Cricket: Warne Delves Into Book of the Unorthodox

Given four days of clement weather this match might have been every bit as enthralling as its first v second billing anticipated. But sadly, even though the cricket has always demanded attention, too much time has been lost to engineer a positive conclusion.

Trent Bridge has lived up to its reputation as a swinging ground and the pitch mocked Shane Warne's decision to play Shaun Udal as a second spinner in addition to himself. Not that the Australian was idle, though; watching him lead a side is a frantic exercise of imagination.

Bowlers change ends with alarming frequency and some of the field positioning seems to possess a strange mixture of the deeply analytical and the downright barmy. At one stage he had three silly mid-offs for Anurag Singh and later a catcher virtually standing on the pitch next to the non-striker for Stephen Fleming.

Allied to the inventive medium pace of Craig McMillan, it made for some interesting viewing. The New Zealander, aggressive but very much a part-timer, snared two wickets, Jason Gallian and Singh declining to play at balls which darted back at them.

Sean Ervine of Zimbabwe, who contrary to some reports is not a Kolpak player but rather a shrewd user of an Irish passport, also claimed two wickets. The most important was that of Fleming with an inswinger but he also removed Darren Bicknell, who had been dropped on nought by Nic Pothas.

Hampshire fielded sharply, even during the unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 83 between Chris Read and Mark Ealham which has given the home team the upper hand, but another gaffe caused some merriment. Kevin Pietersen continued his miserable return by shelling a chance to his left off Gallian at third slip.

And another not enjoying his first return was Richard Logan, who sprayed the ball around like a wonky water-sprinkler in eight expensive overs. He might have been trying too hard but Chris Tremlett looked tentative, even though he removed David Hussey, whose 42 from 53 balls was ended by a stunning catch at backward point by Udal.

At least Tremlett could lay claim to the moment of the day, hitting a towering six over extra-cover into the Bridgford Road as Hampshire added 55 runs in the morning.