bowled well and aggressively, the final five minutes of play rolled around with Guy Whittall still at the crease and looking entirely comfortable. Enter a spectacular piece of captaincy from Hick: a single over of loopy off-spin to break Whittall's rhythm against pace bowling before Caddick took hold of the tattered old ball for the final over of the game.

With his first ball, he thundered in and dropped it straight onto Whittall's toe; the umpire gave it out, and suddenly he had five balls to snatch back an England win.

With his second, he dug it in short to Olonga, whistling past the non-batsman's chest.

With his third, he fired the ball directly at middle stump. Olonga, dissuaded from getting into line by the previous ball, missed and was bowled.

England - and mostly Andy Caddick - had snatched victory with just one minute of play left in the entire five days. Well bowled Andy Caddick and well played (eventually) England.

1620421604026.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. Nick Knight - 5 points (+5)
2. Andy Caddick - 3 points (+3)
3. Alan Mullally - 2 points (+2)
4. Graham Thorpe - 1 point (+1)
There aren't many games where those performances from Caddick and Thorpe would put them as second and fourth picks for the Barrington points. What a cricket match.
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
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Location
Derbyshire
:zim: Zimbabwe (0) vs (1) England :eng: - Second Test at Harare

Zimbabwe XI
:zim: :bat: Grant Flower
:zim: :bat: Mark Dekker
:zim: :bat: Alistair Campbell :c:
:zim: :bat: Dave Houghton
:zim: :wk: Andy Flower
:zim: :bat: Andy Waller
:zim: :ar: Guy Whittall
:zim: :ar: Paul Strang
:zim: :ar: Heath Streak
:zim: :bwl: Eddo Brandes
:zim: :bwl: Henry Olonga

England XI
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight
:eng: :bat: John Crawley (debut)
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey
:eng: :ar: Craig White (debut)
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley (debut)
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally

- - -

Zimbabwe win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

If you had any uncertainty about this not being a normal Test series, then the resting of Graham Thorpe for a Boxing Day Test a week after his stellar performance at Bulawayo should provide ample evidence. England are handing out a further three debuts to John Crawley (batting out of position as an opener, after Butcher's horror debut), all-rounder Craig White and fast bowler Dean Headley. Additional changes include the recall of spinning all-rounder Robert Croft, as well as Dominic Cork as England look at options to find more balance in their team. On Zimbabwe's part, they have brought in Mark Dekker and Eddo Brandes to hopefully put up an even stronger fight in this match.

It comes to something when Mark Dekker is the aggressor in a partnership, but in Zimbabwe's opening stand he most definitely was - at least in comparison to Grant Flower, who stonewalled his way to just ten runs from the opening 30 overs. However, he didn't give his wicket away, which was clearly a central tenet of the Zimbabwean batting strategy: a noble approach, but you still want a few more than 150 runs by the time the fielding captain gets the chance to take the second new ball. Surprisingly, the bowler who was most able to break through the Zimbabwean defences was Craig White, whose skiddy seamers claimed the wickets of Dekker, Waller, Streak and Brandes at various stages of the innings. However, none of the bowlers disgraced themselves as no Englishman conceded so much as three an over.

Despite batting out of position, John Crawley started his Test career with great promise, managing to compile an organised 37 before edging an excellent seaming delivery from Heath Streak. With him having seen off the new ball, it made run-scoring far easier for Ramprakash and Hick than it might otherwise have been. Indeed, they will have been disappointed to have both fallen in the 60s rather than going on and making a match-grasping contribution. The task of taking responsibility was instead inherited by the debutant White, who made a mature unbeaten 51 that belied his inexperience and took England to within 25 before running out of partners.

A deficit of just 25 was something that England would be more than capable of overturning, so long as they were incisive with ball in hand. Debutant Dean Headley was exactly that: before the close of play, he took three vital wickets to expose the two key Zimbabwean batsmen: Houghton and Flower. They then succumbed to the energetic bowling of White and Mullally on the fourth morning, leaving ample opportunity for the English bowlers to continue their progress routing the Zimbabwean batting. That they succeeded makes a pleasant change compared to the often toothless nature of English bowling against admittedly more resilient opposition.

The resulting target of 170 was well within England's reach, even in fourth and fifth day conditions. Nasser Hussain, promoted to number three for the occasion, made a small but promising contribution of 25 which was at least more than either of the openers; the bulk of the runscoring fell to Ramprakash and Hick, and it is fortunate that both were of ample quality to guide England to victory with half of the fifth day still remaining.

With the series mathematically safe, it will be interesting to see what combination takes to the field for the New Year's Test.

1620429993307.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. Nick Knight - 5 points
=1. Craig White - 5 points (+5)
=3. Andy Caddick - 3 points
=3. Dean Headley - 3 points (+3)
=5. Graeme Hick - 2 points (+2)
=5. Alan Mullally - 2 points
=7. Mark Ramprakash - 1 point (+1)
=7. Graham Thorpe - 1 point
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
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Location
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:zim: Zimbabwe (0) vs (2) England :eng: - Third Test at Harare

Zimbabwe XI
:zim: :bat: Grant Flower
:zim: :bat: Andy Waller
:zim: :bat: Alistair Campbell :c:
:zim: :bat: Dave Houghton
:zim: :wk: Andy Flower
:zim: :bat: Craig Evans
:zim: :ar: Guy Whittall
:zim: :ar: Paul Strang
:zim: :ar: Heath Streak
:zim: :bwl: Everton Matambanadzo
:zim: :bwl: Pommie Mbangwa

England XI
:eng: :bat: Mark Butcher
:eng: :ar: Craig White
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:
:eng: :bat: John Crawley
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

Yet again, England had made significant changes to their playing XI. Most notable was the recall of Mark Butcher, who could be seen throughout the previous Test match working in the nets to rectify the technical flaw exposed by Heath Streak, but other returnees to the team included Mark Alleyne and Peter Such; with the pitch looking flat but dry, the England management clearly felt that this was a prescient time to look at the available all-round and spinning options, even if it resulted in Craig White playing as a makeshift opener as he occasionally does for Yorkshire. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe used the dead rubber to give opportunities to a few of their younger players, as Pommie Mbangwa and Everton Matambanadzo came into the seam attack and Craig Evans got another opportunity in the middle order.

