NZ learn the English art of self-abuse

ENGLISH cricket teams abroad have proved such expert marksman in the footshooting department that there was something approaching empathy with Lee Germon yesterday when the New Zealand captain took careful aim and blasted away his side's chances with a most notable piece of tactical maladroitness in Auckland.

Despite the damp pitch and the humidity, despite - most culpably of all - weather forecasts predicting considerable afternoon rain, Germon decided to bat first; it amounted to not so much firing at one's trotters as aiming a sawn-off at one's temple.

After it was all over, and England had won by six wickets, their fourth successive international success, to take a 2-0 lead in the five match series, Germon at least had the decency to look sheepish about his decision.

"The weather ruined the match for us and the crowd. It comes down to how much you trust the weather forecast, and today they got it right. In hindsight we would have been better bowling."

Germon is only a fringe Test player, so tactical bloopers may cost him dear. Yesterday, however, New Zealand were also the losers in an imbecilic piece of one-day ruling.

England, captained by Nasser Hussain because Michael Atherton had a sore back, had made such a promising start in their bid to overhaul New Zealand's 253 for eight that they had scored 47 from just six overs when the rain came. Their target was then adjusted to a very straightforward 132 from 26 overs.

But to make things even easier for them, the 15-over period at the start of the innings, during which only two players are allowed outside the fielding circle, was not reduced; England made 134 for four from just 19.3 overs and could scarcely refrain from sniggering at the stupidity of it all.

Nick Knight has not played particularly well in recent Test matches, but here he led the way with a pinch-hitting 84 not out from 69 deliveries, with 12 fours. Simon Doull, New Zealand's most skilful fast bowler but a duffer in the one-day format, with an economy rate of almost a run a ball, went for 39 in five overs, and Nathan Astle's nine balls at the end cost 17 runs.

Play restarted only just in time to prevent the game being scrapped in favour of an entirely new match today. "The groundsman didn't think it was fit for play," Hussain said. "I thought it was damp but not unfit. The umpires went out again and made a difficult decision, but the right one considering there was a big crowd.

"I do admit it was a little bit harsh on New Zealand. It would have made good sense to cut down the 15-over period percentage-wise. But we're on a bit of a winning run, and in that situation things tend to go your way.

"But I must say I would have chosen to bowl first. I felt the ball would swing in the humidity, and there was also a dampness around as there had been in the Test match. But the big factor was the weather forecast. We've been in these situations enough times in England, and when there's weather it usually favours the side batting second."

Atherton is expected to be fit for the remaining three fixtures.