da bet7k： A one-sided day, muddled selection, poor shots, indifferent bowling, raggedfielding
Andrew Hall28-Jul-2001A one-sided day, muddled selection, poor shots, indifferent bowling, raggedfielding. Even a wicket off a no-ball. A familiar story this summer… butwith a vital difference. This time the guilty team was Australia. Theirtormentors – Hampshire.The stage was the Second Division county’s rather splendid new ground, TheRosebowl at West End, hosting its first major game. In time, this groundwill host international cricket proper. For the time-being, the Hampshirepublic, decamped last year from the cosy Northlands Road ground, are morethan content with the prospect of a mid-season match against theAustralians. Only 500 tickets were available to the public on the gate thismorning, and hospitality take up was more than impressive.Such games are important to the non-Test counties. It always puzzles thatwhile Vodafone Challenge games provide the counties with the toughestcompetition – not to say the most marketable game – of the season, somecounties’ approach to these games is half-hearted to say the least. Banishall talk of regional cricket, a game against an attractive touring team canbe the on-field highlight of the season, and a key source of revenue. Suchwas the case at Taunton before the last Test Match; Somerset’s ChiefExecutive, Peter Anderson, claimed revenue in excess of £100,000 for theirgame. The same is true at Hampshire, whose marketing chief Mike Taylorexpects similar returns for the county’s onand off-field efforts overthese three days.Hampshire fielded a strong team, a number of players having points to prove,or wanting to set down a marker for the future. Alan Mullally did his claimsfor an England Test recall no harm at all with a five-wicket haul, combiningaccuracy with genuine penetration. Dimitri Mascarenhas, perhaps with an eyeon a utility role in the 25 one-day elite, will have been pleased that hisbowling stood up well against international batsmen.And later in the day, Derek Kenway, highly rated by former team-mate ShaneWarne, played with a class that belies his relative inexperience against anattack including Gillespie, Warne and Lee. What odds on him stepping intoAlec Stewart’s role in the long term? Even Robin Smith took the opportunityto reassert his quality, relishing the contest against Gillespie inparticular, who complimented the Hampshire captain by delivering an overcomposed entirely of bouncers late in the day.Without doubt, Australia had a bad day at the office. Even they are allowedthose. Like any great side, they keep their off days for less importantgames. But even their lopsided team (Warne batted at six, Lee at seven)would be disappointed with what was an extremely mediocre performance.Hayden flashed wildly at a wide one, providing tyro Schofield with a notablescalp from his first ball in first-class cricket. Steve Waugh gave slip-catching practice to one he had no need to play. The fielding wassloppy – misfields galore, wild returns, dropped slip catches, byes past the`keeper and runs through the slips. Lee bowled Smith with a no-ball. And ona day like today, even the umpires’ decisions don’t go your way. Millerlooked unlucky to miss out on a caught-behind, with one that bounced alittle more and surprised Kenway as he fenced down the leg-side.Of course, England supporters must banish any thoughts that the wheel may becoming off this well travelled Australia side. Is the luck with which AndyCaddick credits them starting to wear off? No chance. This will be seen as aminor blip in their conquest for world domination. For Hampshire, one of theless-heralded counties, and certainly one that seldom seems to divert theselectors’ Surrey-wards gaze, this was an important day, and one which they,the club and the players, will take a lot from for the future, whatever theresult of this match.