Date-stamped : 27 Apr97 - 06:17 Malcolm`s reminder to the selectors By Christopher Martin-Jenkins at Canterbury First day of four: Derbyshire (35-4) trail Kent (251) by 216 runs A PITCH of extraordinary whiteness for so early in the season, prepared on a ground which can barely have needed mowing since the middle of last season, dictated the conduct of a first day full of incident at Canterbury. When a slowish leg- break bowler, albeit a tall one, wraps a batsman propping forward on his top hand, you can be fairly sure that the game will not be dull. Vince Clarke, the Derbyshire spinner newly acquired from Leicestershire, was not able to make the most of the bounce in the pitch, but Devon Malcolm assuredly was and, in front of the chairman of England`s selectors, he outbowled his colleagues and bowled out Kent. Malcolm had six five-wicket hauls last year - Andrew Caddick was the only fast bowler to emulate the feat - and this was a great start to his benefit season. His six wickets for 74 were earned by hostile pace which was unusually well directed. Dean Jones had him bowling to a seven/two field at one point, including two slips and two gullies, and the balance of his action was perfect despite the slope to leg from the Nackington Road end from which he was bowling. Anything Malcolm could do, however, Martin McCague could do just as well. He was every bit as quick and hostile from the same end, and in 13 overs at the close of this cold, clear Spring day he and Dean Headley had reduced Derbyshire to 35 for four in reply to Kent`s 251. It looks as though Mark Ealham`s sturdy 72 not out in 3.5 hours, much the longest of innings of the day, and a seventh wicket stand of 94 with his hard-hitting captain, Steve Marsh, might decide the game. Both these would-be Championship contenders are undoubtedly better equipped for bowling than for batting, but for 14 wickets to fall at a time of year associated more with slow, damp pitches and carefully-built innings, was remarkable. When Marsh won the toss he may well have been thinking of what his new leg-spin bowler, Paul Strang, might do in the fourth innings on a dry surface as about how many his batsmen might score on the first day. Who knows, indeed, if there will be a bonier pitch than this at Canterbury all season? Eight of the dismissals were to catches behind the line of the stumps and one, that of Dean Jones, to a smart one taken at short-leg. The forecast, believe it or not, is for rain at the weekend which, after a single millimetre only here since the shower month of April began, will be welcomed by the groundstaff. One way or another there does not look likely to be much cricket here on Saturday, which will not please the members. There were well in excess of 2,000 watching yesterday, an encouraging start to the new season for Kent, and once it had been established which 11 men were actually playing for Derbyshire - Kent accepting that Jones had made a genuine error in naming Matt Vandrau rather than Kevin Dean immedi- ately before the toss - they were never in danger of dozing off. Nigel Llong, forming a brand new opening partnership with David Fulton, was out immediately after the mid-pitch debate about Derbyshire`s personnel, yorked off stump by Malcolm, and four overs later, the 11th, Trevor Ward was bowled middle and off as he played forward defensively. Enter Alan Wells, at the sort of total, 23 for two, with which he has been all too familiar. Rapped on the pads regularly, but always when well forward, Wells stayed with Fulton until lunch. But after doing a noble job, Fulton was caught at first slip, undone by bounce as he played forward to Dominic Cork, four overs after lunch. Six balls later, Matthew Fleming played on to give Phil DeFreitas the first of three wickets earned by tidy and thoughtful bowling. Wells hooked and straight drove Cork for fours in the same over before steering a catch rather unworthily to second slip and Strang was given out caught behind off what the umpire at least believed to be his glove. So it was Ealham, patient and watchful, and Marsh, playing his natural game to great effect, who gave the innings its only such substance. Coming together at 105 for six, they added 94 in 30 overs before Marsh edged a ball well wide of his off stump and the procession began again. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ================================>Day 2 Ward introduces an element of intrigue for Kent By Christopher Martin-Jenkins at Canterbury Second day of four: Kent (251 & 174-5) lead Derby (248) by 177 DERBYSHIRE were 44 for five after seven balls yesterday morning. They recovered commendably to concede a first-innings lead of only three and Phillip DeFreitas then bowled them into a position of command but one of those handsome, stand-and-deliver innings by Trevor Ward, Kent`s key batsman since he took over at No 3 from Neil Taylor, has turned this into an intriguing match. It has had much to do with a pitch which is giving all but finger spinners a chance, although since Derbyshire are not playing one and Kent have not yet