By Lotti Hill
August 1 2004

England: M Vaughan (capt), M Trescothick, A Strauss, R Key, G Thorpe, A Flintoff, G Jones (wkt), A Giles, M Hoggard,S Harmison, J Anderson.

Second Test, Edgbaston.  England vs.  West Indies.  England 313-5

 

Day One Review.

 

The issue of back to back test matches is one raised by the media almost as frequently as they now seem to be appearing in the English Summer International schedule.  A three day turn around between the final day of one test and the opening day of the next brings into play questions of fitness, stamina and tiredness.

 

        Both teams made changes from the First test at Lord's.  James Anderson, who has not played a Test match for England since Sri Lanka last winter, replaced Simon Jones who looked like he was feeling the effects of returning from injury straight into the test arena.  For the West Indies, Tino Best has not recovered fully from the injury he picked up earlier in the week.  Correy Collymore and Jemaine Lawson were bought into the bowling attack.  Fidel Edwards, the other player to be dropped. 

 

        The bright Birmingham sunshine under which Michael Vaughan won the toss soon turned overcast and muggy but the decision to bat first was vindicated none the less.  The Windies bowling performance was a considerably higher standard than the same time a week ago.  Lunch interval was reached with England 105-1, Andrew Strauss out for 24 nicking a ball to Keeper Ridley Jacobs.

 

        Whether the argument that the players were tired following Lord's is either seen as plausible or laughable is a matter for personal debate.  Whatever the issue argued though, it is interesting that the players who did not enjoy success in the First Test appeared to have found their rhythm, Trescothick moving onto his century after lunch before being caught by Lara for 105, along with Graham Thorpe who made 61.  Strauss before lunch and then the wickets of Trescothick, Robert Key (29), Vaughan (12) and Thorpe were all lost to slightly tired looking shots.  It was a case of shot decision being England's downfall on the first day, not so much the improved bowling. 

 

        The loss of Thorpe left England on 262-5.  A partnership of 51 between new batsman Geraint Jones and Andrew Flintoff, taking the score to 313-5 when bad light bought play to an early conclusion with 4.4 overs remaining.  It is this partnership that England hope will flourish, as it has in the recent past and the one that the Windies will be most eager to attack.