England struggles again

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 12

England struggles again

NZPA-Reuter Manchester A defiant, unbeaten century by Robin Smith went some way towards rescuing England after another batting collapse on the .the first day of the fourth test against Australia yesterday. But apart from his 112 and a stylish, unbeaten 36 from tailender Neil Foster in an unfinished eighth-wicket partnership of 66, it was again a wretched display by England as they stumbled to 224 for seven by the close. England’s biggest sinners were David Gower and allrounder lan Botham, who threw away their wickets against the fairly innocuous leg-spin bowling of Trevor Hohns. Both played across the line to balls that did not deviate at all, Gower falling leg before for 35 and Botham charging down the wicket to be bowled before he had scored. A hostile spell by paceman Geoff Lawson began Eng-

land’s woes after David Gower had won the toss for the third time in the series and decided to bat. With only 23 on the board, Lawson bowled Graham Gooch for 11 and without addition he had the recalled Tim Robinson leg before for nought. It was a depressingly familiar start for England, already 2-0 down in the series, and worse was to follow. Only 48 runs came from 30 overs in the two-hour morning session as opener Tim Curtis and Smith attempted to repair the early damage but shortly after the interval Lawson struck again, beating an ineffectual prod by Curtis to bowl him for 22. Gower looked assured from the moment he arrived at the crease and six boundaries flowed from his bat as he reached 35 from only 51 deliveries. But his old failing of losing concentration again let him

down. He swung across a top spinner from Hohns that hurried on slightly to beat the bat and take the leg stump. An over later Botham, who had been cheered all the way to the wicket, was also on his way back to the pavilion, his head hung in shame. John Emburey was another batsman to throw away his wicket. He took a wild swing at Hohns and was leg before to give the leg spinner his third wicket. Lawson then returned to grab his fourth wicket, that of Jack Russell for one, and England were in dire trouble at 158 for seven. It took Foster to show the earlier . batsmen how they should have played on a pitch giving the bowlers little assistance. Instead of trying to pull the bowling away to mid-wicket, Foster played with a straight bat from an upright stance.

The pick of his shots was a straight six off Hohns. Smith made some glorious shots, especially off the back foot, and reached his maiden test century with an elegant cover drive off seamer Terry Aiderman. It had taken him 215 minutes, contained 11 boundaries and came from 202 balls. By the close he had added one more boundary and batted for five minutes short of five hours. England first innings G. Gooch b Lawson. .... 11 T. Curtis b Lawson 22 T. Robinson lbw b Lawson 0 R. Smith not out 112 D. Gower lbw b Hohns . . 35 I. Botham b Hohns 0 R. Russell lbw b Lawson . 1 J. Emburey lbw b Hohns. 5 N. Foster not out 36 Extras (lb 2) 2 Total (for seven wickets) . 224 Bowling to date: T. Aiderman 20-12-35-0, G. Lawson 27-9-58-4, M. Hughes 15-6-47-0, T. Hohns 27-7-59-3, S. Waugh 6-1-23-0.