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

[Aislabie]

West Indies Tour of England, 1991

Itinerary
06 Jun 91 - England vs West Indies - First Test at Headingley - West Indies won by 5 wickets
20 Jun 91 - England vs West Indies - Second Test at Lord's - West Indies won by an innings and 17 runs
04 Jul 91 - England vs West Indies - Third Test at Trent Bridge - England won by 115 runs
25 Jul 91 - England vs West Indies - Fourth Test at Edgbaston - Match drawn
08 Aug 91 - England vs West Indies - Fifth Test at The Oval - Match drawn

Graham Gooch set the all-time record for most runs in a Test series with 1016 runs @ 112.89 (3 centuries, best 294)
His scores were: 8 & 83 / 82 & 68 / 175* & 37 / 165 & 56 / 294 & 48

England Squad

Graham Gooch

Mike Atherton
Rob Bailey
David Gower
Graeme Hick
Tim Robinson
Robin Smith

Paul Nixon
Jack Russell

Chris Lewis

Martin Bicknell
Neil Foster
Angus Fraser
Devon Malcolm
Gladstone Small
Steve Watkin

Peter Such
Phil Tufnell

In an era of settled selection, and fresh off the back of an Ashes triumph, the England team has a distinctly familiar look about it. There are a couple of changes from The Ashes though: Allan Lamb, who has spent quite some time following the England team around as a reserve batsman, has been allowed to stay with Northants for the Test summer in light of Rob Bailey having established himself as England's number three of choice. Hick and Atherton are the reserve batsmen, while there is a little bit of shuffling of the deck in the bowling department also: Glamorgan's Steve Watkin looks likely to be given a Test debut at Headingley, while Peter Such will be the reserve spinner should Tufnell get injured by a fast bowler again. It doesn't seem enormously likely that there will be need to play both spinners together.

 

[Ed Smith]

West Indies Tour of England, 1991

Itinerary
06 Jun 91 - England vs West Indies - First Test at Headingley
20 Jun 91 - England vs West Indies - Second Test at Lord's
04 Jul 91 - England vs West Indies - Third Test at Trent Bridge
25 Jul 91 - England vs West Indies - Fourth Test at Edgbaston
08 Aug 91 - England vs West Indies - Fifth Test at The Oval

England Squad

Graham Gooch

Mike Atherton
Rob Bailey
David Gower
Graeme Hick
Tim Robinson
Robin Smith

Paul Nixon
Jack Russell

Chris Lewis

Martin Bicknell
Neil Foster
Angus Fraser
Devon Malcolm
Gladstone Small
Steve Watkin

Peter Such
Phil Tufnell

In an era of settled selection, and fresh off the back of an Ashes triumph, the England team has a distinctly familiar look about it. There are a couple of changes from The Ashes though: Allan Lamb, who has spent quite some time following the England team around as a reserve batsman, has been allowed to stay with Northants for the Test summer in light of Rob Bailey having established himself as England's number three of choice. Hick and Atherton are the reserve batsmen, while there is a little bit of shuffling of the deck in the bowling department also: Glamorgan's Steve Watkin looks likely to be given a Test debut at Headingley, while Peter Such will be the reserve spinner should Tufnell get injured by a fast bowler again. It doesn't seem enormously likely that there will be need to play both spinners together.

This is where I'm up to next. Terrified of that attack on English pitches man

 

[Aislabie]

This is where I'm up to next. Terrified of that attack on English pitches man

Yeah, I suspect this is what will turn Rob Bailey from "surprisingly settled number three batsman" to "former Test batsman, Rob Bailey"

 

[Aislabie]

England vs West Indies - First Test at Headingley

England XI
Graham Gooch
Tim Robinson
Rob Bailey
Robin Smith
David Gower
Jack Russell
Chris Lewis
Neil Foster
Angus Fraser
Steve Watkin (debut)
Phil Tufnell

West Indies XI
Phil Simmons
Desmond Haynes
Richie Richardson
Carl Hooper
Viv Richards
Gus Logie
Jeff Dujon
Malcolm Marshall
Curtly Ambrose
Courtney Walsh
Patrick Patterson

- - -

West Indies win the toss and choose to bowl

- - -

With typical Headingley cloud over head, and typical Headingley grass underfoot, England decided to take a punt on Steve Watkin as a horses for courses selection off the back of a few strong county seasons. Plus given that it's technically the English and Welsh cricket team, it's nice to squeeze a Welshman into it. As for the West Indies, the bowling looked terrifyingly strong but there did appear to be some frailties to the batting - particularly Simmons and Logie. No wonder then that both sides wanted to bowl first.