Quite unexpectedly, Craig White made the most of the opening spot from the word go: although a somewhat limited player, he played well within those limitations by peppering the boundary with an off-drive and pull shot, while otherwise preferring to drop the ball behind the wicket to rotate the strike. Such an organised approach is ironically exactly what one would expect from a full-time opener, and Mark Butcher did look similarly organised until he copped a shocking LBW decision to become the first of six victims of Paul Strang's leg-spin. This gave the opportunity for White and Hussain to assemble the innings' largest partnership, with contributions further down the order coming from Hick (52), Blakey (34), Croft (46) and Cork (43). Despite the lack of a single outstanding score, England were able to post a well-made 400 before Hick declared.

Thanks to the unusual approach to selection this series, England had at their disposal a six-man bowling attack comprising four seamers and two spinners. Despite this, the wickets were not shared evenly: instead, Craig White bowled himself into huge contention for a long-term berth in the team with a tireless spell that yielded seven wickets. His first came when Alistair Campbell snicked off to a diving Richard Blakey, and was followed in the same over by Grant Flower who edged to Hussain at second slip. The Houghton-Flower partnership threatened to be a problem before Houghton became the first of three Zimbabweans to edge to Graeme Hick at first slip (the other two would be Andy Flower and Pommie Mbangwa much later in the innings). In his second spell, White added the scalps of Whittall (caught Hussain) and Streak (caught hooking at fine leg) to complete a stellar five-wicket haul. As previously mentioned though, Flower and Mbangwa made it seven top-quality wickets, with six of them caught in the cordon. Of course this isn't to say that the Zimbabwean innings was without merit - a fine century from Andy Flower and an impressive 65 from Evans meant that they weren't far behind England in the game.

With extremely limited time left in the game (thank you rain), it was imperative that England scored quickly with the bat. Liberated by the apparent instruction that it didn't matter if they got out, England raced to a frantic 183 all-out, starring a Test-best 44 from Butcher, and a surprisingly accomplished 54 from Robert Croft. White and Cork added 25 runs each, and on a surface beginning to go up and down it seemed that 204 might be enough runs to defend.

Of course, it might have been more compelling had Grant Flower and Dave Houghton not both been needlessly run out, the latter for a diamond duck. It entirely changed the balance of the game, suddenly forcing Zimbabwe to think more about survival than runs. Craig White capitalised yet again on this indecision by bowling his eleven stellar overs to finish with scarcely believable figures of 11-6-7-2. With wickets for Alleyne at the other end, there were only two wickets left by the time the spinners got on - they shared one each, but must have been disappointed not to get the opportunity to share in the wicket buffet to the same extent that Craig White had done.

Speaking of Craig White, what a startling entry into Test cricket: his debut series, of which he had played two matches, had yielded him 147 runs (at 73.50) and 16 wickets (at 11.37) including innings figures of seven for 63, which are the best since Neil Foster a decade ago Andy Caddick two weeks ago. Such contributions vindicate the selection of such a youthful squad, even if they do spell the end, for the forseeable future at least, of Chris Lewis's Test career.

1620463224715.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. Craig White - 10 points (+5)
=1. Nick Knight - 5 points
=3. Andy Caddick - 3 points
=3. Robert Croft - 3 points (+3)
=3. Dean Headley - 3 points
=6. Graeme Hick - 2 points
=6. Nasser Hussain - 2 points (+2)
=6. Alan Mullally - 2 points
=9. Mark Alleyne - 1 point (+1)
=9. Mark Ramprakash - 1 point
=9. Graham Thorpe - 1 point
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
Records

Highest Innings Score
for :eng:
589 for 6 dec vs South Africa, Headingley 1994
vs :eng: 571 all out, Australia, Adelaide Oval 1991

Lowest Innings Score
for :eng:
74 all out vs Australia, The WACA 1995
vs :eng: 62 all out, India, Trent Bridge 1996

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: 8 for 79, Javagal Srinath, India, Lord's 1996

Best Match Bowling
for :eng:
12 for 173, Phil Tufnell vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 1993
vs :eng: 12 for 152, Javagal Srinath, India, Lord's 1996

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

Tied Test Match
:aus: Australia vs England :eng:, The WACA 1995

Partnerships
1. 323 - Mike Atherton & Alec Stewart vs India :ind: 1996
2. 262 - Graham Gooch & Mike Atherton vs New Zealand :saf: 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. 137 - Mike Atherton & Chris Lewis vs South Africa :saf: 1994
7. 174 - Chris Lewis & Phillip DeFreitas vs Australia :aus: 1993
8. 110 - Jack Russell & Dominic Cork vs South Africa :saf: 1995
9. 95 - Robin Smith & Dominic Cork vs Australia :aus: 1995
10. 61 - Graham Thorpe & Peter Such vs West Indies :wi: 1994

Most Test Runs for England
1. :eng: :bat: Graham Gooch - 11,242 runs @ 48.04 (28 centuries, best 294)
2. :eng: :bat: David Gower - 8,506 runs @ 42.96 (15 centuries, best 215)
3. :eng: :bat: Geoffrey Boycott - 8,114 runs @ 47.72 (22 centuries, best 246*)

Most Test Wickets for England
1. :eng: :ar: Ian Botham - 400 wickets @ 28.13 (27 5WI, best 8/34)
2. :eng: :bwl: Bob Willis - 325 wickets @ 25.20 (16 5WI, best 8/43)
3. :eng: :bwl: Fred Trueman - 307 wickets @ 21.57 (17 5WI, best 8/31)

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

:eng: vs :saf:, 1994
Graham Gooch - 241
Graham Gooch - 175
Mike Atherton - 242

Graeme Hick - 101
Graeme Hick - 131


:aus: vs :eng:, 1994-95
Robin Smith - 106
Alec Stewart - 159

Robin Smith - 134
Alec Stewart - 115

Mike Atherton - 157*
Robin Smith - 100

Graham Gooch - 205
Robin Smith - 204

:eng: vs :wi:, 1995
Alec Stewart - 162
Graham Gooch - 117
Graham Gooch - 135
Robin Smith - 129*

