Cricket: Jones lets Taylor off the hook

Australia 362-6 dec & 148-2 Derbyshire 257-9 dec

A slip catch put down by his Australian compatriot, Dean Jones, has probably removed the last doubt over the participation of Mark Taylor, the beleaguered captain of the tourists, in the first Test match starting at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Taylor, whose defiance of calls to relinquish his position has led to critics at home questioning his sanity, had faced only nine deliveries of what must have been among the more nerve-stretching innings of his career when an away-swinger from Phillip DeFreitas found the edge of his bat.

After failing to rise above his much-scrutinised loss of form at Gloucester last week, followed by dismissal for just five in the first innings here, Taylor knew that another cheap exit would make it almost impossible, as one of Australia's three-man selection committee, to justify his inclusion at Edgbaston.

But Jones, normally the safest catcher at first slip, spilled a chance that came to him at low but clearly catchable height, and Taylor breathed again. More than that, he survived to make a first-class half-century for only the third time in 31 innings spanning 18 months.

Often he looked uncomfortable, but by the close of the second day he was unbeaten on 59, having struck nine fours in two hours and 48 minutes at the crease, as Australia built a lead of 253 with eight wickets left.

Jones, who had left out Devon Malcolm at England's request, had further aided his cause, it should be said, with some fairly friendly bowling. But that did not worry Geoff Marsh, the Australian coach, who was delighted with Taylor's display.

Derbyshire, 68-2 overnight, declared their first innings 105 in arrears after two sessions in which, despite the easy nature of the pitch, the Australian bowlers had enjoyed greater success than the home batsmen, with the exception of the opener, Michael May, who made his second first- class half-century in only his fourth match, although he was dropped twice, at 41 and 57.

At one stage, Derbyshire were 206-9 but Andrew Harris and Kevin Dean each bettered his own first-class score in an unbroken partnership of 51. Apart from coming unwittingly to the aid of a troubled compatriot, among Jones's other duties was to reprimand Chris Adams, the Derbyshire batsman, after an exhibition of dissent that, by cricket's strict codes of conduct, amounts to a hanging offence.

The incident occured after Adams flicked a ball from Shane Warne backwards of square on the leg side and ran a single only to be confronted on reaching the non-striker's end by the raised finger of umpire Vanburn Holder, giving him out lbw. Adams was not so much surprised as dumbfounded. For several moments he remained rooted to the spot, staring open-mouthed at the West Indian official, before turning for the pavilion with obvious reluctance.

TV replays seemed to show Adams had been hard done by but cricket frowns deeply on the batsman who stands his ground. Adams thus had done enough to land himself in trouble already without what followed.

As he trudged away he gestured towards the huddle of celebrating Australians not once but three times before he completed his journey. "He wasn't rude but he kept saying he'd hit the ball," Holder said. "His reaction was not acceptable. I thought it had hit his pad before his bat. Sometimes we get it wrong, but players should always accept the umpire's decision."

There was sympathy for Adams, whose talents many judges believe ought to have been recognised at a higher level by now. He was doubtless keen to make runs in this company but this was an undignified display. Derbyshire will announce his fate today.