Route to 300 underwhelming
St John’s Wood, via Hedge End – I expected watching a batsman on his way to a triple-century at HQ to be more awe-inspiring; the hush as the venerable batsman strides down the steps with an air of purpose, Father Time doffing his cap as a signal of the great things to come.
Sorry Nick Knight, it didn't do it for me. Perhaps there was more awe on Thursday, when you cruised past your previous career-best of 255 towards a score of 303, setting Warwickshire up for an innings win over Middlesex. But on day one, as you made your way to 179 overnight, I was underwhelmed in the Edrich Upper.
There was little wrong with Knight's innings – it was technically strong except when Lance Klusener probed in the left-hander's traditionally vulnerable area outside off stump and it kept a steady if not brisk pace while Ian Bell demonstrated his England credentials in similar fashion at the other end.
It didn't help that stand-in Middlesex skipper Owais Shah had by lunch lost all hope of taking a second wicket and begun a magical mystery tour of part-time bowlers hoping it would fall as if by magic in the middle of a spread field.
I would hate to think that one-day cricket has changed my expectations, left me expecting something more dramatic, but I reckon I have been conditioned less by Twenty20 than by Cmon Aussie, the revolution in first-class cricket led by Steve Waugh's men and followed by the likes of Andrew Flintoff and Chris Cairns at this same ground last week.
To such depths have I sunk that I would prefer 100 at four an over with the occasional shot into the crowd than 10-hours taken over a triple ton.
Stat of the week
Just five batsmen have passed 300 at Lord's, and the last two have been Warwickshire batsmen in the Bears' last two matches at the venue. The highest remains Graham Gooch's 333 for England against India in 1990. The best in county cricket was Jack Hobbs' unbeaten 316 for Surrey against Middlesex in 1926, one more that Percy Holmes made for Yorkshire the previous year. Knight's opening partner Mark Wagh completes the group with his 315 three years ago.
Quote of the Week
"I had another drink then took the whole team along to look at him."
- Graham Vaughan remembers the events when son Michael's birth interrupted his match at Worsley Cricket Club in 1974.
Six sense
1. How quickly England go from a position of bowling depth to one of worry. James Anderson bruises a heal, Simon Jones has a "potential stress fracture" (whatever that is) and things begin to look thin again. At least with Martin Saggers – and Richard Johnson at Somerset – there are a few players in county cricket who have already had a taste of the big time. It's not time for a call to Glen Chapple yet, and Andy Caddick may have to take out a hit man to deal with Steve Harmison before he gets a phone call from David Graveney.
2. Next nomination for the Mark Richardson Late Bloomer Award is Martin Saggers. Another great story – minor counties with Norfolk, dropped by Durham, caught on with Kent, overlooked by England despite being the top county wicket-taker since 2000 and despite the surprise of Steve Waugh. Gets a late call and takes a wicket with his first Test delivery on home soil. Love it; let's hope centres of excellence and academies don't rid the game of the occasional good story.
3. Keep an eye on the shenanigans between India and South Africa – it may just be the straw that breaks the back of the ICC Test Championship. India have scheduled a big Test series against Australia in October and South Africa a bumper visit by England in December. India played seven ODIs last time they toured SA and want reciprocity. Add in two Tests in a window of just a month and it just doesn't work. Another deadlock for the ICC to deal with, sponsored by Jagmoham Dalmiya.
4. On the subject of back-breaking, have you seen England's tour schedule in SA? During a 40-day period over Christmas and New Year as may as 25 could be spent playing Tests. Duncan Fletcher is practising his burn-out bleats even now.
5. Head to Hove on 5 August and have a look at the first ever international Twenty20 match, pitting England and New Zealand, Women. Women's cricket has tended to focus on one-day internationals rather than Tests, partly because of the traditionally dire scoring rate in the longer form of the game. After watching some trial matches last weekend, I believe they have found a format they are ideally suited to. There are fewer big shots, and those attempted tend to be higher risk, but that turns the focus on pushing, deflecting and running like hell. Great entertainment, and with an air less jaded that the men's county game.
6. Take with a pinch of salt reports a professional cricket league will launch in the USA on 18 June. Salim Malik's name on the team-list of the Chicago Tornados should be one hint. A player agent in the UK tells me the league are offering decent enough contracts but not enough to break a club deal over here and for just a few of a team's scheduled four to six games.
Turnfurlong 4th XI update
We were never likely to record our first win of the season when we arrived with eight players. Robbo was on a stag do, Pooley's mum forced him to go shopping and Derek had gout. The rest of us went to the pub instead.