Alec Stewart - 115
Graham Gooch - 159
Mark Ramprakash - 100*


:saf: vs :eng:, 1995-96
Robin Smith - 118*
Michael Atherton - 109
Graeme Hick - 106
Graham Thorpe - 107*

Michael Atherton - 108
Graeme Hick - 113
Graham Thorpe - 114*


:eng: vs :ind:, 1996
Alec Stewart - 200
Mike Atherton - 129

Robin Smith - 117*

:eng: vs :pak:, 1996
Alec Stewart - 149
Alec Stewart - 153

Robin Smith - 104*

:zim: vs :eng:, 1996-97
Nick Knight - 247
Graham Thorpe - 106


: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


:eng: vs :saf:, 1994
Phil Tufnell - 7 for 124
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 117

:aus: vs :eng:, 1994-95
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 79
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 122
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 96

:eng: vs :wi:, 1995
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 97
Devon Malcolm - 7 for 86

Devon Malcolm - 5 for 68
Devon Malcolm - 5 for 46

:saf: vs :eng:, 1995-96
Devon Malcolm - 6 for 76
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 79

Angus Fraser - 6 for 68

:eng: vs :ind:, 1996
none

:eng: vs :pak:, 1996
Andy Caddick - 5 for 69
Darren Gough - 5 for 117

:zim: vs :eng:, 1996-97
Alan Mullally - 6 for 94
Andy Caddick - 7 for 53

Craig White - 7 for 63
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 :wi: (5), 1995
: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:saf: v :eng: (1), 1995-96
: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 :pak: (3), 1996
: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 :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser537:eng: v :aus: (3), 1989:eng: v :pak: (1), 1996
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton538:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm539:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden540:eng: v :aus: (6), 1989only Test
- - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart542:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell543:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis544:wi: v :eng: (4), 1989-90:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick545:wi: v :eng: (5), 1989-90:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
: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:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury549:ind: v :eng: (1), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash550:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve551:ind: v :eng: (3), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick552:eng: v :aus: (2), 1993:zim: v :eng: (1), 1996-97
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain553:eng: v :aus: (3), 1993:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott554:wi: v :eng: (4), 1993-94only Test
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe555:wi: v :eng: (4), 1993-94:zim: v :eng: (1), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough556:eng: v :nzf: (1), 1994:zim: v :eng: (1), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork557:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1994:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey558:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple559:aus: v :eng: (4), 1994-95:zim: v :eng: (1), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Richard Johnson560:eng: v :wi: (2), 1995only Test
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne561:eng: v :wi: (5), 1995:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft562:saf: v :eng: (5), 1995-96:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight563:saf: v :eng: (5), 1995-96:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97
:eng: :bat: Mark Butcher564:zim: v :eng: (1), 1996-97:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally565:zim: v :eng: (1), 1996-97:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97
:eng: :bat: John Crawley566:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley567:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Craig White568:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97

Captains
PlayerMatWTDLFirstLast
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch552211616:eng: v :wi: (5), 1988:aus: v :eng: (5), 1994-95
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick2111055:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97

Batting & Fielding
PlayerMatInnNORunsAvg100s50sBestCtSt
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne4729519.00-156*4-
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton :slvo:49918378045.5491624227-
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey1528181530.191219615-
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell4406516.25--482-
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey48216627.67-150*11-
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham (RET)1081767565633.471425208135-
:eng: :bat: Mark Butcher2406917.25--442-
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick1419222113.00--37*3-
:eng: :ar: David Capel (RET)1118029316.27-2984-
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple3517318.25--301-
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork1419335021.88-1728-
:eng: :bat: John Crawley2405814.50--37--
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft33011137/00-154--
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:3656678615.72-1827-
: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 Fraser5777116319.56--349-
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting (RET)7012114403737.7391920753-
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo: (RET)131244101124248.042860294147-
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough1723825617.07--35*1-
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)12421517850642.96154721575-
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley2322121.00--17*--
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings (RET)1319333220.75-1954-
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick581056382338.6282114784-
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain713126522.08-16814-
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden1112---2*1-
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott12226---25*--
:eng: :bwl: Paul Jarvis1015418917.18--35*1-
:eng: :bwl: Richard Johnson11011.00--1--
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight35034468.801-2474-
: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 Lewis569012197325.2917114*61-
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm3750132336.30--21*11-
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard120136.50--10--
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally2101515.00--15--
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport2307023.33--361-
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle (RET)2136351215.51-2667-
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash17322104734.9019100*1-
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve120126.00--6--
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson (RET) :slvo:41716236236.3341217514-
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell7712829330433.37118128*19821
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury1102121.00--21--
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small (RET)2026738220.10-2592-
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo::slvo:7614015633250.66193220420-
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart :slvo::slvo:51995466649.64151420012-
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such12157475.88--14*5-
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe17305117847.1244114*10-
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:6075153275.45--3617-
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin2405513.75--27--
:eng: :ar: Craig White23114773.50-2711-

