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

[Aislabie]

England (0) vs (0) South Africa - Third Test at The Oval

England XI
Graham Gooch
Alec Stewart
Michael Atherton
Robin Smith
Graeme Hick
Jack Russell
Chris Lewis
Darren Gough
Angus Fraser
Phil Tufnell
Devon Malcolm

South Africa XI
Peter Kirsten
Gary Kirsten
Hansie Cronje
Kepler Wessels
Daryll Cullinan
Jonty Rhodes
Brian McMillan
David Richardson
Craig Matthews
Fanie de Villiers
Allan Donald

- - -

South Africa win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

With only one Test left in the series, everything was on the line and both teams made changes to chase an elusive win. For England, that meant bringing in the extra pace of Devon Malcolm to try to take elusive wickets. For South Africa, that meant jettisoning Andrew Hutson to bring in the more dynamic Daryl Cullinan to bat in the middle order. The result was an all-Kirsten opening partnership, and one that would get second use of the Oval wicket after Wessels won his second toss of the series.

Kirsten and Kirsten started very well indeed, batting through almost two sessions for an impressive century partnership. It was not until Tufnell broke the partnership that England began to get a toehold in the game, but not until Gough and Malcolm made use of their extra pace with the second new ball that the Test match started to look like a contest between bat and ball. Indeed, Malcolm's recall to the Test side served exactly the purpose for which it was designed: he bowled a hostile spell of high pace and skill to tear out the South African middle-order: Cronje, Cullinan and Rhodes all fell in quick succession, soon to be followed by McMillan. Another Richardson rearguard threatened to occur, but was cut short by Tufnell's return to wicket-taking form. 336 all out was an excellent recovery after how the first two sessions had gone.

By the time England reached the tally raised by the South African openers, they had already lost their top four batsmen to the South African fast men - none for fewer than Stewart's 19, but none for more than Smith's 29. Thus, a century partnership between vice-captain Hick and Jack Russell was entirely welcome: the keeper made a typically nuggety 47, while Hick's century - his first in no less than two years of Test cricket - was also a very restrained and disciplined effort. The result of both contributions was that England remained in the game, a mere 25 runs behind South Africa.

In the third innings of the Test, it looked for some time as if the English bowlers had finally managed to turn the game and therefore the series firmly in England's favour: a trio of quick wickets between 60 and 80 brought to the crease the same batsmen that had been uprooted by the pace of Gough and Malcolm previously. However, any side that can boast McMillan and Richardson at eight and nine is one that will be an absolute ballache to bowl out in a hurry and so it proved: the 282 runs that South Africa were able to add to their lead were one thing, but the 99 overs they took out of the game while doing it were what really put the English batsmen in an uncomfortable position if they were to chase it down.

But you don't win five straight Test series without taking the odd risk, and Gooch made it clear by his aggressive early strokemaking that England were going for the win. He wasn't the man to get them there though, as he was dismissed by Craig Matthews for just 20. His replacement wasn't Mike Atherton as is usual, but the first-innings centurion: vice-captain Graeme Hick. With the support of a more restrained Smith, Hick made a fourth-innings century that was absolutely an example of his batting at its very best. They carried England most of the way to their target; by the time Hick left the batting crease, England needed less than 50 runs to win. The only problem was that Jack Russell was the last proper batsman left: Darren Gough isn't really a number eight.

He kept at it though, and with only ten minutes left in the day's play, England needed another 17 runs.

Matthews to Russell: 1 • 1 nb 1 • •. Only 13 to win now, and six minutes left in the day; that would be two overs.

Donald to Russell: 4 1 • nb • 1 1 A huge over for England: eight of the thirteen runs they needed. That left five runs off six balls.

Matthews to Russell: • • 4 1

What a hero. Jack Russell had seen England across the line to complete their sixth consecutive Test series win (and defend the unofficial Bannerman Shield).

Spoiler: Barrington Medal Points

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

Spoiler: Points system

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

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

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

And there we have it: he might not have been the hero at The Oval, but Michael Atherton's astonishing coming of age summer rightly wins him his first Barrington Medal.

 

[Aislabie]

World Test Rankings, as of 31 Aug 1994
Minumum qualification: 5 series

Rank	Team	Rating
1	England	769
=2	West Indies	750
=2	Pakistan	750
4	South Africa	500
5	India	467
6	Australia	417
7	New Zealand	231
8	Sri Lanka	167
-	Zimbabwe	125

Spoiler: Australia

Opp.	Home	Away
	L (1-0)	L (3-2)
	W (4-0)	D (0-0
	W (2-0)	D (1-1)
	L (3-2)	L (1-0)
	-	-
	W (1-0)	W (1-0)
	L (2-1)	L (2-1)
	-	-

Spoiler: England

Opp.	Home	Away
	W (3-2)	W (1-0)
	L (3-0)	W (2-1)
	W (1-0)	W (2-0)
	W (1-0)	L (1-0)
	W (1-0)	-
	W (1-0)	W (1-0)
	L (2-1)	W (2-1)
	-	-

Spoiler: India

Opp.	Home	Away
	D (0-0)	L (4-0)
	L (2-1)	W (3-0)
	W (2-1)	D (0-0)
	L (1-0)	D (0-0)
	D (1-1)	D (1-1)
	W (3-0)	W (1-0)
	D (1-1)	L (3-0)
	-	-

Spoiler: New Zealand

Opp.	Home	Away
	D (1-1)	L (2-0)
	L (2-0)	L (1-0)
	D (0-0)	L (2-1)
	L (2-1)	L (3-0)
	-	-
	W (1-0)	W (1-0)
	D (1-1)	L (2-0)
	-	-

Spoiler: Pakistan

Opp.	Home	Away
	W (1-0)	L (1-0)
	W (1-0)	W (3-2)
	D (0-0)	W (1-0)
	W (3-0)	W (2-1)
	-	-
	W (1-0)	W (2-0)
	D (1-1)	L (2-0)
	-	-

Spoiler: South Africa

Opp.	Home	Away
	D (1-1)	D (1-1)
	-	L (1-0)
	W (1-0)	-
	-	-
	-	-
	-	W (1-0)
	-	L (1-0)
	-	-

Spoiler: Sri Lanka

Opp.	Home	Away
	L (1-0)	L (1-0)
	L (1-0)	L (1-0)
	L (1-0)	L (3-0)
	W (1-0)	D (0-0)
	L (2-0)	L (1-0)
	L (1-0)	-
	D (0-)	-
	-	-

Spoiler: West Indies

Opp.	Home	Away
	W (2-1)	W (2-1)
	L (2-1)	W (2-1)
	W (3-0)	D (1-1)
	W (2-0)	D (1-1)
	W (2-0)	D (1-1)
	W (1-0)	-
	-	D (0-0)
	-	-

Spoiler: Zimbabwe

Opp.	Home	Away
	-	-
	-	-
	D (0-0)	L (1-0)
	L (1-0)	-
	-	L (2-0)
	-	-
	-	-
	-	-

There it is! England are now officially the world's number one Test team

England are also still the Bannerman Shield holders

 

[Aislabie]

