A famous name returns and last-gasp Edgbaston
Cricinfo takes a look back at the week of county action and some of the performances that caught the eye
Andrew McGlashan
01-May-2006
Cricinfo takes a look back at the week of county action and some of the performances that caught the eye.
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Not the highest score of the last seven days, by some distance, but one of the best stories as the Compton name registers a Lord's century for the first time since August 1957. Nick, the grandson of Denis, walked in with Middlesex 45 for 4 in their second innings, a tenuous lead of 70, and proceeded to make a near-faultless 123. Nerves struck in the 90s, but he then jumped down the track to Min Patel and planted him into the Warner stand to cross three figures. Shame it wasn't the Compton stand, but there is time for that in the future.
Bowling of the week - Shahid Afridi, 3 for 4 v Gloucestershire
A last-minute entry, sneaking ahead of fellow Pakistani Mushtaq Ahmed who took seven against Hampshire, Afridi produced an extraordinary spell of one-day bowling as Ireland shocked Gloucestershire in the C&G Trophy. The batsmen were virtually strokeless as Afridi found assistance form the Bristol pitch, sending down six maidens in his spell. After the match Adrian Birrell, Ireland's coach, exclaimed: "That was the greatest one day bowling performance I have ever seen". He was possibly caught up in the heat of the moment, but it was a damn fine effort.
A last-minute entry, sneaking ahead of fellow Pakistani Mushtaq Ahmed who took seven against Hampshire, Afridi produced an extraordinary spell of one-day bowling as Ireland shocked Gloucestershire in the C&G Trophy. The batsmen were virtually strokeless as Afridi found assistance form the Bristol pitch, sending down six maidens in his spell. After the match Adrian Birrell, Ireland's coach, exclaimed: "That was the greatest one day bowling performance I have ever seen". He was possibly caught up in the heat of the moment, but it was a damn fine effort.
Team of the week - Sussex
A comprehensive 94-run win in the Championship against Hampshire and a convincing five-wicket success against Surrey in the C&G Trophy confirmed Sussex as a serious challenger for silverware this summer. Their Pakistani overseas duo - Mushtaq and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan - played key roles with a seven and five-wicket haul respectively, but don't underestimate Robin Martin-Jenkins' 91 in the second innings at The Rose Bowl.
A comprehensive 94-run win in the Championship against Hampshire and a convincing five-wicket success against Surrey in the C&G Trophy confirmed Sussex as a serious challenger for silverware this summer. Their Pakistani overseas duo - Mushtaq and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan - played key roles with a seven and five-wicket haul respectively, but don't underestimate Robin Martin-Jenkins' 91 in the second innings at The Rose Bowl.
Pitch report
Talking of the Rose Bowl, it is certainly living up to its reputation of still being bowler-friendly. Not surprisingly a pitch liaison officer paid an early season visit to the south coast on the first day of the Sussex-Hampshire match. It isn't the first - and won't be the last - time a PLO heads that way this year and Peter Walker, the latest man to inspect the surface, said: "If I'm here much more they should put me on the staff." However, he cleared the pitch this time around, instead complementing the standard of seam bowling.
Talking of the Rose Bowl, it is certainly living up to its reputation of still being bowler-friendly. Not surprisingly a pitch liaison officer paid an early season visit to the south coast on the first day of the Sussex-Hampshire match. It isn't the first - and won't be the last - time a PLO heads that way this year and Peter Walker, the latest man to inspect the surface, said: "If I'm here much more they should put me on the staff." However, he cleared the pitch this time around, instead complementing the standard of seam bowling.
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There is something about Edgbaston and last-gasp victories. Although not in the same league as England's two-run thriller against Australia, Warwickshire and Yorkshire played out their own mini-drama on the final day of the Championship clash. Despite Darren Lehmann's fine 150, with nine wickets down, defeat seemed inevitable for Yorkshire. However, they still had to get past Test cricket's last double centurion and Jason Gillespie, supported by John Blain, blocked for their lives for over an hour. It came down to the final over, bowled by Heath Steak, and he trapped Blain with three balls left. Gillespie's not-so-fond memories of Birmingham continue.
Experience and youth
There is nearly 18 years between Andy Flower and Ravinder Bopara but they batted with equal flair to take the Glamorgan attack apart at Cardiff. Their stand of 339 was a record for any wicket against Glamorgan and certainly made Robert Croft regret his decision to stick them into bat. But he isn't the only one to make that mistake this week - just ask Graeme Smith over in Cape Town.
There is nearly 18 years between Andy Flower and Ravinder Bopara but they batted with equal flair to take the Glamorgan attack apart at Cardiff. Their stand of 339 was a record for any wicket against Glamorgan and certainly made Robert Croft regret his decision to stick them into bat. But he isn't the only one to make that mistake this week - just ask Graeme Smith over in Cape Town.
Smashing knock
Who says you can't pinch-hit in England during April? Certainly not Neil Carter, who creamed Scotland for 135 off 86 balls at Edgbaston. Ian Stanger, the Scotland batsman, probably didn't sit too close to his bowlers for the rest of the day after dropping a skier off Carter early in the innings.
Who says you can't pinch-hit in England during April? Certainly not Neil Carter, who creamed Scotland for 135 off 86 balls at Edgbaston. Ian Stanger, the Scotland batsman, probably didn't sit too close to his bowlers for the rest of the day after dropping a skier off Carter early in the innings.
England watch
Marcus Trescothick fails twice against Worcestershire...Owais Shah falls for 12 and 16 in his first outing of the season...Sajid Mahmood takes four to help Lancashire beat Durham...Alastair Cook makes 35 in Essex's 639 for 8...Simon Jones steps up his comeback with 28 overs against Essex...Kevin Pietersen smashes 98 off 74 balls in his first match of the season for Hampshire
Marcus Trescothick fails twice against Worcestershire...Owais Shah falls for 12 and 16 in his first outing of the season...Sajid Mahmood takes four to help Lancashire beat Durham...Alastair Cook makes 35 in Essex's 639 for 8...Simon Jones steps up his comeback with 28 overs against Essex...Kevin Pietersen smashes 98 off 74 balls in his first match of the season for Hampshire
Heath StreakAndy FlowerNeil CarterShahid AfridiMushtaq AhmedNick ComptonRavi BoparaMiddlesexSomersetEnglandKentYorkshireLeicestershireNottinghamshireEssexGloucestershireWorcestershireDerbyshireSurreyGlamorganWarwickshireHampshireLancashireSussexNorthamptonshireDurhamCheltenham & Gloucester TrophyEngland Domestic SeasonCounty Championship Division OneCounty Championship Division Two
Andrew McGlashan is editorial assistant of Cricinfo