Bowling
PlayerMatOvrRunsWktsAvgEcon5WI10WMBest
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne41093071030.702.8--2/27
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton :slvo:491445001338.463.9--3/32
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey1543175287.504.1--1/0
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell41914691142.632.5--3/72
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey4--------
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham (RET)10837791122340028.133.02748/34
:eng: :bat: Mark Butcher2--------
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick1461017025133.372.82-7/53
:eng: :ar: David Capel (RET)112096281252.333.0--2/13
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple3128398666.333.1--3/99
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork1452214923938.262.9--4/138
:eng: :bat: John Crawley2--------
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft377252550.403.3--2/74
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:361324353010433.942.7415/19
:eng: :ar: John Emburey (RET)602371510513836.992.16-7/78
:eng: :bat: Neil Fairbrother4290-4.5---
:eng: :bwl: Neil Foster (RET)391451390211533.932.7518/107
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser572333572217432.882.55-6/68
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting (RET)70125317479.252.5--1/14
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo: (RET)1313067401743.532.4--2/12
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough1768318664640.572.72-5/50
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)124620120.003.3--1/1
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley287172724.572.0--4/24
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings (RET)1351314543146.902.8--4/90
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick581926311348.543.3--3/38
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain7--------
: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: :bwl: Richard Johnson1441550-3.5---
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight3--------
: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 Lewis561580426612334.682.71-6/70
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm371292419513730.623.26-7/86
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard1--------
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally21022291120.822.21-6/94
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport292339937.663.7--4/87
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle (RET)2162518074837.642.92-5/95
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash17120-2.0---
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve114390-2.8---
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson (RET) :slvo:41100-0.0---
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell77--------
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury113760-5.9---
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small (RET)2078419806033.002.53-5/48
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo::slvo:76--------
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart :slvo::slvo:51--------
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such1257216695033.382.92-8/47
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe17--------
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:602836827129328.222.82358/114
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin264223544.603.51-5/56
:eng: :ar: Craig White2751821611.372.41-7/63

Updated stats and records from a series that has kind of reframed the entire English player pool.

We had almost all of the most recent 20 Test debutants (including five new ones from this series) on the field together, and got a really good look at which of those players we would like to move forward with versus which might be lucky to get back into the side. The biggest ones of course were Alan Mullally, Craig White, Nick Knight and Dean Headley, who all to a greater or lesser extent have made their mark as players who should definitely be considered to replace players who have long since become established in the team. The squad for New Zealand will certainly include a lot of the more impressive players from this series, and could see us saying auf wiedersehen to a selection of senior players.

Another interesting series coming up before we try to retain the Ashes, that's for sure.
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
England Tour of New Zealand, 1996-97

Itinerary

24 Jan 1997 - :nzf: New Zealand vs England :eng: - First Test at Auckland - England won by 8 wickets
06 Feb 1997 - :nzf: New Zealand vs England :eng: - Second Test at Wellington - Match drawn
14 Feb 1997 - :nzf: New Zealand vs England :eng: - Third Test at Christchurch - England won by 7 wickets

England Squad

:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:

:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe

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

:eng: :ar: Robert Croft
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis
:eng: :ar: Craig White

:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally

:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell

Well this certainly is an interesting England squad, and one with several changes informed by happenings in Zimbabwe. The biggest examples of that are the inclusions of Craig White, Dean Headley and Alan Mullally who all had stellar debut series: White in particular will have turned himself into one of the very first names on the teamsheet. Among those who will be most aggrieved to miss out are Mark Ramprakash and Angus Fraser: the former will point to the inclusion of Hussain after a disappointing start to his career as being unmerited, but Hussain has clearly been earmarked as somebody with leadership potential. Fraser meanwhile could have expected to make the squad ahead of Croft or Lewis, but can still consider himself likely to be picked for the summer's Ashes series.
 
Last edited:

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
:nzf: New Zealand vs England :eng: - First Test at Auckland

New Zealand XI
:nzf: :bat: Bryan Young
:nzf: :bat: Blair Pocock
:nzf: :wkb: Adam Parore
:nzf: :bat: Stephen Fleming
:nzf: :bat: Nathan Astle
:nzf: :ar: Justin Vaughan
:nzf: :ar: Chris Cairns
:nzf: :wk: Lee Germon :c:
:nzf: :bwl: Dipak Patel
:nzf: :bwl: Simon Doull
:nzf: :bwl: Danny Morrison

England XI
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe
:eng: :ar: Craig White
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally

- - -

New Zealand win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

Compared to the last time these two sides met, the playing XIs are close to unrecognisable. For New Zealand, we have reached an area that I had mentally repressed - that of "Adam Parore, specialist top-order batsman"; for England, we may be reaching the beginning of a new era if the rousing debut performances of the Zimbabwe series are anything to go by. Unusually for New Zealand, there was not so much as a hint of green to be found on the playing surface - something that captain Lee Germon seized upon after winning the toss and electing to bat first.

Grass or no grass, the new-look English seam attack immediately announced itself as being considerably better than the Kiwi batting: Andy Caddick demonstrated his quality as a new ball bowler by obliterating the top order of his birth country - in the space of ten minutes, he sent back Bryan Young, Blair Pocock and the big fish Stephen Fleming, only once needing the assistance of a fielder. Two further early wickets from Alan Mullally left the home side reeling at 49 for five before lunch on the first day, a large hole for Astle and Cairns (and later captain Germon) to dig them out of. And to an extent they did, courtesy of an excellent 82 from Astle that was only ended by a fine spinning delivery from Phil Tufnell, one of his four wickets. The finishing touch to an excellent team effort was that Craig White continued his early-career momentum by claiming the wicket of Simon Doull.

New Zealand's low total offered the chance for the English batsmen to step up and dominate a Test match. The top order did not necessarily deliver in that regard as both Atherton and Stewart failed against a strong new ball attack from Morrison and Cairns, but a true captain's innings from Graeme Hick ensured that England surged ahead. Around half of his eventual 110 runs came in a century partnership with Craig White, who continued his excellent introduction to Test cricket with a personal best 77. Even the tail-enders offered a little bit of resistance, including an unbeaten 22 from Dean Headley that nudged England up to their eventual 174-run advantage.

Of course anything can happen in Test cricket, so a twin breakthrough for the English opening attack would certainly have settled some nerves - Young fell to Headley before Pocock was trapped LBW by Caddick - and all before the home side had mustered a single run. From there, the innings continued as a carbon copy of the Kiwis' first crack: subsiding to 50 for five before an Astle-led resistance. On this occasion, Germon and Patel offered a few additional runs down the order, but nothing that would stand in the way of an excellent team effort from the English bowlers, all five of whom claimed wickets. No weak links, and nobody leaking runs certainly bodes well for the upcoming Ashes.