Records

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

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

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

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

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

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

Partnerships
1. 190 - Graham Gooch & Tim Robinson vs Australia 1991
2. 262 - Graham Gooch & Mike Atherton vs New Zealand 1994
3. 325 - Graham Gooch & Robin Smith vs West Indies 1991
4. 247 - Robin Smith & Graeme Hick vs Pakistan 1992
5. 176 - Graeme Hick & Jack Russell vs West Indies 1991
6. 137 - Mike Atherton & Chris Lewis vs South Africa 1994
7. 174 - Chris Lewis & Phillip DeFreitas vs Australia 1993
8. 54 - Chris Lewis & Andy Caddick vs Australia 1993
9. 69 - Gladstone Small & Angus Fraser vs Australia 1990
10. 61 - Graham Thorpe & Peter Such vs West Indies 1994

Honours Board

vs , 1989-90
Graham Gooch - 112
Robin Smith - 101
Robin Smith - 112
Graham Gooch - 100

vs , 1990
Graham Gooch - 127
Rob Bailey - 196

vs , 1990
none

vs , 1990-91
Robin Smith - 110
Graham Gooch - 170

vs , 1991
Robin Smith - 127
Graham Gooch - 175*
Graeme Hick - 108*
Graham Gooch - 165
Graham Gooch - 294
Robin Smith - 145

vs , 1991
Alec Stewart - 166
Graeme Hick - 100

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

vs , 1992
Graham Gooch - 103
Robin Smith - 132
Graeme Hick - 147
Graham Gooch - 150*

vs , 1992-93
Graham Gooch - 132
Alec Stewart - 151*
Mike Atherton - 147
Robin Smith - 137

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

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

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

vs , 1994
Mike Atherton - 117
Alec Stewart - 132
Mike Atherton - 105
Robin Smith - 191

vs , 1994
Graham Gooch - 241
Graham Gooch - 175
Mike Atherton - 242
Graeme Hick - 101
Graeme Hick - 131


vs , 1989-90
Angus Fraser - 5 for 47
Gladstone Small - 5 for 72
Chris Lewis - 6 for 70

vs , 1990
none

vs , 1990
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 116
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 72

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

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

vs , 1991
none

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

vs , 1992
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 100
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 31
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 45

vs , 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

vs , 1992-93
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 102
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 71

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

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

vs , 1994
Darren Gough - 5 for 50
Phillip DeFreitas - Hattrick
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 71

vs , 1994
Phil Tufnell - 7 for 124
Phil Tufnell - 6 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	#	Debut	Last Test
Graham Gooch	461	v (1), 1975	v (3), 1994
Ian Botham	474	v (3), 1977	v (3), 1990
Mike Gatting	477	v (3), 1977-78	v (2), 1992-93
David Gower	479	v (1), 1978	v (2), 1991
John Emburey	480	v (3), 1978	v (4), 1989
Wayne Larkins	484	v (3), 1979-80	v (1), 1990
Allan Lamb	494	v (1), 1982	v (4), 1989-90
Derek Pringle	495	v (1), 1982	v (6), 1989
Eddie Hemmings	497	v (1), 1982	v (5), 1989-90
Neil Foster	502	v (3), 1983	v (1), 1992
Tim Robinson	511	v (1), 1984	v (5), 1991
Gladstone Small	521	v (2), 1986	v , 1991
Phillip DeFreitas	522	v (1), 1986-87	v (2), 1994
Neil Fairbrother	525	v (1), 1987	v (3), 1987-88
David Capel	526	v (3), 1987	v (6), 1989
Paul Jarvis	527	v (1), 1987-88	v (5), 1992
Robin Smith	530	v (4), 1988	v (3), 1994
Rob Bailey	531	v (5), 1988	v (4), 1991
Matt Maynard	532	v (5), 1988	only Test
Syd Lawrence	534	v , 1988	v , 1991
Phil Newport	535	v , 1988	v (1), 1989
Jack Russell	536	v , 1988	v (3), 1994
Angus Fraser	537	v (3), 1989	v (3), 1994
Mike Atherton	538	v (5), 1989	v (3), 1994
Devon Malcolm	539	v (5), 1989	v (3), 1994
Alan Igglesden	540	v (6), 1989	only Test
- - - - - - - - - -	- - -	- - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - - - -
Alec Stewart	542	v (1), 1989-90	v (3), 1994
Phil Tufnell	543	v (1), 1989-90	v (3), 1994
Chris Lewis	544	v (4), 1989-90	v (3), 1994
Graeme Hick	545	v (5), 1989-90	v (3), 1994
Martin Bicknell	546	v (3), 1990	v (4), 1991-92
Steve Watkin	547	v (1), 1991	v (2), 1991
Peter Such	548	v (3), 1991	v (5), 1993-94
Ian Salisbury	549	v (1), 1992-93	only Test
Mark Ramprakash	550	v (2), 1992-93	v (5), 1993-94
Dermot Reeve	551	v (3), 1992-93	only Test
Andy Caddick	552	v (2), 1993	v (1), 1994
Nasser Hussain	553	v (3), 1993	v (3), 1994
Mark Ilott	554	v (4), 1993-94	only Test
Graham Thorpe	555	v (4), 1993-94	v (2), 1994
Darren Gough	556	v (1), 1994	v (3), 1994
Dominic Cork	557	v (2), 1994	only Test
Richard Blakey	558	v (3), 1994	only Test

Captains

Player	Mat	W	D	L	First	Last
Graham Gooch	50	21	13	16	v (5), 1988	v (3), 1994
Graeme Hick	2	1	1	0	v (2), 1992-93	v (3), 1994

