Caddick shows his readiness for Test duty on old stamping ground

Andy Caddick demonstrated how much class he has developed as an international front-line bowler on his old stamping ground at Hagley Oval for England in their tour match with Canterbury today.

Taking five wickets for 69, his 54th five wicket bag in his first-class career, he bowled England into a dominating position, although for the third innings by local teams in a row, the England attack could not clean up.

Canterbury declared at 212/8 after a day of hard graft on a grassy pitch. England were 28 without loss in the nine overs bowled before stumps.

But Caddick's delight must be tempered by growing concern about the lack of incisiveness of this England attack for the forthcoming Test series.

Even after Caddick had knocked the top off the Canterbury batting with three wickets for 27, the after-guard could not complete the job and it was only when Caddick returned that more wickets followed. On a seamer-friendly track that has to be of concern.

However, it was Caddick's day out. He finished the innings with 796 first-class wickets, a long way from the 17 through to 19-year-old who used to dream of greater things with the Riccarton Club whose wicket adjoins the main match block at Hagley Oval.

"There were good games, good drinking and good nights," he said.

As for today, he was pleased with the way he bowled.

"It was coming out all right, but it was difficult because the wind was so blustery.

"It was a flat wicket, as the ball got a little older.

"I got better as the day went along. I hit my rhythm a little earlier than in Queenstown," he said.

While acknowledging that he, as the experienced bowler in the side, has a lot of responsibility, it was a duty he did not shirk, especially in the absence of Darren Gough.

"The onus is on everybody to perform," he said.

"I like being the leader. I do have some weight on my shoulders but there is also weight on the others," he said.

Some of the bowlers were still adjusting out of the One-Day International mode they had been in but he was confident that by the time the first Test started next Wednesday, everybody would be keen to step up for the cause.

But for Caddick at least there was evidence of growing readiness for the series, especially after the four and three-wicket bags he took in Queenstown against Otago.

He also acknowledged that the Canterbury side which met England today were a good unit, if not quite at full strength.

But they did appreciate why a player like Chris Harris has fashioned such an outstanding record at first-class level in New Zealand.

Harris was easily the best performed of the Canterbury batsmen, sharing a 106-run fifth wicket stand with Robbie Frew that resurrected the Canterbury innings from 39/4.

Frew opened the innings and battled outstandingly in a support role while Harris started slowly and built well before launching into the bowling in the latter stages of his innings.

He brought up his 50 off 92 balls which included eight boundaries and when dismissed for 82 he had faced 154 balls and hit 12 fours. He went to an edge from Andrew Flintoff's bowling which flew to Ashley Giles at second slip.

Earlier, Frew's innings was ended when he too, was caught in the slips, by Flintoff from Caddick for 44.

There was a chance for lower order batsmen Paul Wiseman and Warren Wisneski to flail away with Wiseman hitting a lovely six on the hook from Flintoff before a run out mix-up saw Wisneski depart just as the declaration was made.

Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher safely negotiated their way to stumps with no real problems.