Cricket: Fraser blow for England: Middle order falls into disorder after captain Atherton logs a patient century

FOR the first time on their Caribbean tour and the last time before the serious stuff starts this week, England encountered a proper yardstick by which to measure their form. While the England captain Michael Atherton gave a reason for optimism with a carefully constructed century taking just over five hours, the day ended with the worrying news that pace bowler Angus Fraser may miss the first Test against the West Indies, starting on Saturday.

Fraser was taken to hospital in Bridgetown after being struck on the hand while batting during the morning. X-rays have revealed two small hairline fractures in the index and middle fingers of the Middlesex player's left hand.

Further discomfort had come when the middle order collapsed to leave England 46 runs in arrears after the first innings as rain forced an early close.

Barbados, by no means providing the backs-to-the-wall variety of pressure encountered the last time England played here, at least fielded a Test player - Desmond Haynes - and two or three others - like Vasbert Drakes, Sherwin Campbell and Roland Holder - who are reckoned to be on the fringes of selection for the West Indies.

In between the morning squalls that trudged in off the Atlantic, Atherton continued his sedate but secure stay at the crease, combining studied clips off his legs with some crisp cuts and punches through the covers off the back foot. He was dropped at square leg on 79, flicking at Drakes, a shot he favours but also one that has been his downfall twice on this tour.

With the hapless nightwatchman Fraser giving the tall wicketkeeper Courtney Browne a testing, running catch as he fended Dayne Maynard off his chest, Smith was into the fray soon after play got under way half an hour late. With Graham Gooch absent, Smith is well aware that, like Atlas, much rests on his shoulders and he started as if weighed down with every care in the world.

As it did last time England played here - during the fourth Test of the previous tour - the pitch is showing random variations in bounce. Mostly these are on the low side, but the rain seemed to spice things up and Smith took several blows to the stomach as good length balls from Drakes reared and cut back into him. Once he had settled, though, anything loose was met with a hearty thump and every crash, bang and wallop from the workmen busy constructing a new stand, was echoed by Smith's hefty bat. One straight drive off Drakes was reminiscent of Gooch as the crack of ball on bat was swiftly followed by the sound of ball on hoarding as it sped to the boundary.

After lunch, Atherton played some sweetly timed backfoot drives off the left-arm spinner Winston Reid. With Sam Skeete not reappearing since going off after his opening spell on the second day and Maynard, who retired with a nosebleed yesterday, Holder, the Barbados skipper, was forced to keep the erratic Reid bowling from the northern end.

With the limited range of shots as Atherton has, concentration over long periods is the key to his success. In his first over back - sandwiching a short spell from Drakes - Reid got one past his forward push to clip off-stump. It was the dismissal of a weary man, who had faced 234 balls for his 108 runs.

Meanwhile, Smith was revelling in the return of Maynard, who was pitching the ball half- way down the track while having two sweepers square on the boundary. With Smith only on 22 at lunch, it did not take long before he rushed to 50 with a series of savage cuts and pulls helping the scoreboard to fairly rattle along for a period. Allowing Hick a period of amnesty against the spinner when he first comes in is not something Richie Richardson is likely to do in the Tests, should Hick be in the line-up. But the ploy paid dividends when Reid got the dangerous Smith leg before, cutting at an arm ball. An over later, and one ball before tea, Hick edged a perfectly pitched ball from Ottis Gibson to second slip, where Sherwin Campbell held a sharp catch.

Encouraged by this success, and finding renewed energy and a new angle of attack, both Gibson and Drakes concentrated on coming around the wicket. Predictably, the left-handed pair of Thorpe and Jack Russell had some awkward moments before the latter shouldered arms to one that nipped back and was lbw for eight. Thorpe soon followed, edging a snorter from Drakes into Campbell's waiting hands at slip.

Thorpe has yet to make a strong case for himself and, in the absence of any convincing applicants (Smith excepted), almost anyone can apply for a job in England's shaky middle order.

With the tail steadfastly refusing to wag, the innings was mopped up moments before the groundstaff pulled the covers on for the last time. Gibson, who deservedly finished with five for 87, has been signed by Glamorgan for the forthcoming English season. If he stays fit, Welsh hearts will be gladdened by his intelligent swing bowling.

The only course of action left open to England now - apart from pulling the names of the middle-order for Saturday's first Test from a very large hat - is to make sure Haynes doesn't get in some much-needed batting practice.

(Third day of four; Barbados won toss)

BARBADOS - First Innings 348 (P A Wallace 57, S G Campbell 83, * R I C Holder 85; D E Malcolm 7-134).

ENGLAND - First Innings

(Overnight: 144 for 2)

* M A Atherton b Reid 108 A R C Fraser c Browne b Maynard 9 R A Smith lbw b Reid 59 G A Hick c Campbell b Gibson 20 G P Thorpe c Campbell b Drakes 16 R C Russell lbw b Gibson 6 A P Igglesden c Browne b Gibson 3 P C R Tufnell not out 0 D E Malcolm b Gibson 0 Extras (b1 lb1 w3 nb23) 28 Total 302

Fall (cont): 3-149 4-246 5-268 6-276

7-288 8-302 9-302.

Bowling: Gibson 32.1-11-87-5; Skeete 4-1-20-0; Drakes 28-2-92-2; Maynard 18.2-4-52-1; Reid 22-5-49-2.

Umpires: H Moore and D Holder.

(Photograph omitted)