Cricket Round-Up: Gooch's 100th century

GRAHAM GOOCH yesterday became the 23rd batsman to score 100 hundreds, writes Niall Edworthy. He joins a list of illustrious names that includes W G Grace, Wally Hammond, Don Bradman, Len Hutton and more recently Geoff Boycott and Viv Richards.

Following his troubled tour to India and after the farcical song and dance of whether his innings against a South African XI on the rebel tour was truly first-class, Gooch will take phlegmatic delight in his achievement, especially after receiving a vote of semi-confidence on Friday from the selectors when he was was reinstated as England captain for the first three Tests.

In the suitably modest setting of Fenner's, Gooch reached his 147- ball century with a huge six before retiring immediately. 'I still think it was a better century in South Africa but I like coming to Cambridge because I enjoy batting,' he said after his innings. Whether the Cambridge University bowlers, who had to suffer a further Essex century by Nasser Hussain, actually enjoy bowling is another matter but it is at least a reassurance to know that England's premier batsman enjoys batting.

At Leicester meanwhile, Alec Stewart, the heir apparent to Gooch's throne, was cautiously compiling the 24th century of his career which was eventually brought to an end after five hours and 298 balls as Surrey stacked up a reasonable lead on the third day of four.

Matthew Maynard became the youngest Glamorgan player to score 10,000 runs to help his side secure a lead of 384 over Sussex, while Martyn Moxon fell nine runs short of his century in the friendly Roses match at Headingley after being forced to leave the field temporarily for treament to an injured foot.

(Photograph omitted)