Batting & Fielding

Player	Mat	Inn	NO	Runs	Avg	100s	50s	Best	Ct	St
Mike Atherton	31	58	3	2486	45.20	5	12	242	11	-
Rob Bailey	15	28	1	815	30.19	1	2	196	15	-
Martin Bicknell	4	4	0	65	16.25	-	-	48	2	-
Richard Blakey	1	2	0	58	29.00	-	-	29	1	-
Ian Botham (RET)	108	176	7	5656	33.47	14	25	208	135	-
Andy Caddick	8	14	2	166	13.83	-	-	37*	-	-
David Capel (RET)	11	18	0	293	16.27	-	2	98	4	-
Dominic Cork	1	1	0	22	22.00	-	-	22	-	-
Phillip DeFreitas	29	46	5	680	16.59	-	1	82	6	-
John Emburey (RET)	60	89	18	1540	21.49	-	8	75	33	-
Neil Fairbrother	4	4	0	5	1.25	-	-	3	3	-
Neil Foster (RET)	39	60	12	600	12.50	-	-	42*	13	-
Angus Fraser	44	62	9	531	10.02	-	-	34	7	-
Mike Gatting	70	121	14	4037	37.73	9	19	207	53	-
Graham Gooch	121	224	8	10073	46.63	24	55	294	135	-
Darren Gough	6	9	3	77	12.83	-	-	35*	-	-
David Gower (RET)	124	215	17	8506	42.96	15	47	215	75	-
Eddie Hemmings (RET)	13	19	3	332	20.75	-	1	95	4	-
Graeme Hick	34	62	4	2420	43.45	6	13	147	56	-
Nasser Hussain	4	7	0	124	17.71	-	-	33	8	-
Alan Igglesden	1	1	1	2	-	-	-	2*	1	-
Mark Ilott	1	2	2	26	-	-	-	25*	-	-
Paul Jarvis	10	15	4	189	17.18	-	-	35*	1	-
Allan Lamb (RET)	60	105	9	3224	33.58	9	12	137*	53	-
Wayne Larkins (RET)	10	19	0	348	18.31	-	-	43	5	-
Syd Lawrence	2	2	0	6	3.00	-	-	4	-	-
Chris Lewis	40	64	9	1407	25.58	1	4	114*	36	-
Devon Malcolm	26	36	10	177	6.81	-	-	14*	7	-
Matt Maynard	1	2	0	13	6.50	-	-	10	-	-
Phil Newport	2	3	0	70	23.33	-	-	36	1	-
Derek Pringle	21	36	3	512	15.51	-	2	66	7	-
Mark Ramprakash	8	15	1	488	34.86	-	5	76*	-	-
Dermot Reeve	1	2	0	12	6.00	-	-	6	-	-
Tim Robinson	41	71	6	2362	36.33	4	12	175	14	-
Jack Russell	56	96	21	2486	33.15	1	13	128*	154	12
Ian Salisbury	1	1	0	21	21.00	-	-	21	-	-
Gladstone Small	20	26	7	382	20.10	-	2	59	2	-
Robin Smith	55	102	8	4427	47.10	11	24	145	19	-
Alec Stewart	30	58	3	2451	44.56	8	7	166	10	-
Peter Such	10	13	5	45	5.63	-	-	14*	4	-
Graham Thorpe	4	8	0	375	46.87	1	1	3	-
Phil Tufnell	42	51	13	213	5.61	-	-	36	10	-
Steve Watkin	2	4	0	55	13.75	-	-	27	-	-

Bowling

Player	Mat	Ovr	Runs	Wkts	Avg	Econ	5WI	10WM	Best
Mike Atherton	31	95	396	10	39.60	4.2	-	-	3/32
Rob Bailey	15	43	175	2	87.50	4.1	-	-	1/0
Martin Bicknell	4	191	469	11	42.63	2.5	-	-	3/72
Richard Blakey	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ian Botham (RET)	108	3779	11223	400	28.13	3.0	27	4	8/34
Andy Caddick	8	329	875	21	41.67	2.7	-	-	4/71
David Capel	11	209	628	12	52.33	3.0	-	-	2/13
Dominic Cork	1	52	147	4	36.75	2.8	-	-	3/80
Phillip DeFreitas	29	1063	2947	81	36.38	2.8	4	1	5/19
John Emburey	60	2371	5105	138	36.99	2.1	6	-	7/78
Neil Fairbrother	4	2	9	0	-	4.5	-	-	-
Neil Foster	39	1451	3902	115	33.93	2.7	5	1	8/107
Angus Fraser	44	1827	4402	131	33.60	2.4	4	-	5/21
Mike Gatting	70	125	317	4	79.25	2.5	-	-	1/14
Graham Gooch	121	306	740	17	43.53	2.4	-	-	2/12
Darren Gough	6	259	617	18	34.28	2.4	1	-	5/50
David Gower (RET)	124	6	20	1	20.00	3.3	-	-	1/1
Eddie Hemmings	13	513	1454	31	46.90	2.8	-	-	4/90
Graeme Hick	34	61	229	6	38.17	3.8	-	-	3/38
Nasser Hussain	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Alan Igglesden	1	37	146	3	48.67	3.9	-	-	2/91
Mark Ilott	1	38	127	1	127.00	3.3	-	-	1/106
Paul Jarvis	10	359	1069	26	41.12	3.0	-	-	4/50
Allan Lamb (RET)	60	5	23	1	23.00	4.6	-	-	1/6
Wayne Larkins (RET)	10	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Syd Lawrence	2	68	223	4	55.75	3.3	-	-	2/74
Chris Lewis	40	1191	3208	88	36.45	2.7	1	-	6/70
Devon Malcolm	26	931	2994	94	31.85	3.2	2	-	6/75
Matt Maynard	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Phil Newport	2	92	339	9	37.66	3.7	-	-	4/87
Derek Pringle	21	625	1807	48	37.64	2.9	2	-	5/95
Mark Ramprakash	8	1	2	0	-	2.0	-	-	-
Dermot Reeve	1	14	39	0	-	2.8	-	-	-
Tim Robinson	41	1	0	0	-	0.0	-	-	-
Jack Russell	56	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ian Salisbury	1	13	76	0	-	5.9	-	-	-
Gladstone Small	20	784	1980	60	33.00	2.5	3	-	5/48
Robin Smith	55	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Alec Stewart	30	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Peter Such	10	486	1442	48	30.04	3.0	2	-	8/47
Graham Thorpe	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Phil Tufnell	42	2040	5784	209	27.67	2.8	18	5	8/114
Steve Watkin	2	64	223	5	44.60	3.5	1	-	5/56

​

Stats and records updated; one thing that's becoming obvious is that we are rather batting-heavy. Not sure if that's an accident of the Cricket Captain match engine, or if it's my own play style

 

[Aislabie]

England Tour of Australia, 1994-95

Itinerary
25 Nov 94 - Australia vs England - First Test at The Gabba - England won by 161 runs
24 Dec 94 - Australia vs England - Second Test at The MCG - Match drawn
01 Jan 95 - Australia vs England - Third Test at The SCG - Match drawn
26 Jan 95 - Australia vs England - Fourth Test at Adelaide Oval - Match drawn
03 Feb 95 - Australia vs England - Fifth Test at The WACA - Match tied

England Squad

Graham Gooch

Mike Atherton
Graeme Hick
Mark Ramprakash
Robin Smith
Alec Stewart
Graham Thorpe

Richard Blakey
Jack Russell

Chris Lewis

Glen Chapple
Dominic Cork
Phillip DeFreitas
Angus Fraser
Darren Gough
Devon Malcolm

Peter Such
Phil Tufnell

With the England side being very settled, and having won six series on the bounce, there aren't all that many changes to be made at present. Indeed, the only one of note is the inclusion of the uncapped Glen Chapple, who recently completed a breakout 55-wicket season for Lancashire; he is included in place of Craig White as the selectors have decided that Chris Lewis continues to do an adequate job as an all-rounder batting at seven. There is not and never will be room for Steve Rhodes, with Jack Russell retaining his place and Richard Blakey as his understudy. (I've got no idea if Russell was injured at this point in real life or if the selectors were just being weird, but we're probably looking at a pretty linear Russell-Foster-Read-Prior-Foakes continuum for England keepers)

Graham Gooch, who has now led England in more Tests than anyone else, has also confirmed that he will be stepping down from the captaincy at the end of the Ashes, and from the Test team entirely at the end of the West Indies series. He has been an outstanding servant to English cricket.

