M Atherton: Early failings create unwanted exposure (29 November 1998)

29 November 1998

M Atherton: Early failings create unwanted exposure

By Mike Atherton

SOMETIMES you have to admit that you were simply not good enough. Yesterday in Perth was one of those days. To be all out in under half the day is not what Test cricket demands and places such pressure on the bowlers. You really cannot underestimate the importance of first-innings runs.

The pitch certainly had some moisture: it reminded me of the pitch we played the State game on here eight years ago. Before play, the spikes of your boots went easily into the surface and it was clear the ball was going to grip for the first couple of hours.

As a batsmen, therefore, you have to play with diligence. The captain would be wanting to get through the first session no more than two wickets down, giving the pitch a chance to dry throughout the day and get gradually better.

That is the openers' task. Certainly, Mark Butcher came into the match in great touch. Just imagine: during your first knock in Australia you had been dismissed by a bowler who had not bowled in earnest for two years.

During your second, you had ducked into a half-volley and needed nine stitches to a deep gash above the eye. Your next four innings were so brief that the No 3, Nasser Hussain, scarcely had time to gell his hair. All told, you had more stitches than runs and then you went into the first Test and scored the sweetest hundred you are ever likely to score. Sadly, cricket has a habit of levelling you out and a Damien Fleming outswinger did for Butch early this time.

Perth is probably the fastest and bounciest wicket in the world. You have to be disciplined in your strokeplay, hitting the ball straight down the ground if given the chance, and wait for any width to cut the ball hard with a horizontal bat.

The danger area is the ball just outside off-stump and on a good length, which you really have to leave well alone, as Mark Taylor demonstrated. The game plan of the batsmen here has to be to take the fielders in the arc from the wicketkeeper to the gully out of the game. We failed in that regard as all bar Alec Stewart fell to catches in that area. As well as Australia bowled and caught, it was not a 112 all out wicket.

The feeling in the dressing-room at the end of day one was of intense disappointment. You can talk endlessly about the team's performance but getting runs on the board is about individuals doing their job. Each batsmen will be looking at his own performance. Obviously, I am not happy about my own contribution so far and the manner of my dismissals. Equally, however, there is no point in getting unduly depressed as it is the next innings that counts.

Early wickets were required this morning and then a second-innings batting performance to shed the demons that are lurking and lessen the furrows on the coach's brow.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)