asked Min Patel to bowl, that is only surmise. When he does, he, like everyone else, will at least get some bounce and if Brian Fitch, retiring at the end of the season after 28 years as groundsman, can produce something similar for the five remaining championship matches on this ground, players and spectators alike should be happy. Most of the bounce actually troubled batsmen at the pavilion end, where all but five of the first 20 wickets had fallen by the time that Derbyshire were bowled out for 248, half an hour before tea. DeFreitas proved, however, that craft and guile can often be just as effective as brute force and physical threat. He slid up the hill as easily, it seemed, as cream is poured from a jug. Swinging it a little, cutting it a bit, he brought to mind the Barbadian all-rounder who bowled so profitably here for so long, John Shepherd. A patient Nigel Llong - who took 50 minutes to get off the mark in his demanding new role as an opener - had helped David Fulton make 55 for the first wicket when DeFreitas held the last ball of his second over back a fraction: Llong hit it elegantly but in the air to extra-cover off the back foot. Seven overs later Fulton, on the back foot, became the first of three men to fall to leg-before decisions. Ken Palmer, always an admirer of good bowling, seemed to give each of them out with a certain relish, but all three batsmen knew he was right. Mark Ealham dug in for 13 overs before edging the left-arm Kevin Dean to the only slip fielder and Paul Strang, who is already making a very good impression all-round, played a spirited little innings, but if Kent prevail in what is bound now to be a close finish, the chief credit will belong to Ward. He warmed a greying evening with a series of ringing strokes off either foot. Several of his 18 fours were struck to the safest possible place, past the bowler, and whenever Devon Malcolm or Dominic Cork dropped it short, he was quickly in position to hook or cut. The selectors are bound to consider him again for their one-day international side and this time, perhaps, they should have the courage of their convictions. Ward finished with two leg-side fours in succession from generous offerings by Vince Clarke, and he had begun well, too, taking a neat catch in the gully off Martin McCague`s first ball of the day. Perhaps the big fellow thought that it would be a bit too easy after that (after all, he had taken four for 14) but his short stuff began to meet sterner resistance from Derbyshire`s middle and late order. Cork and Clarke both gave notice of this, each hooking McCague for six over long-leg, although the fact that Clarke`s shot came from the top edge was an indication of the pace at which McCague was bowling. Cork had a better day altogether, batting solidly and later bowling with good control and not much luck, but Derbyshire were chiefly indebted to Karl Krikken, who continues to prove himself a cricketer of immense character. He is a character in the other sense, too, hyperactive and trudging out to bat (or taking a pace forward before lowering himself into a crouch behind the stumps) like a farmer`s boy in Wellington boots. Dean Headley claimed Clarke off the splice to gully and got both Cork and DeFreitas, too, but Krikken took the fight back to Kent, glancing his first ball from Headley to leg and thereafter getting resolutely into line. You need to pay 1,200 a week for Krikken if you wish to have him in your Telegraph Fantasy League team, the legacy of a season in which he earned more wicketkeeping points last season than anyone except Jack Russell. He proved his worth again yesterday, hitting nine fours before Strang ran him out with a deadly direct hit from backward point as he backed up unwarily. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ============================>Day 3 All-round strength of Strang sows the seeds By Christopher Martin-Jenkins at Canterbury Third day of four: Derbyshire (248 & 59-2) need 278 runs to beat Kent (251 & 333) WHATEVER the horticulturalists may be praying for in the Garden of England, Kent`s cricketers will be rather more anxious than Derbyshire`s that the rain which reached the south- eastern corner of the country later than elsewhere yesterday will not spoil the climax today of an excellent game of cricket. The local forecast last night mentioned a "20 per cent chance of showers". A variety of physical ailments enabled Kent to take the third round on points yesterday and Derbyshire will need a very substantial partnership between their overnight pair, Dean Jones and Chris Adams, if they are to get close to the target of 337 - the highest total of the match - in the fourth innings. Adams, whose inclination to attack is exaggerated on a pitch as zingy as this one, will need that grizzled Australian`s restraining hand if they are to deny the home team, but he has hit three fours and a six already and both the pitch and a rapid outfield have rewarded positive cricket by both sides. These are the sort of matches which must be won by Championship aspirants and after Dean Headley`s