 

[ddrap14]

Russell-Foster-Read-Prior-Foakes

Buttler: visible frustration

 

[Ed Smith]

Buttler: visible frustration

Geraint Owen Jones MBE is fuming

 

[Aislabie]

Buttler: visible frustration

Buttler has a good point - I've missed out Tim Ambrose. Honestly one of the most underrated English keepers of the last decade or so

 

[Aislabie]

Australia vs England - First Test at The Gabba

Australia XI
Michael Slater
Mark Taylor
David Boon
Mark Waugh
Michael Bevan
Steve Waugh
Ian Healy
Shane Warne
Craig McDermott
Tim May
Glenn McGrath

England XI
Graham Gooch
Alec Stewart
Michael Atherton
Robin Smith
Graeme Hick
Jack Russell
Chris Lewis
Dominic Cork
Darren Gough
Angus Fraser
Phil Tufnell

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

The greatest Test series in the world is back: it's The Ashes, and it looks like it's going to be an intriguing one. Australia are languishing at sixth in the world, but most definitely on the way up with a clutch of world class players in their ranks. England, meanwhile, are on top of the world: winners of their last six Test series and captained by the most successful leader in their history. Who are the favourites? Absolutely no idea, but England got their first toehold by winning the toss and batting.

Two overs into the Test match though, Australia were right on top: with only one run on the board, England had lost two wickets in the form of Gooch and Atherton. But if there's one thing that this English team prides itself on, it's fighting spirit - and few moreso than Robin Smith, who fought his way back into the first-choice Test XI, and his first-choice batting position, with a monolithic century. That was his approach on the first day of the Ashes as well, as he compiled a near-faultless 106 before being the sixth man out. Chris Lewis then added an excellently combative 47 in order to ensure that England batted into the second day, and at least got past the 250 mark before losing their tenth and final wicket.

It wasn't much, but it was something for their bowlers to work with. Despite the classically Australian conditions, the first man to take a wicket was the world-class Tufnell, dispatching with the Australian captain in the final over before lunch. This cracked the door open for Gough and Fraser to each claim promising wickets, but that was the end of the good news for England for the better part of a day: David Boon ground out a typically pugilistic 95 while Michael Bevan breezed his way to a commanding maiden Test century. How could England fight their way back into the game? By throwing the ball to Gough and Tufnell of course. After the Yorkshire fast man removed Boon and Waugh in the space of an over, Tufnell then mopped up the tail-enders who looked bemused by his spinning skills.

The key thing for England was to get past the Australians' 88-run advantage for the loss of minimal wickets. In this case, it was two wickets: Gooch and Atherton again. And, like the fist innings, Stewart and Smith were the class of the English batting. This time, Smith fell short of a century while second-innings specialist Stewart converted; the Surrey man kept on going to post an outstanding 159. Again, Chris Lewis then added the finishing touches to the English second innings, this time with an unbeaten 59 to guide England to exactly 400 before declaring.

Though all results were theoretically possible, the excellent Angus Fraser quickly pushed an Australian win out of reach. Though it likely won't make the headlines, he bowled 21 overs on day five, leaking only 26 runs and claiming the key wicket of Boon. A heroic performance by any measure, but one that was put into the shade by his county colleague Tufnell who added another five Australian wickets to his growing collection. Finally, when the tailenders arrived to try to save the game, they fell to the joint skills of Cork and Lewis. An excellent win from the English team.

Spoiler: Barrington Medal Points

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

Spoiler: Points system

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. Alec Stewart - 5 points (+5)
2. Phil Tufnell - 3 points (+3)
3. Robin Smith - 2 points (+2)
4. Chris Lewis - 1 point (+1)

 

[Aislabie]

Australia (0) vs (1) England - Second Test at The MCG

Australia XI
Michael Slater
Mark Taylor
David Boon
Mark Waugh
Michael Bevan
Steve Waugh
Ian Healy
Shane Warne
Craig McDermott
Tim May
Damien Fleming

England XI
Graham Gooch
Alec Stewart
Michael Atherton
Robin Smith
Graeme Hick
Graham Thorpe
Chris Lewis
Jack Russell
Darren Gough
Angus Fraser
Phil Tufnell

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

Having taken the all-important lead in the Test series, England arrived at the MCG with a side designed to defend that lead: with a Melbourne road predicted, they chose to bolster their batting stocks by picking Graham Thorpe in place of Dominic Cork. Surprisingly, this pushes Jack Russell down to number eight in the batting order - a possible sign that his grip on the keeper-batsman's position has loosened in the last year or so. As for Australia, they stuck to their two-seam, two-spin attack, but with a personnel change as they recalled Damien Fleming. Gooch's second straight won toss was exceedingly handy then, denying the Australians final use of the wicket.

Fast forward a day and a half, and the England captain must have been thanking everyone who argued in favour of Thorpe's inclusion. The extra batting option that it afforded was crucial, allowing for a 130-run seventh-wicket partnership between Robin Smith (who made his second century of the series) and Jack Russell (who seemed more comfortable without the pressure to be a functioning member of the top six). Although 356 isn't the ideal first innings score, it is a very good result for a team that was five wickets down before any of their batsmen passed fifty.

With a middling total behind them, the English bowlers - one fewer in number than usual - remained disciplined. Both Gough and Fraser conceded comfortably less than two runs per over across marathon bowling efforts, while Chris Lewis and Phil Tufnell shared seven wickets. Even the part-time spinners Hick and Atherton, their roles far greater than usual due to the personnel deficit in the bowling department, did their part with a wicket each from a combined 17 overs of bowling. Of course, none of this stopped David Boon from making an excellent century, but it did stop his batting colleagues from being able to make meaningful contributions around him. As a result, it also stopped Australia from getting ahead in the game.

For the first time in the series, the England openers both made runs: for Stewart, it was a second century of the series to draw back level with Robin Smith; for Gooch, it was a more modest half-century - the first one of his final series as England Test captain. Somewhat surprisingly, Gooch opted to declare England's innings at lunch on the fifth day: not that they weren't ahead in the game (especially thanks to Taylor's weird reluctance to bowl Tim May very much), but 321 from the final two sessions could be a tempting target for a home side already one-down in the series.

Any such fears were unfounded though, as the Australians showed no interest in going for the runs. The conditions offered England little actual chance to take wickets, so they mostly just gave their bowlers a rest and let the part-timers have a bowl. A bit of a naff way to finish a Test match, but England retained their series lead and earned the opportunity to retain The Ashes at the SCG.

Spoiler: Barrington Medal Points

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

Spoiler: Points system

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. Alec Stewart - 7 points (+2)
2. Robin Smith - 5 points (+3)
3. Phil Tufnell - 4 points (+1)
4. Chris Lewis - 1 point

 

[Aislabie]

Australia (0) vs (1) England - Third Test at The SCG

Australia XI
Michael Slater
Mark Taylor
David Boon
Mark Waugh
Michael Bevan
Steve Waugh
Ian Healy
Shane Warne
Craig McDermott
Tim May
Damien Fleming

England XI
Graham Gooch
Alec Stewart
Michael Atherton
Robin Smith
Graeme Hick
Graham Thorpe
Chris Lewis
Jack Russell
Dominic Cork
Phil Tufnell
Devon Malcolm

- - -

Australia win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

Despite the Australians being one down in the series, it was England who opted to make changes for the Third Test. They opted to rest their two main seamers to keep them fit and functioning for the rest of the series, while retaining Thorpe for another game despite the fact that it left the bowling attack a man down. Clearly, the priority was making sure that England put enough runs on the board to make sure they weren't at risk of losing the game.

