England uncork new hero in vintage Test triumph

The crowd stayed long after the baubles and bouquets had been handed out and the champagne corks popped in the England dressing room. As Dominic Cork, bathed in soft evening sunshine, clubbed the winning boundary and set off on his adrenaline-fuelled celebrations, they poured across the field in their thousands to stand in amazement in front of the pavilion and there they remained unable or unwilling to tear themselves away, hoping the magic might last just a little longer.

This had been not just a vivid Test match but a truly great one, a game that for all three days fluctuated wildly in fortune before the most dramatic of climaxes. The West Indies were not out of it until the moment Cork's final square-slash left his bat and raced to the boundary between the Tavern and Mound stands.

In a match containing heroes in abundance, Cork received the man-of-the-match award from Ian Botham, who had himself so famously turned the tide of match and series 19 years ago. On the first day of Cork's return to international cricket it had been his waspish bowling that gained control after Sherwin Campbell and Adrian Griffith had taken toll of England's early inertia, and which then began the process of chipping away at the innings. Then, on that incredible Friday, when 21 wickets had fallen, and, for the only time in Test history, a part of all four innings was played in a day, he breezed in to finish the job of demolishing the West Indies' second innings after Caddick and Darren Gough had begun the job.

On Saturday, though, the fire of competition burned fiercest in his eyes at a time when history suggested that the game was up for England; 48 runs were still needed when he arrived at the crease and 28 when he was joined by Gough with only the rookie Matthew Hoggard to come.

While Gough employed studious defence against Ambrose, Cork launched into Franklyn Rose, pulling him into the Grandstand for six and lofting him to the long-on boundary. Sixteen needed and it might have been 60. Singles were scampered in hair-raising fashion, leg byes greeted with acclaim. Finally, as his last throw of the dice, Jimmy Adams brought back Courtney Walsh to partner Curtly Ambrose. Drip by drip England closed in until leg byes brought the scores level. In came the field, Cork held his nerve and carved his place in English cricket history. The stand had occupied three nail-biting quarters of an hour.

For now, England should relish the moment. Their endeavours have given new life to test cricket, a game that many would have as redundant, and resuscitated a series. And for that, in a hitherto depressing sporting summer, their fans should be grateful.