A target of 82 could be just enough to get you worrying if you lose a few early wickets, so it was important that Atherton and Smith not let the early loss of Stewart hold them back. They compiled a useful 50 partnership before Hick was briefly called upon to apply the finishing flourish to a wonderful team win. This New Zealand team is not a strong one at present, and England will now be deeply disappointed if they fail to complete a clean sweep of the winter Tests.

1620486937908.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. Craig White - 13 points (+3)
2. Graeme Hick - 7 points (+5)
=3. Dean Headley - 5 points (+2)
=3. Nick Knight - 5 points
=5. Andy Caddick - 3 points
=5. Robert Croft - 3 points
=7. Nasser Hussain - 2 points
=7. Alan Mullally - 2 points
=9. Mark Alleyne - 1 point
=9. Mark Ramprakash - 1 point
=9. Graham Thorpe - 1 point
=9. Phil Tufnell - 1 point (+1)
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
:nzf: New Zealand (0) vs (1) England :eng: - Second Test at Wellington

New Zealand XI
:nzf: :bat: Bryan Young
:nzf: :bat: Blair Pocock
:nzf: :wkb: Adam Parore
:nzf: :bat: Stephen Fleming
:nzf: :bat: Nathan Astle
:nzf: :ar: Chris Cairns
:nzf: :wk: Lee Germon :c:
:nzf: :bwl: Dipak Patel
:nzf: :bwl: Simon Doull
:nzf: :bwl: Danny Morrison
:nzf: :bwl: Daniel Vettori

England XI
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe
:eng: :ar: Craig White
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally

- - -

New Zealand win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

After a one-sided first Test, we might have expected changes to be made. However, England appear happy with their playing XI at present, and have gone unchanged; New Zealand made only one change with young Daniel Vettori replacing Justin Vaughan, changing the balance of the side somewhat by picking a gangling second spinner to bat at eleven (which is a great reminder of how much Vettori improved through his career). Regardless, that same glass top-three will have to face the English seamers, and will have to do so almost immediately after Lee Germon won the toss and chose to bat.

Unexpectedly, however, Bryan Young stood up to be counted with a superbly determined century from the top of the order. With the solid support of Parore and Fleming, he guided New Zealand to a position of great strength at 230 for two when the second new ball came around. Hick's approach to breaking this troublesome partnership was to give that second new ball to Alan Mullally and Craig White, a plan that immediately bore fruit as New Zealand's next four wickets fell for just 35 runs. Though the lower-order - particularly Dipak Patel, who made 55 not out - did mount some resistance, both teams can feel relatively pleased with their first efforts of the match.

However, by this point there was a thick layer of cloud cover and try as they might neither Atherton nor Stewart managed to survive until the close of play. This was a big loss - two fifths of England's main five batsmen dismissed with only 18 runs between them. Once Robin Smith also failed to put up a notable contribution, a huge amount of pressure landed on the shoulders of Graeme and Graham (Hick and Thorpe). They stood up to it well by mounting a large century partnership, only for that hard work to be undone in spectacular fashion by a patented England batting collapse. On this occasion, that collapse started with Graeme Hick falling to a questionable LBW decision off Daniel Vettori's bowling and finished 23 runs later when Phil Tufnell failed to cope with a straight ball from Danny Morrison.

Suddenly, New Zealand were dominating the game. Thus, England's position required some rather more defensive bowling tactics to try to slow the game down. Nobody was more effective at this than the highly impressive Craig White. Across the innings, he bowled 21 overs, during which time he took four wickets and conceded only 34 runs. Of course, this alone wasn't enough to stop New Zealand solidifying their dominant position: despite a lukewarm batting effort highlighted only by half-centuries from Parore and Cairns, they were still able to extend their lead to a huge 380 by the time they were bowled out with just under four sessions of play left.

England have in their ranks the king of the improbably fourth innings run-chase in Alec Stewart, and despite the entire body of cricketing wisdom saying "don't do it", it was pretty clear that he had one eye on the huge target. He biffed ten fours and a six on his way to an impressive 88, an approach matched by Graham Thorpe (eleven fours and a six en route to his 76). However, the cheap losses of Atherton, Smith and Hick had left England in an extremely precarious position whereby the loss of Stewart for his 88 exposed the inexperienced White - arguably the last buffer before the tail, given Russell's recent batting form.

"The inexperienced White", however, has looked world class ever since he broke into the Test team and day five of the second Test was no exception. Although he spent most of his innings alongside Jack Russell - not someone with whom to push for a high-tempo run chase - he still made the most of the gaps in New Zealand's aggressive fields to add plenty of runs to his burgeoning career tally. So well did he play that with ten minutes left in the day, he dropped a delivery from Simon Doull under his eyes in the off side and sprinted for a single. The English section of the crowd erupted, applauding a man who had just scored his maiden Test century in the process of saving a Test match. That Bothamesque performance also secured him the Barrington Medal with one Test of the winter still to play, a rare feat indeed.

1620492614552.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. Craig White - 18 points (+5)
2. Graeme Hick - 9 points (+2)
=3. Dean Headley - 5 points
=3. Nick Knight - 5 points
5. Graham Thorpe - 4 points (+3)
=6. Andy Caddick - 3 points
=6. Robert Croft - 3 points
=8. Nasser Hussain - 2 points
=8. Alan Mullally - 2 points
=10. Mark Alleyne - 1 point
=10. Mark Ramprakash - 1 point
=10. Alec Stewart - 1 point (+1)
=10. Phil Tufnell - 1 point
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
:nzf: New Zealand (0) vs (1) England :eng: - Third Test at Christchurch

New Zealand XI
:nzf: :bat: Bryan Young
:nzf: :bat: Blair Pocock
:nzf: :bat: Matt Poore
:nzf: :bat: Stephen Fleming :c:
:nzf: :bat: Nathan Astle
:nzf: :wk: Adam Parore
:nzf: :ar: Chris Cairns
:nzf: :bwl: Simon Doull
:nzf: :bwl: Daniel Vettori
:nzf: :bwl: Heath Davis
:nzf: :bwl: Geoff Allott

England XI
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe
:eng: :ar: Craig White
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally

- - -

New Zealand win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

Coming into the third Test match, both sides had wrung the changes: for England, a horribly out of form Mike Atherton made way for Nick Knight and Darren Gough came in for Dean Headley, who was experiencing back pain. New Zealand's changes were considerably more sweeping: Lee Germon's leadership was brought to an end between Test matches, and he immediately lost the place in the side that he had commanded solely with his captaincy. With him went half of the bowling attack, meaning that of the bowling attack that started the series, only Chris Cairns and Simon Doull remain.

