Cricket: Caddick lifts tail then strikes: England find lower-order form as weather denies A team

England. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .419

Antigua XI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226-4

ANDY CADDICK startled with the bat then let rip with the ball to give England encouragement in their opening tour match against an Antigua XI at St John's yesterday.

Caddick, the Somerset paceman, compiled a confident 77 and shared a century stand with his fellow tail-ender, Steve Watkin, early on the second day of the four-day match. But, better still, he then produced a hostile late-afternoon burst to claim a couple of wickets and go very close to a third.

It was the sort of aggressive spell on a flat pitch that could, if repeated, earn Caddick a Test place this winter. And, with his steadily improving batting, he might even have the potential to challenge Chris Lewis for the all-rounder's role.

Caddick sent down eight overs without success before ending a violent innings of 44 - including eight fours and a six - from Dave Joseph, bowling him via an inside edge. Then he yorked the opener Earl Waldron for 43 at the end of an exciting 11th over.

Caddick had a loud lbw decision turned down, glared when Waldron edged and pulled boundaries and then pointed the batsman to the pavilion after delivering a full and perfect inswinger to uproot leg stump.

His last ball before tea almost brought a third success with the home captain, McChesney Simon, surviving a confident caught behind appeal - to Caddick's disbelief. And, after the interval, he was twice edged through the slip cordon by Audwin Walsh.

The leg spinner Ian Salisbury eventually accounted for Walsh, bowling him with a straight delivery for 39. But that proved to be the last success of the day for England's depleted attack with Antigua's talented youngsters reaching 226 for 4 in reply to a total of 419 all out.

The tourists had been reduced to a two-pronged pace attack with Watkin resting in the pavilion because of an apparently minor back spasm - sustained during his innings of 45.

That left Caddick and Alan Igglesden to share the new ball - and Igglesden's dismissal of Howard Warner, caught low down at extra cover by Robin Smith for 14, was England's only reward until Caddick returned for a second spell.

Salisbury and his fellow spinner, Graeme Hick, were the only other bowlers available to Mike Atherton. And though Salisbury came in for some punishment, he might have removed Hamesh Anthony three times with Caddick (twice) and Hick spilling difficult outfield chances.

(Second day of four; England won toss)

ENGLAND - First Innings

(Overnight: 340 for 7)

A R Caddick c C Joseph b Anthony. . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 S L Watkin run out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 A P Igglesden not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 Extras (b1 lb5 nb37). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .419

Fall (cont): 8-407 9-419.

Bowling: Quinn 20-2-98-1; Challenger 12- 2-59-1; J Joseph 10-1-39-0; Smith 25-6-60-0; Simon 13-2-27-2; Anthony 31.1-4-130-4.

ANTIGUA XI - First Innings

E Waldron b Caddick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 H Warner c Smith b Igglesden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 D Joseph b Caddick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 A Walsh b Salisbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 * M Simon not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 H Anthony not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Extras (b3 lb4 nb5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Total (for 4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226

Fall: 1-27 2-91 3-113 4-165.

To bat: J Joseph, C Joseph, V Smith, R Challenger, W Quinn.

Bowling: Igglesden 12-2-53-1; Caddick 16- 2-63-2; Salisbury 25-6-73-1; Hick 10-3-30-0.

Umpires: C Mack and P White.