ENGLAND v PAKISTAN 1987

Toss: England.

The playing area was flooded on the eve of the match; it was flooded again on the final morning. Between times, there was opportunity for only seven hours ten minutes of cricket, and even this would have been greatly diminished but for the heroic work, at all hours of day and night, of the groundsman, Mick Hunt, and his staff. It was one of the most frustrating Test matches of recent times and, following similar events at Old Trafford, it effectively reduced the series to a three-match rubber.

For the first time since its inception three seasons earlier, a payout was applicable on the TCCB's pluvius insurance policy, which guarantees ticket-holders a refund if a full day's play is lost. As no cricket was possible on the second and fourth days (when tickets had been sold in advance), as well as the fifth (when no tickets were issued and no-one paid for entry), the potential claims amounted to some £230,000. Receipts for the match were an impressive £610,963 from the sale of 63,651 tickets.

That the first scheduled day contained 73 overs and was cut short only by poor light was a baffling achievement to those who had witnessed the ground on Wednesday afternoon, when it resembled nothing so much as a boating lake. Both teams were able to start at something near full strength, England reinstating Broad and Dilley at the expense of Fairbrother and Defreitas. Pakistan could not consider either Ramiz Raja or Tauseef Ahmed because of injuries; Ijaz Ahmed, a prodigious talent at eighteen, was introduced to the middle order and Abdul Qadir, having at last joined the tour, was thrust directly into Test action.

The other important adjustment to Pakistan's strength concerned the captain, Imran Khan, who was satisfied that he was now fit to bowl again and confirmed the point when England elected to bat on a dry pitch of little pace or bounce. Broad and Robinson, the Nottinghamshire pair, opening together for the first time at Test level, were both severely examined by Imran's early-morning swing. It was, however, the first-change bowler, Mohsin Kamal, who divided them, Robinson being adjudged caught behind down the leg side.

The one substantial contribution to a match otherwise devoid of memories now began. Athey, who had managed only four half-centuries in 25 previous innings for his country, came in at No.3, knowing that his place was once more under severe threat. By close of play he was 107 not out, having acted on the advice of the team manager, M. J. Stewart, and adopted a positive attitude. This transmitted itself immediately, for when Qadir was brought on for the twelfth over of the innings, Athey refused to let him settle, sweeping him three times in that opening over and thereafter punishing anything which strayed from a good length. With Qadir understandably rusty, this amounted to a good deal.

Broad picked up the threads of his consistency in Australia with another half-century, not entirely commanding, before the niggling accuracy of Mudassar undid him and, soon afterwards, the impatient Gower. Gatting, arriving at 128 for three, survived a confident lbw appeal from Wasim; umpire Constant gave him not out and was later berated by the Pakistan manager, Haseeb Ahsan, who had tried unsuccessfully to have Constant removed from the panel for the series.

This sticky period in mid-afternoon was quickly left behind as Athey and Gatting added 102. Athey reached his maiden Test century, from 167 deliveries after 256 minutes, and Gatting seemed on the brink of something worthwhile when he set off for an injudicious second run to Salim Malik at long leg.

There was no more play until 2.45 p.m. on Saturday, by which time a further 3,000 gallons of water had been removed from the outfield. Athey, after an innings of five and a quarter hours, during which he hit fourteen fours, was bowled by a very quick delivery from Imran, with the new ball, and another perky night-watchman's contribution from French was ended by Wasim, who then disappointed the capacity crowd by disposing of Botham. England's last three wickets added 63 runs, but there was no time for Pakistan to commence their reply on the Saturday; little did anyone imagine that they would not be granted a chance on the remaining days, either.

Man of the Match: C. W. J. Athey.

Close of play: First day, England 231-4 (C. W. J. Athey 107*, B. N. French 1*); Second day, No play; Third day, England 368; Fourth day, No play.