Date-stamped : 30 Nov96 - 10:14
Report - Electronic Telegraph

Butcher stays on course for higher grade

By Peter Deeley in Canberra


THE seven-wicket victory by England A - the fifth in succession
on their Australian tour - was little more than a formality
considering the moderate level of their Australian Capital
Territory opponents.

The only hitch yesterday was a 30-minute hotel wait for the bus
which gave them scarcely any warm-up time. Otherwise, matters
continue to go encouragingly for the party, with Mark Butcher
giving another display of batting which surely marks him out for
eventual elevation to Test cricket.

Butcher reached 72, his sixth half-century in nine innings, and
if there is a question mark against him it is his failure so far
to go on to reach a really big score.

The Surrey left-hander clearly decided from the outset that on
this slow and low pitch the way to play the ACT bowlers was down
the pitch. The opening attack was quickly dispatched for a
series of boundaries over the heads of mid-on and mid-off and
Butcher reached his half- century in 52 balls.

He was eventually out trying to use the same tactics to the
off-spinner Hall O'Meagher, but by then England were scoring at
almost five an over.

Michael Vaughan went disappointingly for 14 chasing a wide
delivery and Owais Shah, 37, drilled a catch on the back foot to
mid- on. But Adam Hollioake, the England captain, imme- diately
set about the attack with a will.

His most difficult moment was probably his last, when he
finished on his back in the dust as he flicked a no ball over
his head to the sight-screen for four.

England won with 7.3 overs to spare and seeing the quality of
the home attack it is difficult to imagine how ACT will survive
in the Australian domestic one-day competition when they enter
it next season.In line with the obsession here - no doubt
marketing-driven - for giving ridiculous names to sides (South
Australia have officially become the Southern Redbacks) the home
team are now known as the Canberra Comets.

After a bright start, with Andrew Harris conceding 34 runs in
six overs - perhaps partly the result of the team's late arrival
- ACT's personal comet quickly burnt out. Peter Such imposed his
authority to such an extent that on this very big ground he
conceded only 31 runs in 10 overs.

The off-spinner is having an unlucky time. Here Ashley Giles,
who on the strength of his performances so far is now considered
the No 1 slow bowler, took two wickets yet did not bowl anywhere
near as well as the Essex player.

Hollioake once more chipped in with late wickets - three this
time - to suggest that he could be a competent all-rounder for
England in time to come.

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

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