Those replacement bowlers would have to wait for a chance to show off their skills however, as new captain Stephen Fleming opted to bat first after winning the toss. Young and Pocock started well with a nice 69-run opening partnership before Alan Mullally made the game's first breakthrough as Young played a loose drive. That brought the incoming Matt Horne to the crease, and he immediately showed why he'd been selected with a calm and competent presence at the crease as he compiled an excellent 71. What he needed - but didn't get - was some equally solid support. Instead, Chris Cairns (39) was the only one of the bottom eight batsmen to even score over 20 as New Zealand stumbled to 253 all out at the end of the first day's play.

The second day, on which England would have to bat, dawned grey and gloomy. Punctuated by frequent rain showers, the playing conditions provided ample assistance for the Kiwi seamers, especially Cairns and Allott. Indeed, only three English batsmen really got to grips with them: Robin Smith (65), Graham Thorpe (48) and of course England's own Action Man, Craig White (45 not out). Although a total of 227 was far lower than Graeme Hick would have hoped for from himself and his charges, he can be grateful that the English team coped better with these conditions than they had done previously against Pakistan.

With such a slender lead, New Zealand needed a strong start. 99 for one certainly counted as such a start, with both Pocock and Horne looking comfortable and scoring well. Both, however, would fall to Phil Tufnell as part of a catastrophic batting collapse for the home side. Caddick and Tufnell's three wickets each were supported by two from Gough and one each from Mullally and White as the Kiwis' last nine wickets fell for just 98 runs - one fewer than their score at that previous position of strength. Most frustratingly for Fleming, almost all of his batsmen got starts before getting out - seven of the eleven Kiwi batsmen reached double figures, although three more (including Fleming) were dismissed for ducks to English seamers.

England have turned themselves into run chasing specialists, and a target of 224 runs to win (and nearly two days in which to score them) posed few problems. Under clear blue skies, the tourists took a no-risks approach that served all of the batsmen well, in particular Nick Knight (71), Robin Smith (63 not out) and Graeme Hick (52). Despite toiling through over a hundred overs, the Kiwi bowlers were simply unable to string together wickets in any real quantity without the assistance of the swing-friendly conditions of the first innings.

And so concluded a winter in which England won five out of six Tests against moderate to poor opposition, and in which we may have witnessed the birth at Test level of the Next Botham™ in Craig White, the emphatic Barrington Medal winner.

1620583198519.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. Craig White - 19 points (+1)
2. Graeme Hick - 9 points
=3. Andy Caddick - 5 points (+2)
=3. Dean Headley - 5 points
=3. Nick Knight - 5 points
=3. Robin Smith - 5 points (+5)
=7. Graham Thorpe - 4 points
=7. Phil Tufnell - 4 points (+3)
9. Robert Croft - 3 points
=10. Nasser Hussain - 2 points
=10. Alan Mullally - 2 points
=12. Mark Alleyne - 1 point
=12. Mark Ramprakash - 1 point
=12. Alec Stewart - 1 point
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
(sorry for the delay in stats - I was down to putting in Alan Mullally's updated career bowling numbers - meaning only Phil Tufnell left before I was done - before Chrome had a moment and I lost all the progress on the player stats. Off to have a bit of sad time before I do them all over again)
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Moderator
Ireland
PlanetCricket Award Winner
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Location
Derbyshire
World Test Rankings, as of 31 Sep 1996
Minumum qualification: 5 series

RankTeamRating
1:eng: England800
2:aus: Australia654
3:saf: South Africa625
4:pak: Pakistan600
5:wi: West Indies542
6:ind: India464
7:sri: Sri Lanka321
8:nzf: New Zealand250
9:zim: Zimbabwe150
*If two teams are level on points, their head-to-head against each other is taken into consideration

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

Pakistan are the Bannerman Shield holders

Records

Highest Innings Score
for :eng:
589 for 6 dec vs South Africa, Headingley 1994
vs :eng: 571 all out, Australia, Adelaide Oval 1991

Lowest Innings Score
for :eng:
74 all out vs Australia, The WACA 1995
vs :eng: 62 all out, India, Trent Bridge 1996

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: 8 for 79, Javagal Srinath, India, Lord's 1996

Best Match Bowling
for :eng:
12 for 173, Phil Tufnell vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 1993
vs :eng: 12 for 152, Javagal Srinath, India, Lord's 1996

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

Tied Test Match
:aus: Australia vs England :eng:, The WACA 1995

Partnerships
1. 323 - Mike Atherton & Alec Stewart vs India :ind: 1996
2. 262 - Graham Gooch & Mike Atherton vs New Zealand :saf: 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. 137 - Mike Atherton & Chris Lewis vs South Africa :saf: 1994
7. 174 - Chris Lewis & Phillip DeFreitas vs Australia :aus: 1993
8. 110 - Jack Russell & Dominic Cork vs South Africa :saf: 1995
9. 95 - Robin Smith & Dominic Cork vs Australia :aus: 1995
10. 61 - Graham Thorpe & Peter Such vs West Indies :wi: 1994

Most Test Runs for England
1. :eng: :bat: Graham Gooch - 11,242 runs @ 48.04 (28 centuries, best 294)
2. :eng: :bat: David Gower - 8,506 runs @ 42.96 (15 centuries, best 215)
3. :eng: :bat: Geoffrey Boycott - 8,114 runs @ 47.72 (22 centuries, best 246*)