This strategy immediately backfired though when Australia won the toss and chose to bat first against a fast bowling attack of Malcolm, Cork and Lewis. It was not pretty for England, but they kept plugging away and - thanks in no small part to a lot of overs from Phil Tufnell - kept Australia to under 400. The main contributors to that were Michael Slater and the Marks - Taylor and Waugh. But, like an ingrown toenail, the English bowlers (again, Tufnell mostly) refused to go away. Some of them might be needing a bit of a rest after this though.

But with the bowling out of the way, England were able to put their feet up and let their gameplan do its job. And so it did, very well indeed: after a 92-run opening stand in which Gooch and Stewart both contrived not quite to post half-centuries, the number three and four combination of Atherton and Smith absolutely delivered. Atherton converted his first double-figure score of the series into a sparkling (but slow) 157 not out, while Smith made his third Ashes century in as many Tests. Not to be outdone, Chris Lewis also added another excellent innings, this time of 66 before becoming the only wicket to fall to a bowler other than the surely exhausted Craig McDermott. Rather than batting on, Gooch opted to call his batsmen in with a first-innings lead of 100, and 40 minutes of cricket left in the day.

England used those 40 minutes pretty well, with Cork claiming the wicket of Michael Slater to give a slight possibility of pushing for a win on the fifth day. Boon and Taylor's resolutely wide bats and physiques quickly put paid to such a silly notion. After what must have been a hearty lunch and a short debate about the merits of declaration bowling, England went back out and gave their seamers one final burst before turning to spin. It didn't even go that badly - Tufnell and Hick shared four wickets before Australia declared,

Rather than just shaking hands, Gooch opted to go back out and bat for a little bit to really try and wear out the Aussies. But a draw is a draw is a draw.

Spoiler: Barrington Medal Points

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

Spoiler: Points system

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. Robin Smith - 7 points (+2)
=1. Alec Stewart - 7 points
3. Phil Tufnell - 4 points
4. Michael Atherton - 3 points (+3)
5. Chris Lewis - 2 points (+1)

 

[Aislabie]

Australia (0) vs (1) England - Fourth Test at Adelaide Oval

Australia XI
Michael Slater
Mark Taylor
David Boon
Mark Waugh
Steve Waugh
Greg Blewett
Ian Healy
Shane Warne
Craig McDermott
Peter McIntyre
Damien Fleming

England XI
Graham Gooch
Alec Stewart
Michael Atherton
Robin Smith
Graeme Hick
Graham Thorpe
Jack Russell
Glen Chapple (debut)
Darren Gough
Angus Fraser
Peter Such

- - -

Australia win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

Coming into the Fourth Test one-nil up is not the time when you would expect a team to change their entire bowling attack, but that was exactly the option chosen by England captain Graham Gooch. He described it as "the sensible thing to do" as both Fraser and Gough came back from having been rested. Tufnell, however, had wheeled through over 200 overs in the three Test matches, and was granted a rest ahead of the fifth game, while Chris Lewis' contributions with bat and ball had left him rather fatigued - in his place comes debutant Glen Chapple. Australia too made a couple of changes, but meh - this story isn't about them.

Again the Australians won the toss and chose to bat, but this time they were up against Gough and Fraser. All the more surprising then that Glen Chapple was thrown the new ball and given a three-over burst, a decision presumably made to help him settle into Test cricket before he had too much time to think about it. As has been the way before, Angus Fraser proved outstanding with the new ball, pounding through ten overs on his way to a pleasing haul of two for 15. But that would be it for him as a muscular injury left him unable to bowl again before lunch on the first day. And that, kids, is why a fifth bowler is always handy - some loose bowling from Gough left the debutant as the only seamer left who was both fit and firing. It didn't help either that Peter Such, while good, was no Phil Tufnell; Australia were able to rack up their highest score of the series.

At least the loss of Fraser wouldn't affect the batting all that much: yet another century opening stand set the tone, both Gooch and Stewart looking completely untroubled for nearly four hours. Trust Shane Warne to make something happen though, as one ball spun out of nowhere to get Stewart caught at slip. It was only one ball though: by the end of the third day's cricket, England were past the follow-on mark for the loss of only one wicket, and the excellent Gooch found similarly adhesive support from Atherton. The second man to fall was the England captain for his however-manyth Test double-century. How demoralising it must have been for the Australians to see Robin Smith walk out to replace him. For once, the number four failed, but the damage was already done. 540 for eight declared was the final tally.

Yeah, it was another draw, but it was a draw that meant England retained the Ashes.

Spoiler: Barrington Medal Points

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

Spoiler: Points system

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. Robin Smith - 7 points
=1. Alec Stewart - 7 points
3. Michael Atherton - 5 points (+2)
4. Phil Tufnell - 4 points
5. Graham Gooch - 3 points (+3)
6. Chris Lewis - 2 points
7. Glen Chapple - 1 point (+1)

 

[Aislabie]

Australia (0) vs (1) England - Fifth Test at The WACA

Australia XI
Michael Slater
Mark Taylor
David Boon
Mark Waugh
Steve Waugh
Greg Blewett
Ian Healy
Shane Warne
Craig McDermott
Jo Angel
Glenn McGrath

England XI
Graham Gooch
Alec Stewart
Michael Atherton
Robin Smith
Graeme Hick
Chris Lewis
Jack Russell
Glen Chapple
Phillip DeFreitas
Dominic Cork
Phil Tufnell

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

After so much fannying about with selecting second spinners that Mark Taylor didn't trust, it was a blessed relief to see Glenn McGrath return to the Australian side - for everyone who wasn't English anyway. Although the reasons for picking Jo Angel over Paul Reiffel weren't entirely clear. Meanwhile, England returned to their trusted five-man attack, making a couple of enforced changes for Fraser (injured) and Such (dreadful), as well as a couple of optional ones to get rid of Thorpe (no runs) and Gough (no wickets). All in all, both sides looked a bit stronger, although England might have been better off to go into the last Test with a genuine pace threat in their ranks.

It looked as if the Australian groundsmen had again got the message of "pls build road" from the ACB, and Gooch had no hesitation in choosing to bat first after winning his final Test toss. He did not, however, capitalise on the opportunity; instead, he trudged back to the pavilion with a golden duck to his name, followed soon after by Stewart for five. Fortunately, that brought England's real form man to the crease: with three centuries already in the series, Robin Smith just needed someone to stick around with him, and although nobody else made fifty, there were still a few worthy partners in Atherton, Russell and Cork who all scored between 36 and 41. But of course Smith was the star, finally getting that elusive maiden Test 150 and immediately converting it into a double-century.

The bowlers were clearly motivated to go out there and win another Test series, not allowing a 110-run opening partnership to stand in their way. Indeed, once DeFreitas and Tufnell had broken through the Australians' powerful top order, the game was just waiting for someone from either side to grab hold of it. That someone was Chris Lewis, who bowled fifteen immaculate overs to take three for 20, a headline-grabbing spell from a player who thrives in the role he's been given in the team. He, Tufnell and the rest delivered a lead of 143, though Michael Slater was left wishing that it was only 142 as he fell one run short of a century. Let's hope that doesn't become a habit (wink).

