Cricket: England dig themselves a hole

MANCHESTER - Mike Atherton's dour batting at Old Trafford yesterday typified England's determination not to suffer any further humiliation at the hands of the New Zealand cricketers.

The New Zealanders had England at 108 for five at stumps in their first innings on the opening day of the crucial third test and Atherton was the main reason why they have survived to bat another day.

More than three hours were lost because of the weather, but the Kiwis still ended the day on top. The series is locked at 1-1.

England scored their runs at a snail's pace, off 61 overs.

Atherton was not wanted for the first two tests but he made a difference yesterday with his sluggish but defiant batting just keeping England afloat on a difficult pitch with cracks opening already.

He made only 11 but was thereabouts for much of the day, blunting the New Zealand attack.

He was finally dismissed, caught behind off Chris Cairns' bowling after 132 minutes at the crease.

Cairns struck first by dismissing opener Mark Butcher with only 13 runs on the board. The new England captain in the absence of the injured Nasser Hussain, fished at Cairns and was caught low down by Stephen Fleming at slip for his 70th test catch.

Fleming, in his 42nd test, is just one catch away from equalling the New Zealand record by a non-wicketkeeper of Martin Crowe, who played 77 tests.

Butcher's departure brought Alec Stewart to the wicket to partner Atherton, another former England captain also in his 89th test match, and the old guard soldiered through to lunch.

England staggered along from 33 for one after a rain-reduced morning session through to 54 before Dion Nash beat Stewart, who snicked the ball to Adam Parore, ending his 54-ball vigil for 23 runs.

Atherton's patience was unquestioned and was just the start England needed in trying conditions. He refused to give the Kiwis any whiff of another collapse.

It took him 69 balls to reach double figures and he had compiled 11 runs (five scoring strokes) off 82 balls when the heavens opened up with a massive Manchester downpour breaking a summer drought.

Atherton resumed his fight two hours later at 5pm but he lasted only eight more balls before Cairns found an edge through to Parore.

Graeme Hick posted 3000 runs in test cricket but Nash won the battle by having him trapped in front for 12.

Nash and Cairns bowled superbly to remove England's top four batsmen for only 83 runs.

Spinner Daniel Vettori stepped into the attack an hour from stumps and sent Graham Thorpe on his way for 27 in the 56th over when he chipped to Matthew Bell close in at short square leg. - NZPA