No batsman wants to start their Test facing any of the four main West Indian quicks, and all three of Marshall, Ambrose and Patterson were in truly fine form. They reduced England to 22 for three with all of the top three back in the pavilion. A lot was going to depend on the middle order, but who better to depend upon than Robin Smith and David Gower. They compiled a good century partnership before Gower (57) was pinned in front of the stumps by Marshall. Russell (49) had a hand in another century partnership, and England's position in the Test looked considerably less bleak despite their quick transition from five-out to all-out. Smith was last to go for a fine 127.

The English bowling attack doesn't have the fear factor of the West Indians - especially with Malcolm left out - but it does have a great deal of knowledge of how to operate in overcast conditions. Foster and Fraser were able to claim an opener each before it came to be the turn of debutant Steve Watkin. After a tight start to his spell, he was rewarded by the wicket of Richie Richardson, a fine first Test scalp. He then added Richards and Logie in quick succession to leave the West Indies in tatters at 79 for five. Tufnell continued the excellent start to his Test career at the other end, dismissing Carl Hooper just before the end of the day. It is no surprise therefore that England started the third day by throwing the ball to Watkin and Tufnell, who chiselled their way through the remainder of the West Indian batsmen, none of whom were prepared to give their wickets up as easily as Logie. Watkin claimed a debut five-for with the wicket of Ambrose - very well bowled.

An 81-run first innings lead certainly put England ahead in the game, and a composed start to the innings from Gooch in particular, well supported by Bailey (39) strengthened their position further. The second innings was dominated by patient half-centuries from Gooch and Smith, even as Courtney Walsh provided a masterclass with the ball. The biggest curio of the innings occurred when Phil Simmons was thrown the ball for a couple of overs before tea and he took the wickets of both Lewis and Foster. Lewis in particular needs to offer a little bit more at number seven, but regardless - a target of 343 to win would be tough for the WIndies.

343 would be one of the biggest run chases ever in England, but the bright sunshine did not bode well for England. Worse still, Phil Simmons actually looked like he could bat against the English new ball bowlers, breezing past 50 before the end of Day Four. England would need to regroup, but things just got worse as Watkin, so impressive in the first innings, just got thumped clean out of the attack by Simmons and Haynes. Even once England had claimed a few wickets to get back into the game, the sight of Viv Richards striding out to the crease cannot have filled them with confidence. His 56 was the final nail in the coffin, and the West Indies completed their chase with five wickets and about 20 overs left in the bank.

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 - 3 points (+3)
2. Graham Gooch - 2 points (+2)
3. Steve Watkin - 1 point (+1)

 

[blockerdave]

When I played that test I was disappointed that my ineptitude wiped out the greatest inns of all time.

 

[i.n]

England vs West Indies - First Test at Headingley

England XI
Graham Gooch
Tim Robinson
Rob Bailey
Robin Smith
David Gower
Jack Russell
Chris Lewis
Neil Foster
Angus Fraser
Steve Watkin (debut)
Phil Tufnell

West Indies XI
Phil Simmons
Desmond Haynes
Richie Richardson
Carl Hooper
Viv Richards
Gus Logie
Jeff Dujon
Malcolm Marshall
Curtly Ambrose
Courtney Walsh
Patrick Patterson

- - -

West Indies win the toss and choose to bowl

- - -

With typical Headingley cloud over head, and typical Headingley grass underfoot, England decided to take a punt on Steve Watkin as a horses for courses selection off the back of a few strong county seasons. Plus given that it's technically the English and Welsh cricket team, it's nice to squeeze a Welshman into it. As for the West Indies, the bowling looked terrifyingly strong but there did appear to be some frailties to the batting - particularly Simmons and Logie. No wonder then that both sides wanted to bowl first.

No batsman wants to start their Test facing any of the four main West Indian quicks, and all three of Marshall, Ambrose and Patterson were in truly fine form. They reduced England to 22 for three with all of the top three back in the pavilion. A lot was going to depend on the middle order, but who better to depend upon than Robin Smith and David Gower. They compiled a good century partnership before Gower (57) was pinned in front of the stumps by Marshall. Russell (49) had a hand in another century partnership, and England's position in the Test looked considerably less bleak despite their quick transition from five-out to all-out. Smith was last to go for a fine 127.

