England v West Indies 1969

It was their first victory here since 1958 and the first over the West Indies here since 1950. When Illingworth, the new England captain, won the toss he broke a sequence of five successive failures by his predecessors at this ground and, as in the majority of cases, the good fortune of batting first probably decided the issue. England banked on attack by making Hampshire twelfth man and including Knight, so that the eleven contained five bowlers. West Indies, without Camacho, who was not feeling well, introduced three men new to Test cricket: Foster, Shepherd and Holder.

Cricket on the first three days took place at the beginning of the heat wave that lasted, except for a brief break or two, until November, and on Saturday, when 21,000 people were present, the well-appointed Old Trafford arena presented a most pleasing sight. There is no better place for cricket when the sun shines on a goodly company, a perfect pitch and a green outfield.

The England batsmen, with such a long tail, coupled with the lack of opportunities during the rain-ridden month of May, exercised such caution that the total of 413 occupied ten hours of the first and second days. Only three wickets were lost on Thursday for 261 runs and of these Boycott (eighteen 4's) made 128 in just over five and a half hours - his fifth Test century and his first while wearing contact lenses. Time was on his side, and his patient effort, typical of the modern Test pattern, was most valuable to England in establishing a strong position.

A feature of this first day was the West Indies' generosity in putting down vital catches. Edrich might have gone with only a single to his credit when he edged Sobers low between Davis and Shepherd in the slips. Boycott, at 50, offered a soft chance from Shepherd to Hendriks standing back. Just previously, West Indies had broken the opening stand of 112, Edrich being run out on his partner's call. Boycott wanted a single for 50, Carew, the bowler, partly stopped a hot return and starting a second time Edrich was stranded by a fine pick-up and return from Lloyd.

The West Indies bowling was keen, with Gibbs the true artist in flight and variation of spin. Sharpe left to an off-break but Graveney, in a careful mood, put on 128 with Boycott and next day d'Oliveira and the tail played well enough to see England past 400. Shepherd, five for 104, worked bravely in the heat.

The last two and a quarter hours of the second day provided the sensation of the match; England took the first six West Indies for 104. They had them on the run from the very first ball, which broke the left-handed partnership of Fredericks and Carew. The former edged Snow to second slip and in the next over Brown yorked Carew. The two England fast bowlers, encouraged by success, were positively hostile and fine fielding allowed the touring team no respite; Knott executed a brilliant stumping as Foster momentarily lifted his right heel when tempted forward by Underwood. Sobers, driving too soon at Brown, sent the ball straight to Edrich, the solitary fielder in front of the wicket on the off side. The daring policy adopted by the West Indies had proved suicidal. First thing on that glorious sunny Saturday England swept through the tail in sixty-five minutes while only 43 runs were added.

With a lead of 266, Illingworth had to decide whether to bat again or risk the possibility of a difficult task in the fourth innings on a worn pitch against Gibbs. For all his Yorkshire-born caution, Illingworth chose the bold course and asked Sobers to follow-on. The West Indies batsmen went to the wickets a second time in a chastened mood but true to themselves they did not hide their natural talents.

Fredericks and Carew batted sensibly through the forty-five minutes which remained before lunch when Snow and Brown, already claiming four wickets each, were looking for more victims. Later, Fredericks, short in stature and fluent with wristy strokes, made quick progress as did the more experienced Carew. All went well until concentration was broken by fatuous loud-speaker announcement. Carew lashed at the very next ball from d'Oliveira (whose O.B.E. had been announced that morning) and Sharpe, the only slip, brought off a memorable catch. The opening stand was worth 92.

Meanwhile Fredericks had feasted on Snow's bouncer with a devastating hook for 6 and he cut square and late to good purpose. Whereas England had averaged little over 40 runs an hour, the West Indies raised their tempo to 68, and only one wicket was down at tea. Illingworth rightly preferred an aggressive field and soon after tea Underwood ended Frederick's stay of three hours by inducing a catch off bat and pad at silly mid-off. Butcher and Davis threatened trouble for the bowlers, but Illingworth always had something different to offer his opponents and Knight removed Butcher leg-before, the ball hitting his back foot as he played forward. So Sobers arrived for the last hour of the day, but while the captain survived, Davis was deceived by Illingworth's flight. Consequently, at the close West Indies were still 51 behind with six wickets left.

Thunderstorms on Sunday night continued with heavy showers on Monday; before lunch only ninety minutes play was possible, during which England took three more valuable that put them within sight of victory. Illingworth delayed the new ball until 227, hoping to save Snow and Brown from bowling with a wet one. Soon a delay of thirty-five minutes occurred and when cricket continued Lloyd mishooked a lifting ball for Knott to take. Sobers went for Snow, striking four 4's from two overs, but Foster was leg-before to Brown. Sobers, two hours and twenty minutes for 48, fell to another fine slip catch to his left by Sharpe but nothing more could be done that day, leaving West Indies 258 for seven.

One hour on Tuesday morning sufficed for England to complete their task. Between them Snow, punished for 14 for a loose first over, and Brown rounded up the tail end fittingly, Edrich, the batsman of the year, finished the match with two well-struck boundaries on a pitch that remained in splendid order throughout.