Most Test Wickets for England
1. :eng: :ar: Ian Botham - 400 wickets @ 28.13 (27 5WI, best 8/34)
2. :eng: :bwl: Bob Willis - 325 wickets @ 25.20 (16 5WI, best 8/43)
3. :eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell - 310 wickets @ 27.85 (24 5WI, best 8/114)

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

:eng: vs :saf:, 1994
Graham Gooch - 241
Graham Gooch - 175
Mike Atherton - 242

Graeme Hick - 101
Graeme Hick - 131


:aus: vs :eng:, 1994-95
Robin Smith - 106
Alec Stewart - 159

Robin Smith - 134
Alec Stewart - 115

Mike Atherton - 157*
Robin Smith - 100

Graham Gooch - 205
Robin Smith - 204

:eng: vs :wi:, 1995
Alec Stewart - 162
Graham Gooch - 117
Graham Gooch - 135
Robin Smith - 129*

Alec Stewart - 115
Graham Gooch - 159
Mark Ramprakash - 100*


:saf: vs :eng:, 1995-96
Robin Smith - 118*
Michael Atherton - 109
Graeme Hick - 106
Graham Thorpe - 107*

Michael Atherton - 108
Graeme Hick - 113
Graham Thorpe - 114*


:eng: vs :ind:, 1996
Alec Stewart - 200
Mike Atherton - 129

Robin Smith - 117*

:eng: vs :pak:, 1996
Alec Stewart - 149
Alec Stewart - 153

Robin Smith - 104*

:zim: vs :eng:, 1996-97
Nick Knight - 247
Graham Thorpe - 106


:nzf: vs :eng:, 1996-97
Graeme Hick - 110
Craig White - 104*

: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


:eng: vs :saf:, 1994
Phil Tufnell - 7 for 124
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 117

:aus: vs :eng:, 1994-95
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 79
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 122
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 96

:eng: vs :wi:, 1995
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 97
Devon Malcolm - 7 for 86

Devon Malcolm - 5 for 68
Devon Malcolm - 5 for 46

:saf: vs :eng:, 1995-96
Devon Malcolm - 6 for 76
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 79

Angus Fraser - 6 for 68

:eng: vs :ind:, 1996
none

:eng: vs :pak:, 1996
Andy Caddick - 5 for 69
Darren Gough - 5 for 117

:zim: vs :eng:, 1996-97
Alan Mullally - 6 for 94
Andy Caddick - 7 for 53

Craig White - 7 for 63

:nzf: vs :eng:, 1996-97
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 83
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 :wi: (5), 1995
: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:saf: v :eng: (1), 1995-96
: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:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
: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:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser537:eng: v :aus: (3), 1989:eng: v :pak: (1), 1996
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton538:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:nzf: v :eng: (2), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm539:eng: v :aus: (5), 1989:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden540:eng: v :aus: (6), 1989only Test
- - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - -
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart542:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell543:wi: v :eng: (1), 1989-90:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Chris Lewis544:wi: v :eng: (4), 1989-90:eng: v :pak: (3), 1996
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick545:wi: v :eng: (5), 1989-90:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
: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:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury549:ind: v :eng: (1), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash550:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve551:ind: v :eng: (3), 1992-93only Test
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick552:eng: v :aus: (2), 1993:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain553:eng: v :aus: (3), 1993:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott554:wi: v :eng: (4), 1993-94only Test
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe555:wi: v :eng: (4), 1993-94:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough556:eng: v :nzf: (1), 1994:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork557:eng: v :nzf: (2), 1994:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey558:eng: v :nzf: (3), 1994:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple559:aus: v :eng: (4), 1994-95:zim: v :eng: (1), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Richard Johnson560:eng: v :wi: (2), 1995only Test
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne561:eng: v :wi: (5), 1995:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft562:saf: v :eng: (5), 1995-96:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight563:saf: v :eng: (5), 1995-96:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bat: Mark Butcher564:zim: v :eng: (1), 1996-97:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally565:zim: v :eng: (1), 1996-97:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bat: John Crawley566:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97:zim: v :eng: (3), 1996-97
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley567:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97:nzf: v :eng: (2), 1996-97
:eng: :ar: Craig White568:zim: v :eng: (2), 1996-97:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97

Captains
PlayerMatWTDLFirstLast
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch552211616:eng: v :wi: (5), 1988:aus: v :eng: (5), 1994-95
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick2413065:ind: v :eng: (2), 1992-93:nzf: v :eng: (3), 1996-97

Batting & Fielding
PlayerMatInnNORunsAvg100s50sBestCtSt
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne4729519.00-156*4-
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton :slvo:51958384844.2391624234-
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey1528181530.191219615-
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell4406516.25--482-
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey48216627.67-150*11-
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham (RET)1081767565633.471425208135-
:eng: :bat: Mark Butcher2406917.25--442-
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick1419222113.00--37*3-
:eng: :ar: David Capel (RET)1118029316.27-2984-
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple3517318.25--301-
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork1419335021.88-1728-
:eng: :bat: John Crawley2405814.50--37--
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft33011137/00-154--
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:3656678615.72-1827-
: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 Fraser5777116319.56--349-
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting (RET)7012114403737.7391920753-
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo: (RET)131244101124248.042860294147-
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough1824825616.00--35*1-
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)12421517850642.96154721575-
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley4534321.50--22*--
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings (RET)1319333220.75-1954-
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick611117410539.4792314790-
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain713126522.08-16814-
:eng: :bwl: Alan Igglesden1112---2*1-
:eng: :bwl: Mark Ilott12226---25*--
:eng: :bwl: Paul Jarvis1015418917.18--35*1-
:eng: :bwl: Richard Johnson11011.00--1--
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight47041859.71112475-
: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 Lewis569012197325.2917114*61-
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm3750132336.30--21*11-
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard120136.50--10--
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally541289.33--15--
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport2307023.33--361-
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle (RET)2136351215.51-2667-
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash17322104734.9019100*1-
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve120126.00--6--
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson (RET) :slvo:41716236236.3341217514-
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell8013230340433.37118128*21022
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury1102121.00--21--
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small (RET)2026738220.10-2592-
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo::slvo:7914617655850.84193420420-
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart :slvo::slvo:541055481148.11151520013-
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such12157475.88--14*5-
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe20356140348.3846114*15-
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:6378153425.43--3617-
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin2405513.75--27--
:eng: :ar: Craig White57233767.4013104*3-

