Won toss, then lost

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32361, 29 July 1970, Page 15

Won toss, then lost

(Specially written [or “The Press" by M. Q. LESTER) ’THE failure of the Engx land team in the first and third cricket tests could quite justifiably be put down to its inability to capitalise on the winning of the toss on both occasions, by scoring well in the first innings. England showed superb fighting qualities in the second innings, but at this stage it has been an unsuccessful fight to recover some dignity, and not to take the initiative. At Edgbaston England proved that its opponents were far from invincible. After the positive approach of M. C. Cowdrey and B. D’Oliveira, which succeeded to a large extent in wiping out England's deficit, it was left to the tail-enders, A. Knott, D. Brown and J. Snow to give the Best of the World a target to chase. Though requiring only 141 runs to clinch victory, this seemingly straight-forward task provided some anxiety to the Rest of the World. The difficulty encountered illustrated perhaps the one marked superiority of the English side—the greater penetration of the spin attack. Throughout the series so far L. Gibbs has taken a total of two wickets and the Pakistan, Intlkhab, has only a minimal reward for the amount of bowling which he been asked tn undertake. This pair bowled for a long time to the English batsmen in their second innings on the slow, turning wicket, but without much effect In contrast D. Underwood and R. Illingworth took five first innings wickets and four of the five wickets to fail in the second. Intikhab and .Gibbs had bowled 105 overs between them for a total of three wickets. In spite of this apparent deficiency in the Rest of the World XI, nothing can detract from its earlier batting performance which plundered the England attack for a total unequalled against England in any previous test at Edgbaston. In accordance with what has now become the rule in this series, G. Sobers and C. Lloyd were at the forefront of the assault They came together with the score at 175 for four, following a patient partnership between R. Kanhai and a very much out-of-fonn G. Pollock. From this point the tenor of the game changed as they ac-

celerated their bruising assault

They hooked, out drove and pulled with an almost frightening ferocity and, as if in the form of a final challenge, Illingworth resorted to the new ball. The reply from Sobers was to hook the first ball from both Brown and Snow, from outside the off stump to backward square leg for four. This was the prelude to the pair taking 41 runs from the six overs with the new ball before stumps on the second day.

Out of all this, Snow was left with the figures of four for 124 from 38 overs. This is how the records will show his performance in terms of stark statistics, but he showed unflagging courage and heart on a wicket which could not have given him less help. This performance which Illingworth described as “his best In the last two years,” must have been a heartening sign for the selectors who will choose

the touring party for Australia after the fifth test at The OvaL

Another performance which must have had the same effect was that of D’Oliveira. Many critics are still saying that be will not succeed in Australia, but it would seem impossible to leave him out after the way he performed at Edgbaston. In the first innings he was the first player to take the initiative from the fielding side by controlled aggression. He received fine support from his fellow South African all-rounder. A. Greig. His century in the first innings was followed by another splendid effort of 81 in the second.

The Other highlight of the England batting was the form of Cowdrey. Dismissed without scoring in the first innings, he might have been excused if he had batted with extreme caution m the second. Such was not the case. He gave an exhibition of fine stroke play. His shots