West Indies' old boys take control

Michael Vaughan was six not out and Andy Caddick three not out.

It was a bowlers' day at Headingley, West Indies' veteran paceman Curtly Ambrose becoming only the fifth man to take 400 Test wickets and England's Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White claiming five wickets in a Test innings for the first time, in his first Test on his home ground. However, the pitch belied its reputation as a dangerous surface for batting.

With just six full overs left in the day England crucially lost Graham Thorpe for 46. The Surrey left-hander faced 103 balls and struck seven fours (one all run). He was lbw to a Courtney Walsh delivery that came back in and had him aiming across the line. England's situation then worsened when Thorpe's Surrey team-mate Alec Stewart misjudged the length and was well-caught by a diving

Sherwin Campbell at second slip off Walsh to leave England in trouble at 96 for five. Walsh took three for eight in 28 balls to finish the day with fine figures of 15-7-19-3. Andy Caddick came in as nightwatchman which spoke volumes about England's confidence in recalled 'seventh' batsman Graeme Hick. Earlier giant Antiguan Ambrose, 36, needed just 18 balls to join the 400 club of Sir Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev, Walsh and Wasim Akram.

Ambrose squared up Marcus Trescothick and had the Somerset left-hander caught at first slip by Brian Lara for one. For his 400th wicket he had Michael Atherton, often England's cornerstone, caught by Lara for six as the batsman hesitantly played forward.

England were now 10 for two but once again the West Indies' support bowlers could not back-up the efforts of Ambrose and Walsh. King and Nixon McLean, in for the dropped Franklyn Rose had a combined first spell of 9-1-50-0. By contrast Ambrose's initial figures were 9-3-19-2.

England captain Nasser Hussain came into this match with just 144 first-class runs this season and was soon hit on the hand by Ambrose. He fought well in his 74 ball, 116 minute stay and helped Thorpe add 70 for the third wicket before he was caught on the crease, lbw to Walsh for 22.

After West Indies captain Jimmy Adams won the toss, the speedy White, finished with well-deserved figures of 14.4-57-4. Only Ramnaresh Sarwan, unbeaten on 59 and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobsmade significant scores. The pair shared a sixth wicket stand of 68, the best partnership of the innings.

Both batsmen produced some fine straight drives and Sarwan in particular was unafraid to pull the short ball. Jacobs got himself out when on 35 he mistimed a drive and was caught by Andy Caddick at mid-off off Dominic Cork, leaving West Indies 128 for six.

The 20-year-old Sarwan maintained his serenity, his second Test fifty coming off 77 balls including seven fours. White, lively throughout, finished the innings by having Walsh caught by Caddick for one. It was a memorable performance from White 29, who earlier in the season mysteriously collapsed in a street and feared he might never play cricket again.

In the third over of the morning Gough took the first wicket, bowling 'up the hill' from the Football Stand end. To his previous delivery Campbell had forced the ball through the offside for four. Trying for a repeat effort, Campbell on eight, drove uppishly and Trescothick in the gully took an easy catch and the tourists were 11 for one.

New batsman Wavell Hinds got off the mark with a straight driven four off Gough and Adrian Griffith struck him for four through point. After a wicketless hour England regained the initiative when West Indies, having reached fifty then lost three wickets for six runs.

White, coming round the wicket, from the Football Stand end, induced an inside edge from Hinds on 16 and Stewart took his 150th Test catch as a wicketkeeper. Lara started with a first ball four pulled off his hip. However, without adding to his score he played no stroke against White and umpire George Sharp gave Lara out lbw.

Then 54 for three became 56 for four. Griffith on 22, who had been hit in the chest by Dominic Cork, played a half-hearted cut stroke against Gough, back on at the Kirkstall Lane end and Stewart took the routine catch. Adams' customary resilience was not forthcoming and on two he edged a White delivery on to his stumps, the tourists' fifth wicket gone at 60.

At that stage the impressively aggressive White had taken three wickets for six runs in 17 balls. Whatever happens now, anyone who has purchased a fourth day ticket is likely to be disappointed if the rain stays away.

Scoreboard

Mail Cricket Editor