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He is unquestionably a batsman who can bowl rather than a genuine Test class all-rounder. The sponsors presented him with a special award, the crowd, the few who were left, saluted him, as Bird departed the international scene The sun finally set on the umpire.. Ronnie Irani held up the Indians for 139 minutes on the last afternoon and played an important part, therefore, in helping England get away with a draw. Yet ironically, as he went into the pavilion after dragging Paras Mhambrey on to his stumps, there remains a nagging question mark about his future as an England player.

Although they could not take the wickets needed to force a victory, Atherton said: “I am very happy with the Dominic Cork-Chris Lewis opening attack and Alan Mullally impressed with pace and bounce. He has done excellently in his two games.”There was no mention of Martin’s bowling, but that was probably an oversight. Atherton had the distraction of a NatWest tie to contemplate today and a damaged right index finger. Asked if he had needed stitches, he said: “Unfortunately, no.” The implication being he could have done without a first-round tie right after a hard Test.No tears from him, but plenty more from Dickie Bird. “There are areas we will talk about, but we are looking for continuity and stability.”England’s captain, Mike Atherton, reinforced that impression when he talked about the England attack. The players will feel the pinch after being hit by the match referee, Cammie Smith, for pounds 1,300 each after falling seven overs behind the prescribed over rate. With five per cent per over for the first five overs and 10 per cent each for the next two, that amounted to a fine of 45 per cent of their pounds 2,800 match fee.By the sound of things they will get another chance to recoup the loss when the squad for the third Test at Trent Bridge is announced “We are not going to make wholesale changes,” Lloyd said.

He has just stepped right into the side and if you give him something to work for he responds.”
Whether Irani and Martin would have been quite as happy with just 55 per cent of their match fee after all their hard work with the bat, courtesy of one of the biggest fines for a single Test and England’s heaviest pecuniary penalty, is another matter. England declared at 5.20pm.Result: Match Drawn.Umpires: H D Bird and D B Hair.TV replay umpire: A G T Whitehead.Match referee: C W Smith.Man of the match: R C Russell.. England were singing the praises of the core of steel to be found in the side these days. No rearguard action would be complete without that most Glorious of Glosters, Jack Russell. There were another three hours worth yesterday, but other names were mentioned by the coach David Lloyd

“Peter Martin was magnificent this morning,” Lloyd said “He stuck around He played for England And we are happy with Ronnie Irani. He will be taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Crowther, a pony-tailed publican from Stoke Gabriel, near Dartmouth, was competing in his fifth Singlehanded Transatlantic Race from Plymouth to Newport, Rhode Island.”The boat slid down a big wave and then there was an almighty bang and the water started pouring in,” he said.

The QE2 was among shipping diverted yesterday to search for a British yachtsman after his boat sank 700 miles out into the Atlantic, writes Stuart Alexander. Peter Crowther, 50, had just two minutes to escape from his 28-year-old boat, Galway Blazer of Dart. He then spent more than six hours being thrown around in a tiny liferaft in 20-foot waves before the Swedish container ship Atlantic Compass picked him up. The 25-year-old from Croydon was one of the first pupils at the Rover LTA School at Bisham Abbey.While he graduated from that Alma Mater with some distinction, it may be more difficult for Beecher to progress any further as he will not have a wild-card entry against him next time Never mind, he could get an invitation to Bates’s party.. As a character who captured the nation’s attention for the same week or so every year before slipping silently away, he could also apply for Santa’s job at Harrods.Colin Beecher was the first Briton to proceed to the second round when he disposed of his compatriot Nick Gould 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. “The game is faster and the athlete is bigger and stronger.”I’m giving people 10 or 12 years and they are different type of athletes. It’s no fun playing against guys who are bigger than me and stronger than me.