Bad weather blights opening day
Heavy rain and bad light meant that only 19 overs were possible on a frustrating opening day of the second Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley
The Wisden Bulletin by Freddie Auld
03-Jun-2004
New Zealand 41 for 1 (Papps 24*, Fleming 3*) v England
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Heavy rain and bad light meant that only 19 overs were possible on a frustrating opening day of the second Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley. After play finally started at 1.10, the showers returned in the afternoon, and then only two overs were possible after tea. In that time, New Zealand progressed to 41 for 1 with Mark Richardson the man out - bowled by Martin Saggers's first ball.
After being asked to bat in typically overcast Leeds conditions, New Zealand made a watchful, yet positive, start. Michael Papps whipped Stephen Harmison through square leg for four from his first ball, and did the same to Matthew Hoggard in the following over. Papps did have one let-off, though, when Mark Butcher failed to take a difficult chance in front of him at gully off Harmison.
Richardson opened his account with a streaky edge through the slips for four, but the bowlers struggled to find any consistent swing in the gloomy conditions. As a result, Andrew Flintoff replaced Hoggard as early as the sixth over as England searched for the breakthrough.
However, it was the new boy who did the trick. Saggers was called up in place of Simon Jones, who was ruled out with a potential stress fracture in his left foot, and he made a dream start, striking with his first ball in Test cricket in England. Bowling over the wicket, Saggers curved a full ball back into the left-handed Richardson, who was bowled through the gate going for the big drive (33 for 1).
Hoggard should have had another when Papps, on 20, edged a lifting outswinger to Graham Thorpe at third slip. The ball flew to Thorpe at chest height, but he grassed the straightforward chance. Thorpe didn't hide his frustration, and neither did the patient Headingley crowd, who showed their displeasure when the batsmen came off early for bad light. The players then returned for a third time, but as things were about go get underway, the umpires sent them all back again - it was that kind of day.