Game: England v West Indies, Test Match
Date: June 6-10, 1991
Venue: Emerald Headingley
Stage of the series: First of a five-match series
Teams:
England: GA Gooch c, MA Atherton, GA Hick, AJ Lamb, MR Ramprakash, RA Smith, RC Russell w, DR Pringle, PAJ DeFreitas, SL Watkin, DE Malcolm
West Indies: PV Simmons, DL Haynes, RB Richardson, CL Hooper, IVA Richards c, AL Logie, PJL Dujon w, MD Marshall, CEL Ambrose, CA Walsh, BP Patterson
Toss: West Indies, who elected to field first
Summary:
England secured their first home Test victory over the West Indies since the summer of 1969, also at Headingley, and they did it in convincing fashion. A low-scoring contest with no Yorkshire representation was swung England’s way by a second-innings century by captain Graham Gooch, while the hosts’ fielding was superb. Although the series finished drawn 2-2, a period of Calypso dominance on English soil was halted, starting with this win in overcast and chilly Leeds. Both sides failed to reach 200 in their first innings – England 198 and the West Indies 173. Then it was Gooch who gave England the upper hand, carrying his bat for a fabulous unbeaten 154. Strong square on both sides of the wicket, he underpinned a score of 252, including 6-52 for Curtly Ambrose. The visitors, including Yorkshire overseas player to be Richie Richardson, made a solid start to their pursuit of 278, reaching 61-1, but debutant seamer Steve Watkin (3-38) and four wickets for Phil DeFreitas turned the tide England’s way, eventually by 115 runs.