testing opening spell, which earned him two for 14, the onus is on Kent. If they are to win the title this year, their fielding will have something to do with it for sure. Adrian Rollins fell yesterday to a brilliant diving left- handed catch by Mark Ealham at mid-off and Kim Barnett to a smart one at second slip by Nigel Llong. Nor will Karl Krikken be the last man to be run out this season by Paul Strang, whose quicksilver running and deadeye throwing will leave their impression on the county circuit. Furthermore, it will take the bowlers some time to work out how to stop him scoring as freely as he did yesterday morning. Devon Malcolm, having bowled so well in the first innings, played into his hands as Strang stayed inside the line and picked off his short balls like a man taking apples from a well-laden tree. The great majority of his runs came to the offside and even Phil DeFreitas was cut with abandon after taking the apparently crucial wicket of Trevor Ward, who played on to the ninth ball of the morning. Steve Marsh had time for one sumptuous hook off Malcolm before DeFreitas trapped him on the crease and two overs later ended Strang`s frolic when he carved to third-man. With full resources Derbyshire might now have finished off the innings quickly but DeFreitas pulled up with a twinge in his groin just as he was about to deliver the first ball of his 21st over, having produced his best analysis for Derbyshire. Dominic Cork was operating at half pace because he, too, has a strained groin which will keep him out until next Wednesday, and Derbyshire lost the bowling services of Andy Hayhurst when in mid-morning he tore a cartilage in his right knee diving in the field. He was carried off in some pain but he and DeFreitas will both bat today with a runner. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ====================================>Day 4 Derbyshire efforts in vain By Doug Ibbotson DESPITE the early loss of 28 overs a rapid double century partnership between Dean Jones and Chris Adams gloriously sustained Derbyshire`s audacious challenge against Kent at Canterbury. Regrettably within a shout of victory the weather prevailed. The alacrity with which these two set about Kent`s seam attack in the first hour established beyond doubt the belief that a target of 278 was well within reach - even allowing for the indisposition of the hobbling Andy Hayhurst, Phil DeFreitas and Dominic Cork. Prospects looked even brighter for Derbyshire when Dean Headley, four for 81 in the first innings, limped off with stiffness in his back and neither his replacement, Mark Ealham, nor the potentially incisive Martin McCague looked capable of stemming the flow. Plan B included the introduction of leg-spinner and all- rounder Paul Strang, fresh from Zimbabwe to experience his first dank championship Saturday and wonder who first propounded the theory that cricket supporters are interested only in a result. This clearly was not the case on a day when the crowd was appreciably smaller than that of the first three days. As things transpired on a pitch which offered little encouragement either to speed or sleight of hand, the amiable Strang was pretty roughly handled by captain Jones and his belligerent lieutenant as they mounted their impressive third- wicket partnership. Adams reached a half-century off 52 balls and Jones off 90, a pace that showed no signs of slackening even though, when he reached 68, Adams nicked the ball on to his right eyebrow and received three stitches without leaving the crease. Indeed, the Whitwell wonder swept on to his 20th first- class century off 118 balls with one six and 13 fours. There was no hint of desperation about Kent`s method as with two hours still in prospect Derbyshire crept within 121 runs of victory before McCague removed Adams for 108 with the partnership worth 202. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) ===========================>more Centurion Chris Adams and inspirational Australian Dean Jones brought Derbyshire within 90 runs of a remarkable victory over Kent, before the rains predictably had the last say at Canterbury today. Adams (108) and Jones (99 not out), who came together with Derbyshire in trouble at 14 for two last night, added 202 for the third wicket, as they closed in on an improbable second- innings victory target of 337 on the final day. Adams, whose ton came up in just 118 balls and contained 13 fours and a six, was finally caught by Nigel Llong, off Martin McCague. But Jones, who had helped keep the score ticking over at more than four an over, still had scent of victory and found a new ally in Vince Clarke. The pair continued the chase, and Derbyshire, at 248 for three, were suddenly looking strong favourites to pull off the win, needing just another 89 runs from a minimum of 26 overs. That, though, was as much as the weather would allow, and when the rains returned in mid-afternoon, Kent and Derbyshire`s best efforts went the way of today`s other seven championship matches, all abandoned as draws. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)