The English bowling attack doesn't have the fear factor of the West Indians - especially with Malcolm left out - but it does have a great deal of knowledge of how to operate in overcast conditions. Foster and Fraser were able to claim an opener each before it came to be the turn of debutant Steve Watkin. After a tight start to his spell, he was rewarded by the wicket of Richie Richardson, a fine first Test scalp. He then added Richards and Logie in quick succession to leave the West Indies in tatters at 79 for five. Tufnell continued the excellent start to his Test career at the other end, dismissing Carl Hooper just before the end of the day. It is no surprise therefore that England started the third day by throwing the ball to Watkin and Tufnell, who chiselled their way through the remainder of the West Indian batsmen, none of whom were prepared to give their wickets up as easily as Logie. Watkin claimed a debut five-for with the wicket of Ambrose - very well bowled.

An 81-run first innings lead certainly put England ahead in the game, and a composed start to the innings from Gooch in particular, well supported by Bailey (39) strengthened their position further. The second innings was dominated by patient half-centuries from Gooch and Smith, even as Courtney Walsh provided a masterclass with the ball. The biggest curio of the innings occurred when Phil Simmons was thrown the ball for a couple of overs before tea and he took the wickets of both Lewis and Foster. Lewis in particular needs to offer a little bit more at number seven, but regardless - a target of 343 to win would be tough for the WIndies.

343 would be one of the biggest run chases ever in England, but the bright sunshine did not bode well for England. Worse still, Phil Simmons actually looked like he could bat against the English new ball bowlers, breezing past 50 before the end of Day Four. England would need to regroup, but things just got worse as Watkin, so impressive in the first innings, just got thumped clean out of the attack by Simmons and Haynes. Even once England had claimed a few wickets to get back into the game, the sight of Viv Richards striding out to the crease cannot have filled them with confidence. His 56 was the final nail in the coffin, and the West Indies completed their chase with five wickets and about 20 overs left in the bank.

View attachment 242161

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 - 3 points (+3)
2. Graham Gooch - 2 points (+2)
3. Steve Watkin - 1 point (+1)

Nice Report There Aislabie Good Insight . Thanks ian

 

[Ed Smith]

Nice Report There Aislabie Good Insight . Thanks ian

Still not making me feel any better about playing this series

 

[Aislabie]

When I played that test I was disappointed that my ineptitude wiped out the greatest inns of all time.

I'm not too concerned, because we already have Rob Bailey's 196

 

[i.n]

Still not making me feel any better about playing this series

Dont Know Dale88 You Might Do Ok Mate .

 

[Aislabie]

England (0) vs (1) West Indies - Second Test at Lord's

England XI
Graham Gooch
Tim Robinson
Rob Bailey
Robin Smith
David Gower
Jack Russell
Chris Lewis
Neil Foster
Angus Fraser
Steve Watkin
Phil Tufnell

West Indies XI
Phil Simmons
Desmond Haynes
Richie Richardson
Carl Hooper
Viv Richards
Gus Logie
Jeff Dujon
Malcolm Marshall
Curtly Ambrose
Courtney Walsh
Ian Allen

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

You've doubtless heard the theory about not changing a winning side. Well, the West Indies chose to ignore that maxim and bring in debutant Ian Allen. It does make some sense given that he'll come into an environment where winning has become a habit, but it does risk destabilising the team that performed so heroically last time out. On the other hand, England chose to make no change to their team despite their fifth day disaster in the First Test.

The trouble with any West Indies Test match is that you still have to face the West Indian fast bowlers. The trick here would be surviving the terrible trio of Ambrose, Marshall and Walsh so as to get the chance to capitalise on Ian Allen being a debutant. Unfortunately for England that... didn't happen. The fast bowlers cut through most of the England batting like a knife through butter, with Graham Gooch being the only member of the top seven to mount any sustained resistance. His 82 would be one of four innings ended by Marshall, with four more going to Walsh. Had it not been for a brave lower-order stand between Foster (42*) and Watkin (27), things could have been worse still for England.

The excellent Fraser and Foster bowled long consistent and economical spells either side of lunch on the second day, spells that looked for all the world like they would go unrewarded until Foster finally got one to tail back into Simmons and break the slow opening stand. He would however be the only man to fall before the second new ball though as England's strategy of choice turned from one of attack to one of containment. Despite conditions that offered increasingly variable bounce, the only England bowling that looked like a constant threat was the left-arm spin of Tufnell. He claimed a third Test five-for, but could not stop the rest of the bowlers leaking enough runs for the West Indies to declare with more than double England's score.

