Hick picks off Hampshire

SOUTHAMPTON (England XI won toss): England XI beat Hampshire by nine wickets

THE OPTIMISTIC view of an excessively comfortable victory would be that England are coming to the boil nicely. Perhaps they are, but it is also true that Hampshire's performance was distinctly second division. They were bowled out for 91 and England, which in this case largely meant Graeme Hick, knocked the runs off in the 21st over.

It was good for England's morale to bowl a side out so cheaply in conditions that they hope will be repeated against Sri Lanka on Friday, but they really could have done with opposition less feeble than that which Hampshire provided. Their doughty wicketkeeper apart, extras made the highest contribution to their total and the bowling was so bullied by Hick that he, at least, made it look like a flat track.

Certainly, Hampshire had the harder conditions in which to bat. Alec Stewart, notoriously unfortunate with the toss, has guessed right twice running and he could do with an extended run because it will be an advantage to field first almost anywhere in England whilst the skies remain overcast and moisture hangs in the early summer air.

Stewart, the batsman, opened, of course. One might have argued that he should not, but it was a safe bet that he would back himself to carry on. He played soundly and with increasingly good timing, concentrating, wisely in the circumstances, on hitting into the "V". Hick, meanwhile, reeled off a succession of magnificent strokes in the region, mainly, of extra cover and mid-off. He had marched to the middle, his body language exuding command, after the hapless Knight had edged a cut at the second ball of the innings.

It may be a stroke of luck for England that four of his five Test hundreds have been scored against three of the countries in group A - South Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Confidence is everything to Hick. He hit seven fours and two sixes yesterday, the straight-driven six off Mascarenhas coming close to removing the Sky commentary team from their eyrie.

England bowled well, including, briefly, Hick himself, who will be bowling a fair amount unless the sun dries the atmosphere and Croft is needed later in the tournament. David Lloyd as good as said that yesterday's will be the XI that takes the field against Sri Lanka, but the plan is to name 12 (presumably including Croft) tomorrow afternoon after two morning practices at Lord's. Hussain and Fraser can consider themselves unlucky.

Ian Austin shared the new ball with Gough yesterday and, as he does, bowled a length and commendably straight. He took the most important wicket, that of Smith, with a ball that cut back sharply. The most incisive bowling, however, came from Mullally, who looked as fast as Gough. Aymes alone offered resistance, but it says as much about Hampshire's batting as it does for the qualities of Aymes himself that he should have risen to No 4 in the order on merit.

May 12, 1999