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Last Updated: Friday, 31 October, 2003, 11:25 GMT
Victory within England's reach
Simon Mann writes exclusively for the BBC Sport website
By Simon Mann
BBC Sport in Chittagong

Having made their position in this match invincible, it is now just a question of when England will complete a 2-0 series win.

Richard Johnson, who should have played in the first Test, bullied out Bangladesh's lower order before lunch and the rest was straightforward as England batted free from pressure.

With his muscular action Johnson hit the pitch hard and extracted some extra bounce from what had looked a tame surface when Bangladesh bowled.

Nasser Hussain
Even Nasser Hussain got into the spirit of things after running out Michael Vaughan
Two of his wickets came from simple looping catches to Paul Collingwood at slip after the ball had struck the batman's glove.

Johnson is a powerful bowler with dodgy knees who would have played a lot more for England if had stayed fit.

He has taken 11 wickets in two Tests with power to add in the second innings.

He must think it is a breeze at this level and it is - if you only play against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

Martin Saggers is playing his first - and possibly only - Test.

He is England's ninth choice pace bowler behind James Anderson, Andrew Flintoff, James Kirtley, Steve Harmision, Matthew Hoggard, Johnson and the injured duo Andrew Caddick and Simon Jones.

Mushfiqur Rahman and Enamul Haque are not exactly prize scalps in Test cricket but for a bowler who was shown the door by Durham in 1998 he has, admirably, made the most of himself.

He is an example to those who are content to drift along in the county game.

Test cricket is normally at its least intense when the side batting first has taken a big first innings lead - the game only re-starts as a contest in the fourth innings.

This was no different.

England cantered along and even Nasser Hussain got into the spirit of things after running out Michael Vaughan.

Richard Johnson
Johnson has performed brilliantly against limited opposition so far
When it is has no bearing on the outcome of the match, there is perverse humour in seeing the former captain run out the present one.

The comic value could only be increased by it happening the other way round.

Michael Vaughan is not a man to bear a grudge but Hussain's miscalculation cost the skipper some easy Test runs.

Hussain seamlessly transformed grim defence into flamboyant attack thanks to the confidence gained from one bold stroke against the left-arm spinner Mohammed Rafique.

His innings made a nonsense of his tortuous struggle on the previous day.

Mark Butcher, who had made 0, 8 and 6 in his three previous innings in the series, benefited from opening the batting in Marcus Trescothick's absence.

He relished the new ball, scoring 17 from his first 8 deliveries.

But the left-hander fell though to a casual dab stroke against the left-arm spinner Mohammed Rafique.

Spin is not a strong suit for Butcher and his form against it is a concern for England in advance of the series in Sri Lanka.





Links to more Ban v Eng stories


 

SEE ALSO
England rule on dull day
30 Oct 03  |  Ban v Eng 2003
England make life difficult
29 Oct 03  |  Ban v Eng 2003
Bangladesh lack match-winners
28 Oct 03  |  Ban v Eng 2003


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