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Boost for England as Matt Prior and Steven Finn find good early form Boost for England as Matt Prior and Steven Finn find good early form
(about 5 hours later)
Matt Prior and Steven Finn were both in some dark places during the winter, having to endure disappointment, rejection, self-doubt and, in Prior's case, abuse. So there were hugely heartening personal stories as they opened the season with significant performances in fresh spring sunshine, irrespective of the effect on their England prospects.Matt Prior and Steven Finn were both in some dark places during the winter, having to endure disappointment, rejection, self-doubt and, in Prior's case, abuse. So there were hugely heartening personal stories as they opened the season with significant performances in fresh spring sunshine, irrespective of the effect on their England prospects.
Prior rediscovered his swashbuckling style in making 125 from 138 balls, his first century in 33 first-class innings since his series-saving resistance in Auckland 13 months ago. He might see that as further evidence of the fickleness of cricketing fortune, as the luck he freely admits was with him throughout his golden period of 2012-13 – but which had deserted him since – returned in the form of dropped chances on 10, 32 and 55, in addition to a fair amount of playing and missing. Prior rediscovered his swashbuckle in making 125 from 138 balls, his first century in 33 first-class innings since his series-saving resistance in Auckland 13 months ago. He might see that as further evidence of the fickleness of cricketing fortune, as the luck he freely admits was with him throughout his golden period of 2012-13 – but which had deserted him since – returned in the form of dropped chances on 10, 32 and 55, in addition to a fair amount of playing and missing.
No matter. Whoever is appointed as England's head coach at some point in the next fortnight will be delighted to have Prior's previously pugnacious presence back in the dressing room and the lower middle order against Sri Lanka and India this summer, provided his sore right achilles improves sufficiently for him to re-take the wicketkeeping gloves.No matter. Whoever is appointed as England's head coach at some point in the next fortnight will be delighted to have Prior's previously pugnacious presence back in the dressing room and the lower middle order against Sri Lanka and India this summer, provided his sore right achilles improves sufficiently for him to re-take the wicketkeeping gloves.
Finn has further to travel to regain his international place, but as he put his big feet up on the balcony of the pavilion after tea, that should not have worried him unduly. More importantly, figures of six for 80 from 21.3 overs – six for 60 from 17.3 when his expensive opening burst on Sunday evening is discounted – must have proved to himself that the sudden and mysterious breakdown of his bowling method during two miserable months in Australia was not permanent.Finn has further to travel to regain his international place, but as he put his big feet up on the balcony of the pavilion after tea, that should not have worried him unduly. More importantly, figures of six for 80 from 21.3 overs – six for 60 from 17.3 when his expensive opening burst on Sunday evening is discounted – must have proved to himself that the sudden and mysterious breakdown of his bowling method during two miserable months in Australia was not permanent.
He only turned 25 last Friday, and how tough it must have been for a player whose early years had been mostly successful to handle the humiliation of being sent home because, in the brutally honest description of Ashley Giles, he was "just not pickable".He only turned 25 last Friday, and how tough it must have been for a player whose early years had been mostly successful to handle the humiliation of being sent home because, in the brutally honest description of Ashley Giles, he was "just not pickable".
Angus Fraser, the Middlesex director of cricket and now an England selector, talked of the importance of Finn taking a complete break from the game, and then being allowed to rebuild his confidence steadily and quietly with his county.Angus Fraser, the Middlesex director of cricket and now an England selector, talked of the importance of Finn taking a complete break from the game, and then being allowed to rebuild his confidence steadily and quietly with his county.
Both Fraser and Finn would therefore be anxious not to get carried away with a single performance. But the manner in which he opened up with a couple of maidens, then clipped the off-stump of the left-handed Matt Machan for his first wicket, was hugely encouraging. His approach, running up the hill from the Sea end, seemed simple and relaxed, there were no wides or no-balls, and he rarely gave the Sussex batsmen width to drive or cut.Both Fraser and Finn would therefore be anxious not to get carried away with a single performance. But the manner in which he opened up with a couple of maidens, then clipped the off-stump of the left-handed Matt Machan for his first wicket, was hugely encouraging. His approach, running up the hill from the Sea end, seemed simple and relaxed, there were no wides or no-balls, and he rarely gave the Sussex batsmen width to drive or cut.
Ashar Zaidi, another left-hander, fenced to third slip. Ben Brown was picked up at first slip although he was furious to be given out, departing with theatrical shrugs and hurled his helmet across the balcony. Prior eventually holed out to deep square leg where James Harris took a good low catch, having been unable to take a tricky top-edged hook off Toby Roland-Jones which dropped through his hands and over the rope for six.Ashar Zaidi, another left-hander, fenced to third slip. Ben Brown was picked up at first slip although he was furious to be given out, departing with theatrical shrugs and hurled his helmet across the balcony. Prior eventually holed out to deep square leg where James Harris took a good low catch, having been unable to take a tricky top-edged hook off Toby Roland-Jones which dropped through his hands and over the rope for six.
As the Sussex lower order extended a handsome lead, the Middlesex captain Chris Rogers twice turned back to Finn, comfortably the pick of his attack, and on each occasion he responded, with the wickets of Steffan Piolet caught at second slip and Jimmy Anyon pulling to mid on. Middlesex then suffered another blow as Sam Robson was bowled shouldering arms to Steve Magoffin, a second failure for the would-be England opener.As the Sussex lower order extended a handsome lead, the Middlesex captain Chris Rogers twice turned back to Finn, comfortably the pick of his attack, and on each occasion he responded, with the wickets of Steffan Piolet caught at second slip and Jimmy Anyon pulling to mid on. Middlesex then suffered another blow as Sam Robson was bowled shouldering arms to Steve Magoffin, a second failure for the would-be England opener.
Alastair Cook prospered in less taxing conditions at Fenner's, making an unbeaten 57 in Essex's second innings against Cambridge University. But there was another setback for Warwickshire's Jonathan Trott in his return to cricket after his own Ashes nightmare, when he fell in single figures against Oxford University at The Parks, as he had in his previous innings in a friendly against Gloucestershire, this time holing out to long-leg.Alastair Cook prospered in less taxing conditions at Fenner's, making an unbeaten 57 in Essex's second innings against Cambridge University. But there was another setback for Warwickshire's Jonathan Trott in his return to cricket after his own Ashes nightmare, when he fell in single figures against Oxford University at The Parks, as he had in his previous innings in a friendly against Gloucestershire, this time holing out to long-leg.