England v West Indies 1991 (1st Test)
I watched highlights of this game last night hungry for any sort of cricket.
There are those who say a replay is unsatisfying as you know the result. I do not agree. I enjoy seeing cricket as it was competed 30 years ago – the hairstyles, the billboards, the players you have forgotten and those that never made it. All of these were there at Headingley for the first Test.
England captained by Graham Gooch gave debuts to Graeme Hick ,Mark Ramprakash and Steve Watkin.
Although the first two were double centurions they never established themselves as Test match run accumulators.
Steve Watkin did not establish himself at all.
Reflecting the selectors’ aspirations to find the new Botham also selected were Derek Pringle and Philip DeFreitas. Neither really proved test calibre although in a future era they might have proved more than capable in the white ball format.
The Windies were captained by Viv Richards.
They still deployed a pacy quartet – post-Michael Holding and Andy Roberts – of Malcolm Marshall, Patrick Patterson, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.
Richie Richardson opened with Desmond Haynes with Gordon Greenidge gone and in the middle order they had the dapper Gus Logie.
The Windies have been criticised for never having a world class keeper as you lean that craft at the stumps against spin, yet I was impressed how tidily Jeff Dujon kept.
Both sides had excellent fielders, the West Indies in Roger Harper one of the best.
Gooch amassed over 300 runs in both innings, carrying his bat in the second.
No West Indian came near to this and this was the main reason for an England victory. Although not shown, I think this may have been the occasion when Viv Richards assailed a supporter in the West Terrace for abuse.
Tony Lewis and Richie Benaud were the most fluent, astute commentators.
Now it’s presented by Isa Guha.
Her voice is reedy and although I understand the rationale for her elevation – she possesses a degree and World Cup laurels – she is part of the BBC’s policy to attract a younger, diverse audience; she may not yet – as one Rust correspondent often says – “have the grammar …”