With almost two days to bat, prospects were bleak for England. The only option available to them was to try and bat long, an option which looked increasingly unpromising as one batsman, then the next, then the next lost his wicket to the West Indians. Within 70 overs, the innings was done with resistance again coming first only from the very top of the order, and then from the bottom half: Gooch managed another half-century, while Chris Lewis took on Jack Russell's usual burden of running out of partners just before reaching a 50 of his own. There was even a wicket for the debutant Allen: Steve Watkin surrendering an outside edge to Phil Simmons at one of the many slips.

After the game, Gooch was unusually scathing: labelling the England batting performance "embarrassing" and saying that he "could have accepted the loss better if he knew that everyone was giving 100%". The cricketing press made the small jump of logic that he may have been referring to David Gower, a player who does not share Gooch's love of arduous training, and who has also scored only one Test century since 1986 and none since 1989. Scores of three and a breezy 15 here will not have helped his case, and it now seems doubtful that he will hold onto his place ahead of Hick for the third Test.

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. Graham Gooch - 5 points (+3)
2. Robin Smith - 3 points
3. Phil Tufnell - 2 points (+2)
=4. Neil Foster - 1 point (+1)
=4. Steve Watkin - 1 point

 

[Aislabie]

England (0) vs (2) West Indies - Third Test at Trent Bridge

England XI
Graham Gooch
Tim Robinson
Rob Bailey
Robin Smith
Graeme Hick
Jack Russell
Chris Lewis
Neil Foster
Peter Such (debut)
Phil Tufnell
Devon Malcolm

West Indies XI
Phil Simmons
Desmond Haynes
Richie Richardson
Carl Hooper
Viv Richards
Gus Logie
Jeff Dujon
Malcolm Marshall
Curtly Ambrose
Courtney Walsh
Ian Allen

- - -

England win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

The speculation in the English press about the prospects of David Gower's Test career being brought to a premature end appeared to bear fruit as Graeme Hick was preferred for the third Test. This was one of three changes for England: they also rested Fraser after two straight Tests and brought in Devon Malcolm, whilst it appears the Steve Watkin experiment might be over. Recent hot weather has created a bit of a dustbowl at Trent Bridge, so England are gambling on two spinners: Tufnell and Such. Peter Such will be batting at number nine.

This team selection more or less obliged England to bat first upon winning the toss, even though that meant facing up to Ambrose and Marshall under cloudy skies with the new ball in hand. Robinson and Bailey both fell early, but Gooch and Smith dug in. They batted almost through the rest of a stop-start day (drizzle) before Smith fell for a brave 65 on the last over of the day. On the second morning, Graeme Hick made batting look very easy indeed as he breezed to 35 before getting trapped LBW playing around one. It was almost like Gower never left. After that, the only real resistance came from Chris Lewis (48), although nobody really expected the tail to be able to handle Marshall. At the end of it all, still standing on an unbeaten 175, was Graham Gooch.

Armed for the first time with runs to defend, the English bowlers looked rather more menacing than they had at any point in the series. the extra pace of Devon Malcolm looked like a particular asset as he bombed out Phil Simmons with the new ball, even as the Haynes and Richardson saw out the rest of the day without alarm. On the third day, the pitch started taking some serious spin, and much of the day was devoted to the spin of Such and Tufnell. Such was a little loose on debut, but Tufnell was absolutely up to his usual standards claiming the wickets of Haynes, Logie, Dujon and Marshall. England, quite against the pattern of the series, led by 57.

The pitch was by now not a good one for batting on at all: even the unflappable Gooch ended up splicing one back to Courtney Walsh when it jumped off a length. Nobody seemed to have told Hick and Russell though - the pair came together at 89 for four and batted like they were on a different pitch to everyone else. With Russell the accumulator and Hick the destroyer, they got England right back into the game. Hick's maiden Test century was one of the best England had seen in at least two days, and promised great things ahead for the Zimbabwe-born batsman.