But that was when the problems started - and by problems, one means "McGrath and Warne". The pair just claimed wicket after wicket after wicket, and although Jack Russell was the only batsman to be dismissed for a duck, there was no stopping Australia from obliterating the English batting for an embarrassing 74 all out. It could have been far worse too, had it not been for a combative 30 in the lower order from Glen Chapple. From being free and clear in the match, England had fallen to a position of having only 217 runs to defend.

England needed a hero, so they threw the ball to Phil Tufnell. The crafty left-arm spinner - whose spinning finger must by now have been sporting calluses the size of marbles - wheeled his way through 37 overs unchanged from one end as England tried desperately to save the Test and their record of winning a shitload of Test series in a row. So how did he do? Well, very well indeed. When Glen Ghapple managed to dismiss Ian Healy for eight, Tufnell's five wickets had dragged England within sight of victory: the Australian tail still needed fifteen more runs.

Chapple to McDermott (15 to win, 3 to come) - 4 • 1 - That could have gone so differently! Chapple drew the outside edge twice, but one flew harmlessly over the slips for four, and the other one was grassed by a diving Hick.

Tufnell to McDermott (10 to win) - 1 • 1 • • 1 - Excellent composure now from the Australians - no need for risks with the winning line in sight.

DeFreitas to McDermott (7 to win) - 1 • • • • • - A bowling change here as Gooch decides to go with the experience of DeFreitas. A tight over ensues.

Tufnell to McDermott (6 to win) - • 4 • • • W - What a moment in the game! With only two runs to win, Craig McDermott loses his head and tries to win it in one big his! Tufnell gets his sixth victim, but surely it's too little too late?

DeFreitas to Warne (2 to win) - • • 1 W - OH MY GOODNESS! A single from Warne levels the scores, but DeFreitas immediately strikes back by getting Angel caught behind! One to win, one wicket left, and two balls left in the over!

DeFreitas to McGrath (1 to win) - W - AND THAT'S IT! ENGLAND HAVE TIED THE TEST! A HUGE APPEAL FOR LBW FROM DEFREITAS AND THE UMPIRE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO OPTION BUT TO GIVE IT OUT. WHAT. A. TEST. MATCH.

And what a way for Graham Gooch to sign off as captain of England. Only the third-ever Tied Test match, and it gives England their seventh consecutive Test series win. Somehow. After being bowled out for 74. After having only one run left to play with and three wickets left to take. I'm in shock.

Spoiler: Barrington Medal Points

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

Spoiler: Points system

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. Robin Smith - 9 points (+2)
=2. Alec Stewart - 7 points
=2. Phil Tufnell - 7 points (+3)
=4. Michael Atherton - 5 points
=4. Phillip DeFreitas - 5 points (+5)
=6. Graham Gooch - 3 points
=6. Chris Lewis - 3 points (+1)
8. Glen Chapple - 1 point

No prizes for guessing the winner of the Barrington Medal this time around: the man with 630 runs at an average of 78.75, including four centuries. Take a bow Robin Smith.

 

[Aislabie]

World Test Rankings, as of 31 Mar 1995
Minumum qualification: 5 series

Rank	Team	Rating
1	England	769
2	Pakistan	714
3	West Indies	667*
4	South Africa	667*
5	Australia	500*
6	India	500*
7	Sri Lanka	231
8	New Zealand	133
9	Zimbabwe	100

*If two teams are level on points, their head-to-head against each other is taken into consideration

Spoiler: Australia

Opp.	Home	Away
	L (1-0)	L (3-2)
	W (4-0)	D (0-0)
	W (2-0)	D (1-1)
	L (3-2)	L (1-0)
	-	-
	W (1-0)	W (1-0)
	L (2-1)	W (2-1)
	-	-

Spoiler: England

Opp.	Home	Away
	W (3-2)	W (1-0)
	L (3-0)	W (2-1)
	W (1-0)	W (2-0)
	W (1-0)	L (1-0)
	W (1-0)	-
	W (1-0)	W (1-0)
	L (2-1)	W (2-1)
	-	-

Spoiler: India

Opp.	Home	Away
	D (0-0)	L (4-0)
	L (2-1)	W (3-0)
	W (2-1)	D (0-0)
	L (1-0)	D (0-0)
	D (1-1)	D (1-1)
	W (3-0)	W (1-0)
	D (1-1)	L (3-0)
	-	-

Spoiler: New Zealand

Opp.	Home	Away
	D (1-1)	L (2-0)
	L (2-0)	L (1-0)
	D (0-0)	L (2-1)
	L (2-1)	L (3-0)
	L (1-0)	L (2-1)
	L (1-0)	L (1-0)
	L (1-0)	L (2-0)
	-	W (1-0)

Spoiler: Pakistan

Opp.	Home	Away
	W (1-0)	L (1-0)
	W (1-0)	W (3-2)
	D (0-0)	W (1-0)
	W (3-0)	W (2-1)
	-	L (1-0)
	W (1-0)	W (2-0)
	D (1-1)	L (2-0)
	-	W (2-1)

Spoiler: South Africa

Opp.	Home	Away
	D (1-1)	D (1-1)
	-	L (1-0)
	W (1-0)	-
	W (2-1)	W (1-0)
	W (1-0)	-
	-	W (1-0)
	-	L (1-0)
	-	-

Spoiler: Sri Lanka

Opp.	Home	Away
	L (1-0)	L (1-0)
	L (1-0)	L (1-0)
	L (1-0)	L (3-0)
	W (1-0)	W (1-0)
	L (2-0)	L (1-0)
	L (1-0)	-
	D (0-0)	-
	-	D (0-0)

Spoiler: West Indies

Opp.	Home	Away
	L (2-1)	W (2-1)
	L (2-1)	W (2-1)
	W (3-0)	D (1-1)
	W (2-0)	W (1-0)
	W (2-0)	D (1-1)
	W (1-0)	-
	-	D (0-0)
	-	-

Spoiler: Zimbabwe

Opp.	Home	Away
	-	-
	-	-
	D (0-0)	L (1-0)
	L (1-0)	-
	L (2-1)	L (2-0)
	-	-
	D (0-0)	-
	-	-

England are the Bannerman Shield holders

Well would you look at that - England have asserted themselves as the world's number one Test team. Amazing the difference seven consecutive series can make. What an excellent legacy for Gooch as he leaves the captaincy behind.