Bowling
PlayerMatOvrRunsWktsAvgEcon5WI10WMBest
:eng: :ar: Mark Alleyne41093071030.702.8--2/27
:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton :slvo:511445001338.463.9--3/32
:eng: :bat: Rob Bailey1543175287.504.1--1/0
:eng: :bwl: Martin Bicknell41914691142.632.5--3/72
:eng: :wk: Richard Blakey4--------
:eng: :ar: Ian Botham (RET)10837791122340028.133.02748/34
:eng: :bat: Mark Butcher2--------
:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick1773319806231.942.72-7/53
:eng: :ar: David Capel (RET)112096281252.333.0--2/13
:eng: :ar: Glen Chapple3128398666.333.1--3/99
:eng: :ar: Dominic Cork1452214923938.262.9--4/138
:eng: :bat: John Crawley2--------
:eng: :ar: Robert Croft377252550.403.3--2/74
:eng: :ar: Phillip DeFreitas :slvo::slvo:361324353010433.942.7415/19
:eng: :ar: John Emburey (RET)602371510513836.992.16-7/78
:eng: :bat: Neil Fairbrother4290-4.5---
:eng: :bwl: Neil Foster (RET)391451390211533.932.7518/107
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser572333572217432.882.55-6/68
:eng: :bat: Mike Gatting (RET)70125317479.252.5--1/14
:eng: :bat: Graham Gooch :slvo::slvo::slvo: (RET)1313067401743.532.4--2/12
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough1872019504840.622.72-5/50
:eng: :bat: David Gower (RET)124620120.003.3--1/1
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley41633591327.622.0--4/24
:eng: :bwl: Eddie Hemmings (RET)1351314543146.902.8--4/90
:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick611926311348.543.3--3/38
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain7--------
: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: :bwl: Richard Johnson1441550-3.5---
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight4--------
: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 Lewis561580426612334.682.71-6/70
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm371292419513730.623.26-7/86
:eng: :bat: Matt Maynard1--------
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally52135192223.592.41-6/94
:eng: :bwl: Phil Newport292339937.663.7--4/87
:eng: :ar: Derek Pringle (RET)2162518074837.642.92-5/95
:eng: :bat: Mark Ramprakash17120-2.0---
:eng: :ar: Dermot Reeve114390-2.8---
:eng: :bat: Tim Robinson (RET) :slvo:41100-0.0---
:eng: :wk: Jack Russell80--------
:eng: :bwl: Ian Salisbury113760-5.9---
:eng: :bwl: Gladstone Small (RET)2078419806033.002.53-5/48
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith :slvo::slvo:79--------
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart :slvo::slvo:54--------
:eng: :bwl: Peter Such1257216695033.382.92-8/47
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe20--------
:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell :slvo::slvo:632973863531027.852.82458/114
:eng: :bwl: Steve Watkin264223544.603.51-5/56
:eng: :ar: Craig White :slvo:51854492915.482.41-7/63

And at last, here are the updated rankings, stats and records. We've managed to stretch our legs a little at the top of the world rankings, but knowing the future as I do I also know that we won't get another shot at the Bannerman Shield until the last series of the 2000s. When that time comes around, we'll need to make it count.

Also, the now-31 year old Phil Tufnell has become England's third-highest all-time wicket-taker which is quite the achievement. It will certainly be interesting to see how much longer he can keep that kind of form going. If he can keep going until he's played 100 or more Tests then he could become the first Englishman to 500 Test wickets.

I'm also going to have Robin Smith retire from international cricket after the Ashes to focus on his business interests and on the Hampshire captaincy.
 

Aislabie

Test Cricket is Best Cricket
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Australia Tour of England, 1997

Itinerary

05 Jun 1997 - :eng: England vs Australia :aus: - First Test at Edgbaston - Australia won by 5 wickets
19 Jun 1997 - :eng: England vs Australia :aus: - Second Test at Lord's - Australia won by 8 wickets
03 Jul 1997 - :eng: England vs Australia :aus: - Third Test at Old Trafford - England won by 2 wickets
24 Jul 1997 - :eng: England vs Australia :aus: - Fourth Test at Headingley - England won by 32 runs
07 Aug 1997 - :eng: England vs Australia :aus: - Fifth Test at The Oval - Match drawn


England Squad

:eng: :bat: Graeme Hick :c:

:eng: :bat: Mike Atherton
:eng: :bat: Nasser Hussain
:eng: :bat: Nick Knight
:eng: :bat: Robin Smith
:eng: :bat: Alec Stewart
:eng: :bat: Graham Thorpe

:eng: :wk: Jack Russell

:eng: :ar: Robert Croft
:eng: :ar: Ben Hollioake :redo:
:eng: :ar: Craig White

:eng: :bwl: Andy Caddick
:eng: :bwl: Angus Fraser
:eng: :bwl: Darren Gough
:eng: :bwl: Dean Headley
:eng: :bwl: Devon Malcolm
:eng: :bwl: Alan Mullally

:eng: :bwl: Phil Tufnell

After a hugely successful winter that included the Bothamesque emergence of Craig White (whose averages after five Tests are :bat: 67.40 / :bwl: 15.48), English fans were treated to the second such emergence of a potentially generational talent in what felt like no time at all: Ben Hollioake delivered a one-day international debut that will be talked about for years, and has been drafted into the Test squad as a result. He is the only uncapped player in it; the only other change is that Angus Fraser returns in place of reserve 'keeper Richard Blakey, whose contingency role will be taken on by Alec Stewart if Russell runs into difficulty.

Additionally, Robin Smith has confirmed that this will be his last Test series, as he seeks to focus more on his recent appointment as captain of Hampshire, as well as some business interests outside the game.
 
Last edited:

ddrap14

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