- News>
- Cricket
Hussain vows to keep fighting
Nottingham, Aug 15: Former England captain Nasser Hussain vowed to keep proving his critics wrong after making an unbeaten 108 at Trent Bridge here yesterday.
Nottingham, Aug 15: Former England captain Nasser Hussain vowed to keep proving his critics wrong after making an unbeaten 108 at Trent Bridge here yesterday.
Hussain's innings was one of the pillars of England's 296 for three at stumps on the first day of the third Test against South Africa.
Mark Butcher made 106 while debutante Ed Smith was 40 not out.
"I wish people would look at the statistics with me," said Hussain following criticism of his attitude in England's overwhelming innings defeat in the second test at lord's.
"I've had a phenomenal couple of months for Essex and I'm always in for the fight," Hussain, 35, insisted as England looked to level the five match series at one apiece. "I'll keep doing that on Friday," added Hussain, also under fire for resigning the test captaincy after the drawn series opener at Edgbaston.
Hussain repeatedly punched their air after a single off Jacques Kallis gave him his first test century in nearly a year.
But he maintained the gesture was not aimed at his media critics.
It was just a release from the frustration of the past few weeks," explained Hussain, who now has 13 Test centuries in all. He explained that batting had not been easy on what he called an "ugly" wicket.
"I'm the sort of batsman who has to work hard for every run. The pitch was slow and when I first came in it was seaming. On a pitch like that I have to bat five or six hours for a hundred," said Hussain who actually reached the landmark in four hours and 24 minutes.
He came in when england were in trouble at 29 for two after skipper michael vaughan had won the toss.
But a stand of 189 in just over 60 overs with experienced Surrey left-hander Butcher turned the innings around.
Butcher, who notched his eighth test hundred, dedicated his innings to his teammates.
"I'm really pleased for the team because we took a bashing after Lord's and rightly so. It was nice to come out and show people that we can actually play this game," Butcher added.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith remained upbeat after England enjoyed their first day of dominance in the series.
"To keep them under 300 when two of their batsmen got hundreds, was a good effort. We had three LBWs which could had they gone our way would have changed the face of the day. The guys stuck at it well. I'm not too unhappy. There's a long way to go," said the skipper. Bureau Report
Mark Butcher made 106 while debutante Ed Smith was 40 not out.
"I wish people would look at the statistics with me," said Hussain following criticism of his attitude in England's overwhelming innings defeat in the second test at lord's.
"I've had a phenomenal couple of months for Essex and I'm always in for the fight," Hussain, 35, insisted as England looked to level the five match series at one apiece. "I'll keep doing that on Friday," added Hussain, also under fire for resigning the test captaincy after the drawn series opener at Edgbaston.
Hussain repeatedly punched their air after a single off Jacques Kallis gave him his first test century in nearly a year.
But he maintained the gesture was not aimed at his media critics.
It was just a release from the frustration of the past few weeks," explained Hussain, who now has 13 Test centuries in all. He explained that batting had not been easy on what he called an "ugly" wicket.
"I'm the sort of batsman who has to work hard for every run. The pitch was slow and when I first came in it was seaming. On a pitch like that I have to bat five or six hours for a hundred," said Hussain who actually reached the landmark in four hours and 24 minutes.
He came in when england were in trouble at 29 for two after skipper michael vaughan had won the toss.
But a stand of 189 in just over 60 overs with experienced Surrey left-hander Butcher turned the innings around.
Butcher, who notched his eighth test hundred, dedicated his innings to his teammates.
"I'm really pleased for the team because we took a bashing after Lord's and rightly so. It was nice to come out and show people that we can actually play this game," Butcher added.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith remained upbeat after England enjoyed their first day of dominance in the series.
"To keep them under 300 when two of their batsmen got hundreds, was a good effort. We had three LBWs which could had they gone our way would have changed the face of the day. The guys stuck at it well. I'm not too unhappy. There's a long way to go," said the skipper. Bureau Report