 

[Aislabie]

Records

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

Lowest Innings Score
for 74 all out vs Australia, The WACA 1995
vs 83 all out, West Indies, Queens Park Oval 1994

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

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

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

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

Tied Test Match
Australia vs England , The WACA 1995

Partnerships
1. 190 - Graham Gooch & Tim Robinson vs Australia 1991
2. 262 - Graham Gooch & Mike Atherton vs New Zealand 1994
3. 325 - Graham Gooch & Robin Smith vs West Indies 1991
4. 247 - Robin Smith & Graeme Hick vs Pakistan 1992
5. 176 - Graeme Hick & Jack Russell vs West Indies 1991
6. 137 - Mike Atherton & Chris Lewis vs South Africa 1994
7. 174 - Chris Lewis & Phillip DeFreitas vs Australia 1993
8. 55 - Jack Russell & Darren Gough vs Australia 1994
9. 95 - Robin Smith & Dominic Cork vs Australia 1995
10. 61 - Graham Thorpe & Peter Such vs West Indies 1994

Honours Board

vs , 1989-90
Graham Gooch - 112
Robin Smith - 101
Robin Smith - 112
Graham Gooch - 100

vs , 1990
Graham Gooch - 127
Rob Bailey - 196

vs , 1990
none

vs , 1990-91
Robin Smith - 110
Graham Gooch - 170

vs , 1991
Robin Smith - 127
Graham Gooch - 175*
Graeme Hick - 108*
Graham Gooch - 165
Graham Gooch - 294
Robin Smith - 145

vs , 1991
Alec Stewart - 166
Graeme Hick - 100

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

vs , 1992
Graham Gooch - 103
Robin Smith - 132
Graeme Hick - 147
Graham Gooch - 150*

vs , 1992-93
Graham Gooch - 132
Alec Stewart - 151*
Mike Atherton - 147
Robin Smith - 137

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

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

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

vs , 1994
Mike Atherton - 117
Alec Stewart - 132
Mike Atherton - 105
Robin Smith - 191

vs , 1994
Graham Gooch - 241
Graham Gooch - 175
Mike Atherton - 242
Graeme Hick - 101
Graeme Hick - 131

vs , 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


vs , 1989-90
Angus Fraser - 5 for 47
Gladstone Small - 5 for 72
Chris Lewis - 6 for 70

vs , 1990
none

vs , 1990
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 116
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 72

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

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

vs , 1991
none

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

vs , 1992
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 100
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 31
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 45

vs , 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

vs , 1992-93
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 102
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 71

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

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

vs , 1994
Darren Gough - 5 for 50
Phillip DeFreitas - Hattrick
Phil Tufnell - 5 for 71

vs , 1994
Phil Tufnell - 7 for 124
Phil Tufnell - 6 for 117

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

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	#	Debut	Last Test
Graham Gooch	461	v (1), 1975	v (5), 1994-95
Ian Botham	474	v (3), 1977	v (3), 1990
Mike Gatting	477	v (3), 1977-78	v (2), 1992-93
David Gower	479	v (1), 1978	v (2), 1991
John Emburey	480	v (3), 1978	v (4), 1989
Wayne Larkins	484	v (3), 1979-80	v (1), 1990
Allan Lamb	494	v (1), 1982	v (4), 1989-90
Derek Pringle	495	v (1), 1982	v (6), 1989
Eddie Hemmings	497	v (1), 1982	v (5), 1989-90
Neil Foster	502	v (3), 1983	v (1), 1992
Tim Robinson	511	v (1), 1984	v (5), 1991
Gladstone Small	521	v (2), 1986	v , 1991
Phillip DeFreitas	522	v (1), 1986-87	v (5), 1994-95
Neil Fairbrother	525	v (1), 1987	v (3), 1987-88
David Capel	526	v (3), 1987	v (6), 1989
Paul Jarvis	527	v (1), 1987-88	v (5), 1992
Robin Smith	530	v (4), 1988	v (5), 1994-95
Rob Bailey	531	v (5), 1988	v (4), 1991
Matt Maynard	532	v (5), 1988	only Test
Syd Lawrence	534	v , 1988	v , 1991
Phil Newport	535	v , 1988	v (1), 1989
Jack Russell	536	v , 1988	v (5), 1994-95
Angus Fraser	537	v (3), 1989	v (4), 1994-95
Mike Atherton	538	v (5), 1989	v (5), 1994-95
Devon Malcolm	539	v (5), 1989	v (3), 1994-95
Alan Igglesden	540	v (6), 1989	only Test
- - - - - - - - - -	- - -	- - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - - - -
Alec Stewart	542	v (1), 1989-90	v (5), 1994-95
Phil Tufnell	543	v (1), 1989-90	v (5), 1994-95
Chris Lewis	544	v (4), 1989-90	v (5), 1994-95
Graeme Hick	545	v (5), 1989-90	v (5), 1994-95
Martin Bicknell	546	v (3), 1990	v (4), 1991-92
Steve Watkin	547	v (1), 1991	v (2), 1991
Peter Such	548	v (3), 1991	v (4), 1994-95
Ian Salisbury	549	v (1), 1992-93	only Test
Mark Ramprakash	550	v (2), 1992-93	v (5), 1993-94
Dermot Reeve	551	v (3), 1992-93	only Test
Andy Caddick	552	v (2), 1993	v (1), 1994
Nasser Hussain	553	v (3), 1993	v (3), 1994
Mark Ilott	554	v (4), 1993-94	only Test
Graham Thorpe	555	v (4), 1993-94	v (4), 1994-95
Darren Gough	556	v (1), 1994	v (4), 1994-95
Dominic Cork	557	v (2), 1994	v (5), 1994-95
Richard Blakey	558	v (3), 1994	only Test
Glen Chapple	559	debut	v (5), 1994-95

Captains

Player	Mat	W	T	D	L	First	Last
Graham Gooch	55	22	1	16	16	v (5), 1988	v (5), 1994-95
Graeme Hick	2	1	0	1	0	v (2), 1992-93	v (3), 1994

Batting & Fielding

Player	Mat	Inn	NO	Runs	Avg	100s	50s	Best	Ct	St
Mike Atherton	36	67	5	2818	45.45	6	13	242	14	-
Rob Bailey	15	28	1	815	30.19	1	2	196	15	-
Martin Bicknell	4	4	0	65	16.25	-	-	48	2	-
Richard Blakey	1	2	0	58	29.00	-	-	29	1	-
Ian Botham (RET)	108	176	7	5656	33.47	14	25	208	135	-
Andy Caddick	8	14	2	166	13.83	-	-	37*	-	-
David Capel (RET)	11	18	0	293	16.27	-	2	98	4	-
Glen Chapple	2	3	0	63	21.00	-	-	30	1	-
Dominic Cork	4	5	2	82	27.33	-	-	37*	1	-
Phillip DeFreitas	30	48	5	698	16.23	-	1	82	6	-
John Emburey (RET)	60	89	18	1540	21.49	-	8	75	33	-
Neil Fairbrother	4	4	0	5	1.25	-	-	3	3	-
Neil Foster (RET)	39	60	12	600	12.50	-	-	42*	13	-
Angus Fraser	47	64	10	534	9.89	-	-	34	7	-
Mike Gatting (RET)	70	121	14	4037	37.73	9	19	207	53	-
Graham Gooch	126	234	10	10489	46.83	25	56	294	142	-
Darren Gough	9	12	3	138	15.33	-	-	35*	-	-
David Gower (RET)	124	215	17	8506	42.96	15	47	215	75	-
Eddie Hemmings (RET)	13	19	3	332	20.75	-	1	95	4	-
Graeme Hick	39	70	4	2577	39.04	6	14	147	62	-
Nasser Hussain	4	7	0	124	17.71	-	-	33	8	-
Alan Igglesden	1	1	1	2	-	-	-	2*	1	-
Mark Ilott	1	2	2	26	-	-	-	25*	-	-
Paul Jarvis	10	15	4	189	17.18	-	-	35*	1	-
Allan Lamb (RET)	60	105	9	3224	33.58	9	12	137*	53	-
Wayne Larkins (RET)	10	19	0	348	18.31	-	-	43	5	-
Syd Lawrence	2	2	0	6	3.00	-	-	4	-	-
Chris Lewis	44	70	10	1642	27.37	1	6	114*	42	-
Devon Malcolm	27	36	10	177	6.81	-	-	14*	7	-
Matt Maynard	1	2	0	13	6.50	-	-	10	-	-
Phil Newport	2	3	0	70	23.33	-	-	36	1	-
Derek Pringle (RET)	21	36	3	512	15.51	-	2	66	7	-
Mark Ramprakash	8	15	1	488	34.86	-	5	76*	-	-
Dermot Reeve	1	2	0	12	6.00	-	-	6	-	-
Tim Robinson (RET)	41	71	6	2362	36.33	4	12	175	14	-
Jack Russell	61	103	24	2693	34.09	1	15	128*	163	16
Ian Salisbury	1	1	0	21	21.00	-	-	21	-	-
Gladstone Small (RET)	20	26	7	382	20.10	-	2	59	2	-
Robin Smith	60	110	8	5057	49.58	15	25	204	19	-
Alec Stewart	35	68	4	2960	46.25	10	9	166	11	-
Peter Such	11	14	6	45	5.63	-	-	14*	4	-
Graham Thorpe	7	12	1	441	40.09	1	1	4	-
Phil Tufnell	46	55	14	215	5.24	-	-	36	11	-
Steve Watkin	2	4	0	55	13.75	-	-	27	-	-

