Cricket: Johnson benefits from new regime

Nottinghamshire 377-6 v Worcestershire

PAUL JOHNSON did two things when he heard Clive Rice was coming back to Nottinghamshire. First he signed a new contract - then he headed for the gym. As a member of the Nottinghamshire team that won the Championship in 1987 - the second of two titles achieved with Rice as captain - Johnson can vouch for his effectiveness as a leader. He can also confirm Rice's reputation for possessing a bite equal to his bark is accurate.

Hence Johnson's decision to become acquainted with Trent Bridge's new fitness suite. By his own admission, he has not for some years been noted for a lithe, athletic figure. And, knowing what he knows, it was better to shed a few pounds in advance, he reasoned, than wait for Rice to prescribe his own remedy.

As Johnson emerged from the pavilion yesterday, it appeared his pre-emptive action had been a success. Happily, his ability as a batsman remains undiminished. Having stepped into the welcoming sunshine with Nottinghamshire 75 for 2, he returned to the dressing rooms at 311 for 5, to which his own contribution was a typical Johnson innings of 21 boundaries that brought him the 37th first-class century of his career.

It was an innings that exposed the inadequacies that threaten to make this a poor season for Worcestershire, already without Tom Moody and soon to be without Graeme Hick too because of the World Cup, and labouring with modest bowling resources weakened further by the absence of the injured Phil Newport.

The pitch, left with plenty of grass on it, offered movement and bounce enough, with the ball swinging too, to justify an insertion. But after the newcomer Chris Liptrot had seen off Tim Robinson in the second over - well taken, one-handed by Stuart Lampitt at third slip - Worcestershire failed to make the most of it. Alamgir Sheriyar was quick and not always lucky, but allowed too many chances, of which Johnson seized most.

Jason Gallian, who succeeded Johnson as captain last season, did much of the groundwork for his colleague, taking the lead role in a 71-run partnership with Usman Afzaal for the second wicket and, having ended a lean run with his first half-century in 13 Championship innings since he became captain, was annoyed with himself for failing on 82, dismissed a little tamely when Lampitt hurried one through.

But Johnson still prospered, finding a useful ally in Noel Gie, with whom he added 109 for the fourth wicket in 23 entertaining overs, in the process falling only two runs short of a century between lunch and tea. Gie became a second lbw victim for Lampitt and Johnson eventually prodded Richard Illingworth to slip, but Chris Read, the England A wicketkeeper, and Vasbert Drakes provided another surge of strokes as Nottinghamshire collected maximum batting points.