Gooch's declaration, made at the point when Russell's wicket fell, was unusually sporting: although far from likely, 322 runs in the day from a team that includes Viv Richards is never out of the question. It was also a declaration that made clear that England were pushing for the win, but what made that even clearer was the hostile bowling of Devon Malcolm. He beat the entire West Indies top three for pace in a thrilling eight-over spell of bowling. At the other end, Such too was finding some help from the conditions: his two wickets of Hooper and Richards really broke the back of the West Indian resistance. Malcolm came back for a couple more bursts to complete his five-for with Logie and Ambrose, with the rest of the wickets shared between Foster, Lewis and Tufnell. An excellent team performance from England, but also one that shows just what it takes to beat this West Indian 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. Graham Gooch - 10 points (+5)
=2. Devon Malcolm - 3 points (+3)
=2. Robin Smith - 3 points
=2. Phil Tufnell - 3 points (+1)
5. Graeme Hick - 2 points
=6. Neil Foster - 1 point
=6. Steve Watkin - 1 point

 

[Aislabie]

England (1) vs (2) West Indies - Fourth Test at Edgbaston

England XI
Graham Gooch
Tim Robinson
Rob Bailey
Robin Smith
Graeme Hick
Jack Russell
Chris Lewis
Neil Foster
Angus Fraser
Phil Tufnell
Devon Malcolm

West Indies XI
Phil Simmons
Desmond Haynes
Richie Richardson
Carl Hooper
Viv Richards
Gus Logie
Jeff Dujon
Malcolm Marshall
Curtly Ambrose
Courtney Walsh
Patrick Patterson

- - -

West Indies win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

With England having actually shown some backbone last time out, it appears that the West Indies have pressed the button marked "More Fast Bowlers" and brought back Patrick Patterson in place of Ian Allen. This will not please either Robinson or Bailey, who have really struggled to recapture their form from the Ashes in the winter. For England, Such misses out this time, making way for the return of Gus Fraser, who has the misfortune of being brought back into the side to bowl on a pitch that looks like the M6, under blazing sun.

Due to the sheer lack of... anything on offer from the pitch, the English bowlers quickly settled into bowling a defensive line in the hope of boring out the West Indian batsmen. It certainly worked with the openers, as Simmons and Haynes fell to Fraser and Foster respectively, although it was clear that Devon Malcolm did not appreciate being asked to bowl so defensively. Also of some concern was that the wide line was allowing Richie Richardson to climb into his favourite cut shot, and by the time England realised the problem he was well on his way to a century. After the 150-run stand between Richardson and Richards was finally broken by Fraser though, England fought back well: Fraser and Malcolm (freed from the requirement to bowl defensively) sliced through the West Indian batting to claim the last seven wickets for 77 runs.

The pitch was still looking good, so Gooch and his fellow batsmen would have fancied scoring more than the West Indies' 311. What's more, they actually went out and did just that. A vital century stand for the first wicket was built off the back of another fine fifty from Tim Robinson in support of his captain. Bailey and Smith each hung around for an hour and a half before losing their wickets, by which time Gooch had already reached yet another century. Hick too looked destined to get there, playing a masterful hand to reach 80 before being caught trying to pull a short ball. Despite the fearsome pace attack, every one of his boundaries came in front of square. Add to that some very useful contributions from Russell and Lewis, and England had got themselves into a position where the declaration was a good option.

Tasked with a tricky session before lunch, the West Indian openers saw off all three of England's front-line quicks. They did not, however, manage to see off Chris Lewis: in his first nine balls, he dismissed Haynes LBW and Simmons caught at slip. This was a big moment, as England still led by 37, and it renewed their push for victory. Try as they might though, it wasn't enough just to get rid of the top four: there was still the Viv Richards problem. While everyone else nudged the ball around, Richards batted like he was still pushing for a win himself. When Lewis made Richards his third wicket, the overwhelming emotion was relief. Indeed, the bowling change that really changed the game occurred when Gooch threw the ball to Graeme Hick just before lunch on the fifth day: he absolutely ran through the West Indian lower order, creating a match situation where all four results were possible. Richards, ever the aggressor, promptly declared.

So, 253 to win on the fifth day against the West Indies. Do you go for it? Gooch and Hick certainly did, the latter promoted to bat at number three. By tea, England had reached 77 for one from just 14 overs, although 176 more runs at that pace or even higher was a difficult task. Ultimately, the wickets started to tumble, as they might when one tries to take on Patrick Patterson and co. By the time Chris Lewis arrived, his job was to shut up shop and play out the day, which he did very well.

