It has been an agonizing time for the Test debutants. In what other sport do they have to wait for two days after receiving that coveted first cap to make any sort of contribution?
Lendl Simmons and Amjad Khan were unable to influence events for what must have seemed to them an eternity. On the first two days Simmons fielded energetically, proud as punch in his bright maroon cap. Almost out of pity Chris Gayle let him have a bowl on Saturday in an attempt to make him feel part of the game. But Simmons was picked to bat.
Likewise Amjad Khan was impotent for almost two days. He sat on the balcony, still pondering what it meant to be a Test cricketer. Then late in ;Saturday’s final session he was tossed the ball. He was ;patently nervous. The only consolation about his first delivery – a no-ball which nearly caused him to trip over – was that it did not go for six. He looked out of place from the moment he ;summoned his bright blue ;corset and scuttled in with his shirt hanging outside England’s garish whites. After four wretched overs Amjad must have had a restless night.On Sunday morning there was respite at last. The no-balls were less frequent; he stayed on his feet, he put his corset on long before he began his spell and there was the gem that finally enabled England to see the back of Ramnaresh Sarwan – it was a straight ball, which surprised the little Guyanese for pace.
At last Amjad felt as if he belonged even if he showed his naivety when he thought he had Shivnarine Chanderpaul caught behind. He celebrated rather than appealed and the umpire, Daryl Harper, was not amused. Amjad could expect his first Test match fee to be reduced.
Lendl Simmons had a testing start, too. It took him 24 balls to notch his first run, though unlike Amjad he managed to retain an appearance of composure throughout that agonising period. Finally there was a glide to third man against Amjad and he was on his way. Simmons looked the part, as willowy in style and physique as Uncle Phil was muscular. Simmons will surely play more Tests than Amjad and may one day enhance Trinidad’s flimsy batting legacy to West Indies. In the past 50 years they have produced Brian Lara and who else?
Monty Panesar was not making his debut – though Shane Warne believes he plays as if he is making his debut every time he starts a Test – but he was relaunching his Test career. Some changes were evident. He now propels a vicious arm ball at about 65 mph, much to Matt Prior’s dismay. It often whizzed down the leg-side for four byes. But his stock delivery was noticeably slower yesterday. He teased all the batsmen except Chris Gayle and was the more dangerous of the two spinners.
There were other less welcome changes. Alongside his new arm ball it looks as if he has introduced sledging into his armory. He had a go at Daren Powell and Simmons in this innings. This is not a good idea. A spinner has to sledge with subtlety in the knowledge that he does not possess the ultimate deterrent – the bouncer – and this is not within Panesar’s compass. It makes him look stupid.
The old naivety in his appealing was still there and he suffers as a result. Umpires, especially Russell Tiffin, are human. They need respect. Twice, in the manner of Amjad, Panesar celebrated rather than appealed. As a result he, too, could leave Port of Spain with a lighter pocket. Panesar needs to cultivate the umpire at his end. At the moment he simply irritates him so he can expect no favors.
Tags: Debutants, Starts, TEST, Testing
