28/05/1988

[Basil]

The day Graham Hick scored 1,000 first class runs before the end of May.

[Invader Zim]

Wish I had been there that day that Athers declared on him...still makes me laugh...

[Basil]

Wish I had been there that day that Athers declared on him...still makes me laugh...

Not Athers' finest moment.

[Invader Zim]

Oh, I dunno

[ten years after]

Wish I had been there that day that Athers declared on him...still makes me laugh...

Not Athers' finest moment.

I wuz there.

I think Atherton regreted it too. It possibly cost England the match as there was a strangely deflated air about the team in Australia's second dig. England had totally dominated till then (Gough batting and bowling brilliantly in the first innings).

[Big_Bad_Bob]

It is probably fairer to say that Hick had pricked about for far too long in failing to get his ton when England were trying to set up a declaration.

He didn't have the personality that day to rubber stamp his authority on the Aussie attack, nor did he ever really do so when required to throughout his entire Test career.

In getting back on top of Hick and preventing him from getting to his his century in a timely fashion, Australia turned a negative into a positive for them, and a positive into a negative for Hick and England.

Sadly, there in a nutshell you probably have all you want, or need, to know about Hick the Test batsman from a single episode.

[ten years after]

It is probably fairer to say that Hick had pricked about for far too long in failing to get his ton when England were trying to set up a declaration.

He didn't have the personality that day to rubber stamp his authority on the Aussie attack, nor did he ever really do so when required to throughout his entire Test career.

In getting back on top of Hick and preventing him from getting to his his century in a timely fashion, Australia turned a negative into a positive for them, and a positive into a negative for Hick and England.

Sadly, there in a nutshell you probably have all you want, or need, to know about Hick the Test batsman from a single episode.

But the timing was a bit strange. 5 minutes to 3 (45 minutes before tea) on the 4th day. In other words 8 hours and 45 minutes still left. A couple of more minutes were hardly crucial.

Its true Hick blocked the last couple of deliveries but he had slammed the one before that into Boon's (I think) legs at short leg. In fact it was generally a fine innings and Australia were on the ropes at that point.

[peterg]

The weather might have inflyenced Atherton.

The rain and the humidity influenced the match, very much in England's favour.
But with more rain likely, Mike was doubtless eager to declare, and jumped the gun a little where the diffident Hick was concerned.

An analogy might be with Gilchrist's declaration at Headingley in 2001. It looks over generous, but he wanted to be sure of having enough time to take ten wickets, given the uncertain weather..

At Sydney in 1995, England would have had a better chance if they had bowled their overs at a respectable rate. So maybe Atherton had mainly himself to blame.

[ten years after]

The weather might have inflyenced Atherton.

The rain and the humidity influenced the match, very much in England's favour.
But with more rain likely, Mike was doubtless eager to declare, and jumped the gun a little where the diffident Hick was concerned.

An analogy might be with Gilchrist's declaration at Headingley in 2001. It looks over generous, but he wanted to be sure of having enough time to take ten wickets, given the uncertain weather..

At Sydney in 1995, England would have had a better chance if they had bowled their overs at a respectable rate. So maybe Atherton had mainly himself to blame.

Atherton later stated that he regretted his declaration. It put a downer on England's spirit.

With someone of Hick's obvious ability, who was struggling with confidence, it was also a bad move from the 'people management' perspective. Not worth it for 5 minutes when there was still so much time remaining.