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. Graham Gooch - 13 points (+3)
2. Graeme Hick - 4 points (+2)
=3. Devon Malcolm - 3 points
=3. Robin Smith - 3 points
=3. Phil Tufnell - 3 points
=6. Neil Foster - 1 point
=6. Chris Lewis - 1 point (+1)
=6. Steve Watkin - 1 point

 

[Aislabie]

England (1) vs (2) West Indies - Fifth Test at The Oval

England XI
Graham Gooch
Tim Robinson
Mike Atherton
Robin Smith
Graeme Hick
Jack Russell
Chris Lewis
Gladstone Small
Angus Fraser
Phil Tufnell
Devon Malcolm

West Indies XI
Phil Simmons
Desmond Haynes
Clayton Lambert
Richie Richardson
Carl Hooper
Viv Richards
Jeff Dujon
Malcolm Marshall
Curtly Ambrose
Courtney Walsh
Patrick Patterson

- - -

West Indies win the toss and choose to bat

- - -

There were changes in both teams for this final Test: Gus Logie, whose average of 18 this series has impressed nobody, makes way for the West Indies while Bailey and Foster make way for Atherton and Small for England. If Atherton delivers here, it does not look good for Bailey's long-term England prospects. Even if he does not, there are other batsmen waiting in the wings.

Another day, another Graham Gooch century: he finished the first day's play on a very impressive 100 not out, with Robin Smith playing comfortably at the other end. Robinson failed again, bringing his series average back under 20, and Atherton made a pleasing enough 36 without ever looking like he'd push on. But pushing on was Gooch's job. The England captain took charge on the second day, steaming to a career-defining 294 against one of the best bowling attacks ever assembled. By the time he got out (and immediately declared), his series stats amounted to 968 runs at 121 from nine innings: truly remarkable. 571 for five declared for England.

With the loss basically out of the question, England went on the attack. Devon Malcolm claimed the customary early wicket of Simmons before Small got rid of Richardson. The only real question was whether England would be able to take 18 more wickets in the time left - especially when rain prematurely ended day three. Tufnell certainly planned to: his four wickets got England into a dominant position, but it was precarious: they still needed to get rid of Dujon. And for whatever reason, they just couldn't do it. The pugnacious right-hander absorbed everything that England threw at him, and even trusted the unlikely batting duo of Ambrose and Walsh to swing hard as the West Indians mounted an assault on the follow-on target. When they reached it, English heads visibly dropped in the field.

Even with the win more or less out of the question, there were positives for England: Michael Atherton made his maiden Test 50 at the sixteenth attempt, while Graham Gooch finished the series with 1,016 runs to his name: an all-time record in Test cricket. For the second time he declared once his own wicket had fallen, although a win seemed highly improbably by this point.

Not that anyone told Devon Malcolm: he charged in and took a spectacular three for 21. Not enough to force a win, but enough to cap an incredible series for him too: 16 wickets at 19.62 after being dropped for Steve Watkin in the first two Tests. Ultimately a tale of what might have been for England: both if they had picked Malcolm from the very beginning, and if there had been a few hours fewer interruptions in the fourth and fifth Tests. Damn rain.

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. Graham Gooch - 16 points (+3)
2. Robin Smith - 5 points (+2)
=3. Graeme Hick - 4 points
=3. Devon Malcolm - 4 points (+1)
5. Phil Tufnell - 3 points
=6. Neil Foster - 1 point
=6. Chris Lewis - 1 point
=6. Steve Watkin - 1 point

With one Test to go this summer, Graham Gooch's position at the top of the Barrington Medal classification is mathematically impregnable. It is richly deserved.

 

[Ed Smith]

Gooch is some player

 

[Aislabie]

Records

Highest Innings Score
571 for 5 dec. vs West Indies, The Oval 1991

Lowest Innings Score
122 all out vs New Zealand, Edgbaston 1990

Highest Innings
294, Graham Gooch vs West Indies, 1991

Best Innings Bowling
6 for 70, Chris Lewis vs West Indies, Kensington Oval 1990

Best Match Bowling
10 for 188, Phil Tufnell vs India, The Oval 1990

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

Partnerships
1. 190 - Graham Gooch & Tim Robinson vs Australia 1991
2. 154 - Graham Gooch & Robin Smith vs New Zealand 1990
3. 325 - Graham Gooch & Robin Smith vs West Indies 1991
4. 173 - Robin Smith & David Gower vs West Indies 1990
5. 176 - Graeme Hick & Jack Russell vs West Indies 1991
6. 106 - Graham Gooch & Chris Lewis vs West Indies 1991
7. 81 - David Gower & Phillip DeFreitas vs West Indies 1990
8. 47 - Jack Russell & Phil Tufnell vs India 1990
9. 69 - Gladstone Small & Angus Fraser vs Australia 1990
10. 29 - Gladstone Small & Devon Malcolm vs New Zealand 1990

