Cricket: Lathwell has top marks at half-term

England A 287-9 dec and 104-3 dec; Queensland 296-7 dec. Match drawn

NORMAN GIFFORD, the England A coach, yesterday highlighted the Somerset batsman Mark Lathwell's 'special talent' as the shadow Test squad's two-month Australian tour reached the half-way stage in Caloundra.

The 21-year-old opener gave the tourist's second innings some much-needed impetus with a bold 40 against a lively Queensland attack on the final day of the drawn four-day match and Gifford said: 'Mark plays shots that only a batsman with special ability could produce. He can go all the way.

'I have talked to Somerset coach Bob Cottam about him and everything he told me has been confirmed by his form on this tour. He has a very special batting talent.'

The coach also gave special mention to Graham Thorpe, the Surrey left-hander, and Graham Lloyd, who both should be pressing for Test places soon.

(Final day of four: England A won toss)

ENGLAND A - First Innings 287 for 9 dec (D J Capel 80, M D Moxon 57).

QUEENSLAND - First Innings

(Overnight: 148 for 1)

M L Hayden b Cork. . . . . . . . . . . .66

W Seccombe c Thorpe b Cork. . . . . . . .5

P J T Goggin b Caddick. . . . . . . . . 33

S G Law c Moxon b Such. . . . . . . . . 35

* D M Wellham not out. . . . . . . . . .42

D Kingdon c and b Such. . . . . . . . . .4

M S Kasprowicz b Capel. . . . . . . . . .3

A Bichel not out. . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Extras (lb15 nb2). . . . . . . . . . . .17

Total (for 7 dec, 107 overs). . . . . .296

Fall: 1-139 2-152 3-152 4-209 5-227 6-240 7-255.

Did not bat: P W Jackson, C G Rackemann.

Bowling: Caddick 25-7-75-2; Cork 24-4-65-2; Such 38-7-96-2; Capel 20-3-45-1.

ENGLAND A - Second Innings

T C Middleton run out. . . . . . . . . . 2

M N Lathwell b Jackson. . . . . . . . . 40

* M D Moxon ret hurt. . . . . . . . . . .0

P J Prichard c Kingdon b Bichel. . . . . 4

G P Thorpe not out. . . . . . . . . . . 33

G D Lloyd not out. . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Extras (lb2 w2 nb12). . . . . . . . . . 16

Total (for 3 dec). . . . . . . . . . . 104

Fall: 1-3 2-23 3-71.

Did not bat: R C Russell, D J Capel, D G Cork, P M Such, A R Caddick.

Bowling: Kasprowicz 5-0-28-0; Bichel 6-0-29-1; Jackson 7-1-19-1; Rackemann 5-0-26-0.