Cork ready to extend Lord's love affair

LONDON, MAY 15. Statistically Dominic Cork's England career does not add up to all that much.

The figures - an average of 18 with the bat and 28.50 with the ball, in 31 Tests spanning six years - suggest a man who does not deserve the title of a genuine all-rounder. Eighteen with the ball and 28.50 with the bat, of course, would be worthy of real discussion.

So it is odd that Cork, recalled to the England squad for the first Test against Pakistan starting on Thursday, does manage to get himself so talked about.

Over recent seasons, much of that talk has been uncomplimentary, the 30-year-old variously regarded as abrasive, opinionated, immature and under-achieving. A man supremely confident in his own lack of ability. A man not adding up to much.

Which might be the whole story, if only Cork had not contrived to provide England supporters with some of their most memorable moments in recent years.

As he did in 1995, with seven for 43 against the West Indies at Lord's to earn the man-of-the-match award and the best bowling figures by an Englishman on his debut.

Or as he did two matches later at Old Trafford, when he removed Richie Richardson, Junior Murray and Carl Hooper - bowled, lbw, lbw, with successive balls.

Or as he did last year in the second Test, again versus the West Indies and at Lord's, after an 18-month exile from the England dressing room.

With the tourists looking set to go 2-0 up, Cork contributed four for 39 in the first innings, three for 13 in the second and then hit a back-to-the-wall 33 not out, including the winning runs through extra cover, to rescue the match and, ultimately, to pave the way for an England series victory.

Cork had celebrated that day by raising three fingers as he ran off the pitch and, for one appalling moment, it seemed as if he was indulging in a characteristic gesture of defiance aimed at the selectors. It was only later that he explained that it was a coded expression of affection for his girlfriend.

His love affair with Lord's, meanwhile, looks certain to continue this week. His swing bowling is at its best in English conditions and Cork is fit and eager again after missing the tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka with a back injury.

Do not put it past him to produce another in-your- face, magical performance worthy of his idol, Ian Botham.

And do not put it past him to at last begin to produce some consistent form. Cork is better placed than ever before to do that.

He has made his peace with his county, Derbyshire, following various ructions among players and club officials. He has settled down after a turbulent passage in his private life. He has begun to accept some of his past errors: ``everyone has done a few things wrong in their time and I've got to hold my hands up and admit I'm no exception.''

And he has at last begun to feel wanted.

England captain Nasser Hussain laughed when Cork had the audacity to phone him earlier this season to tell him how well he was playing and to argue that he should be recalled immediately.

``He's my kind of cricketer,'' Hussain says.

As for his detractors, well, Cork does not seem ready to change his style too much to accommodate them. ``I only know one way to play my cricket and that's to give it everything,'' he says.

``Love me or loathe me,'' he might have added, ``just don't ignore me.''

- Reuters

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