Sport 04-09-2000 Cornhill Test: England Poised To Win who: England cricket team what: Expected to win Cornhill series where: The Oval, LONDON when: Today snippet: "Those who questioned the right of Michael Atherton, to retain his place in the England cricket team could only sit back and admire his patience and tenacity yesterday," says an impressed Richard Hobson in The Times as England are just hours from raising the Wisden Trophy for the first time in decades at The Oval. Atherton "slowly and very methodically hammered down every nail in the Windies` coffin" says The Sun`s John Etheridge, "and then dumped half a ton of bricks on top for good measure". Atherton`s 108 gave him his 15th Test century yesterday and his match total of 191 is "more than the entire West Indies team have managed," points out John Etheridge. "Atherton made sure that England would not lose this match," says Michael Henderson in The Telegraph. "England eventually reached 217 in their second innings". But the glory did not all go to England. Legendary West Indies bowlers Curtly Ambrose, who has announced his retirement from cricket, and Courtney Walsh (who is tipped to do the same after the Test is concluded) received a unanimous ovation from the crowd at the end of the second innings. "The pair, visibly moved, have taken 888 Test wickets between them and will never bowl in tandem again," says Richard Hobson in The Times. [... more]

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