England's test cricketers heard news of the death of their recent team-mate Ben Hollioake as they made a positive start to the third day of the second cricket test against New Zealand here today.
After an hour's play England were 142 for three in their first innings but it seemed insignificant
as news filtered through that Hollioake, 24, had been killed in a car crash in Perth.
The Surrey all-rounder was part of the England one-day squad in New Zealand last month but didn't play any of the five matches after being troubled by a knee injury.
England's players became aware of Hollioake's death on television in the dressing room after play began this morning in brilliantly fine weather.
After resuming on 92 for two overnight, they lost just one wicket in the first hour and added 50 runs.
Hollioake's Surrey team-mate Mark Butcher, unaware of the tragic news, was dismissed for 47 by a Nathan Astle catch at second slip off the bowling of Chris Drum.
The wicket, with the total on 133, brought another Surrey player Graham Thorpe to the crease to join captain Nasser Hussain.
The skipper looked composed throughout the first hour and moved to 31 by the drinks break. He and Butcher added 70 off 119 balls for the third wicket.
Drum had figures of two for 52 off 15 overs.
Thorpe didn't stay long and on 11 he tried a pull shot off Chris Martin and was caught at first slip by Stephen Fleming. It brought another Surrey player, Mark Ramprakash, to the crease.
As they did in the first test, New Zealand missed chances to put the tourists under pressure.
Hussain escaped twice when he edged Vettori to wicketkeeper Adam Parore on 44 and Parore got both his gloves to the ball but dropped the chance.
Then on 46 with the total 170 for four, Hussain drove at Vettori and was well caught at mid-on by Ian Butler only to see umpire Darrell Hair call no-ball.
Hussain moved to his 20th test 50 half an hour before lunch, after 170 minutes and 120 balls, with England 180 for four.
- NZPA