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 , 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

Career Statistics

Batting & Fielding

Player	Mat	Inn	NO	Runs	Avg	100s	50s	Best	Ct	St
Mike Atherton	9	16	2	450	32.14	-	1	59*	4	-
Rob Bailey	15	28	1	815	30.19	1	2	196	15	-
Martin Bicknell	2	2	0	8	4.00	-	-	5	-	-
Ian Botham (RET)	108	176	7	5656	33.47	14	25	208	135	-
Phillip DeFreitas	16	24	2	309	14.05	-	-	43*	4	-
Angus Fraser	21	27	1	240	9.23	-	-	34	2	-
Neil Foster	37	56	12	561	12.75	-	-	42*	12	-
Graham Gooch	94	172	6	7091	42.71	15	40	294	99	-
David Gower (RET)	124	215	17	8506	42.96	15	47	215	75	-
Eddie Hemmings	13	19	3	332	20.75	-	1	95	4	-
Graeme Hick	5	9	1	361	45.13	1	1	108*	6	-
Allan Lamb	60	105	9	3224	33.58	9	12	137*	53	-
Wayne Larkins	10	19	0	348	18.31	-	-	43	5	-
Chris Lewis	15	22	3	501	26.37	-	2	56	13	-
Devon Malcolm	14	21	5	96	6.00	-	-	14*	4	-
Tim Robinson	41	71	6	2362	36.33	4	12	175	14	-
Jack Russell	28	47	12	1376	39.31	1	8	128*	63	6
Gladstone Small	19	25	7	363	20.17	-	2	59	2	-
Robin Smith	29	53	3	2560	51.20	7	15	145	10	-
Alec Stewart	1	2	0	7	3.50	-	-	5	-	-
Peter Such	1	1	0	3	3.00	-	-	3	-	-
Phil Tufnell	13	18	6	64	5.33	-	-	36	3	-
Steve Watkin	2	4	0	55	13.75	-	-	27	-	-

Bowling

Player	Mat	Ovr	Runs	Wkts	Avg	Econ	5WI	10WM	Best
Mike Atherton	9	62	249	9	27.67	4.0	-	-	3/32
Rob Bailey	15	43	175	2	87.50	4.1	-	-	1/0
Martin Bicknell	2	106	269	6	44.83	2.6	-	-	3/72
Ian Botham (RET)	108	3779	11223	400	28.13	3.0	27	4	8/34
Phillip DeFreitas	16	548	1588	31	48.12	2.9	1	-	5/86
Angus Fraser	21	884	2135	62	34.44	2.4	3	-	5/47
Neil Foster	37	1384	3664	111	33.01	2.6	5	1	8/107
Graham Gooch	94	306	740	17	43.53	2.4	-	-	2/12
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	5	36	133	5	26.60	3.7	-	-	3/38
Allan Lamb	60	5	23	1	23.00	4.6	-	-	1/6
Wayne Larkins	9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Chris Lewis	15	446	1174	28	41.93	2.6	1	-	6/70
Devon Malcolm	14	488	1521	46	33.06	3.1	2	-	6/75
Tim Robinson	41	1	0	-	-	0.0	-	-	-
Jack Russell	28	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Gladstone Small	19	755	1922	58	33.13	2.5	3	-	5/48
Robin Smith	29	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Alec Stewart	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Peter Such	1	50	162	4	40.50	3.2	-	-	2/48
Phil Tufnell	13	515	1615	54	29.91	3.1	3	1	5/72
Steve Watkin	2	64	223	5	44.60	3.5	1	-	5/56

​

Records and stats have been updated. Unsurprisingly, it shows the players who've been absolutely thriving: Gooch, Smith, Russell and Tufnell. Not entirely sure what we're going to do about the seam attack though - we just have a glut of bowlers averaging between 33 and 35, but maybe the next four Tests can help with that

Post automatically merged: Jan 19, 2021

Gooch is some player

Yeah; he wasn't lying about those daddy hundreds! I can only hope that players like Pietersen and Root are rated somewhere near him if I take this all the way to the present day (which may depend on how many lockdowns we have)