Bowling

Player	Mat	Ovr	Runs	Wkts	Avg	Econ	5WI	10WM	Best
Mike Atherton	36	127	495	13	38.08	3.9	-	-	3/32
Rob Bailey	15	43	175	2	87.50	4.1	-	-	1/0
Martin Bicknell	4	191	469	11	42.63	2.5	-	-	3/72
Richard Blakey	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ian Botham (RET)	108	3779	11223	400	28.13	3.0	27	4	8/34
Andy Caddick	8	329	875	21	41.67	2.7	-	-	4/71
David Capel (RET)	11	209	628	12	52.33	3.0	-	-	2/13
Glen Chapple	2	85	276	5	55.20	3.2	-	-	3/99
Dominic Cork	4	146	425	9	47.22	2.9	-	-	3/80
Phillip DeFreitas	30	1106	3040	86	35.34	2.7	4	1	5/19
John Emburey (RET)	60	2371	5105	138	36.99	2.1	6	-	7/78
Neil Fairbrother	4	2	9	0	-	4.5	-	-	-
Neil Foster (RET)	39	1451	3902	115	33.93	2.7	5	1	8/107
Angus Fraser	47	1931	4589	137	33.50	2.4	4	-	5/21
Mike Gatting (RET)	70	125	317	4	79.25	2.5	-	-	1/14
Graham Gooch	126	306	740	17	43.53	2.4	-	-	2/12
Darren Gough	9	371	916	23	39.82	2.5	1	-	5/50
David Gower (RET)	124	6	20	1	20.00	3.3	-	-	1/1
Eddie Hemmings (RET)	13	513	1454	31	46.90	2.8	-	-	4/90
Graeme Hick	39	162	529	11	48.09	3.3	-	-	3/38
Nasser Hussain	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Alan Igglesden	1	37	146	3	48.67	3.9	-	-	2/91
Mark Ilott	1	38	127	1	127.00	3.3	-	-	1/106
Paul Jarvis	10	359	1069	26	41.12	3.0	-	-	4/50
Allan Lamb (RET)	60	5	23	1	23.00	4.6	-	-	1/6
Wayne Larkins (RET)	10	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Syd Lawrence	2	68	223	4	55.75	3.3	-	-	2/74
Chris Lewis	44	1292	3429	97	35.35	2.7	1	-	6/70
Devon Malcolm	27	978	3143	96	32.74	3.2	2	-	6/75
Matt Maynard	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Phil Newport	2	92	339	9	37.66	3.7	-	-	4/87
Derek Pringle (RET)	21	625	1807	48	37.64	2.9	2	-	5/95
Mark Ramprakash	8	1	2	0	-	2.0	-	-	-
Dermot Reeve	1	14	39	0	-	2.8	-	-	-
Tim Robinson (RET)	41	1	0	0	-	0.0	-	-	-
Jack Russell	61	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ian Salisbury	1	13	76	0	-	5.9	-	-	-
Gladstone Small (RET)	20	784	1980	60	33.00	2.5	3	-	5/48
Robin Smith	60	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Alec Stewart	35	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Peter Such	11	557	1614	49	32.94	2.9	2	-	8/47
Graham Thorpe	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Phil Tufnell	46	2325	6472	239	27.08	2.8	21	5	8/114
Steve Watkin	2	64	223	5	44.60	3.5	1	-	5/56

​

We're entering another one of those periods, where Phil Tufnell takes all of our wickets and we just have to be okay with that.

There are some fragilities in this side though - the captain-elect Graeme Hick has just had his career batting average drop below 40 for the first time, and none of the next generation of batsmen (Ramprakash, Hussain, Thorpe) has quite stamped their name on the soon-to-be-vacant number three spot.

Then there's the bowling; Tufnell is fantastic, but he's doing an awful lot of carrying. Caddick (41.67), Chapple (55.20), Cork (47.22) and Gough (39.82) have all had opportunities, but none of them has really made a spot their own. And the upcoming series against the West Indies and South Africa are hardly likely to be bastions of easy wickets either.

 

[Aislabie]

West Indies Tour of England, 1995

Itinerary
08 Jun 1995 - England vs West Indies - First Test at Headingley - West Indies won by 8 wickets
22 Jun 1995 - England vs West Indies - Second Test at Lord's - Match drawn
06 Jul 1995 - England vs West Indies - Third Test at Edgbaston - England won by 4 wickets
27 Jul 1995 - England vs West Indies - Fourth Test at Old Trafford - England won by 193 runs
10 Aug 1995 - England vs West Indies - Fifth Test at The Oval - England won by 246 runs

England Squad

Graeme Hick

Mike Atherton
Graham Gooch
Mark Ramprakash
Robin Smith
Alec Stewart

Richard Blakey
Jack Russell

Mark Alleyne
Chris Lewis

Dominic Cork
Phillip DeFreitas
Angus Fraser
Darren Gough
Richard Johnson
Devon Malcolm

Richard Illingworth
Phil Tufnell

There is the unavoidable feeling that this series is one that marks a changing of the guard for England. For one thing, there is the announcement of Graham Gooch's successor as England captain: despite his questionable batting form, Graeme Hick has long been a leader in the dressing room as well as someone who understands the importance of a supportive leadership figure. Graham Gooch retreats into the ranks for his farewell season, while Mark Ramprakash looks like a possibility to force his way into the team somehow on the back of some staggering domestic form. Speaking of domestic form, the young Middlesex opening bowler Richard Johnson has been granted his first-ever England call-up after continuing the form he displayed in his breakthrough season in 1994: still only 20, he has a lot of cricket ahead of him. Mark Alleyne also comes into the squad as a backup all-rounder, although it seems fairly unlikely that he will actually get to play. Graham Thorpe has been sent back to Surrey in the hope of recapturing some batting form.