England got off to a shaky start in their opening tour match against Jamaica in Montego Bay.

Alec Stewart fell to the last delivery of Oneil Richards' second over with just a single from a misfield against his name.

Stewart attempted to leave alone a nasty lifter from Richards but could not drop his hand in time and the ball flew straight to Gareth Breese at second slip.

John Crawley was given the chance to cement a Test place in England's opening tour game against Jamaica.

The Lancashire batsman, selected to fill the number three berth ahead of rivals Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash, found himself battling against a difficult two-paced pitch after just 16 balls of the match.

Before Crawley had even faced a ball he saw captain Mike Atherton dangerously jab a delivery from Kirk Powell just beyond the grasp of Leon Garrick at short leg.

Atherton took time out on a couple of occasions to prod the pitch with suspicion, and with justification.

Some balls shot through at ankle height, while others lifted and it was hardly the surface England desired on their first serious day of cricket.

Crawley was called on to keep down a couple of balls which lifted disconcertingly, and on two occasions gloved balls close to short leg.

In the 14th over, with England managing to edge along to 15 for one, Crawley proved that his reflexes were in good working order by keeping out Powell. It all illustrated how tough going it was for England after Atherton had won the toss.

Crawley's selection, plus the choice of Adam Hollioake at number six, gives the first real hint of the side England may field in the Test match series which opens on January 29.

And the bowling department carried the same indication, with Andy Caddick, Dean Headley and Angus Fraser sharing the fast bowling duties, with Middlesex left arm Phil Tufnell the sole spinner.

England coach David Lloyd said: "It's fair to say we've declared our hand, but nothing is set in stone. There is still room for manoeuvre and no-one is left out."

Scorecard

England First Innings at lunch

J P Crawley not out 21

Extras 5

Total 1 wkt (33 overs) 53

Fall: 1-2

To bat: N Hussain, G P Thorpe, A J Hollioake, R C Russell, A R Caddick, D W Headley, A R C Fraser, P C R Tufnell.

Jamaica bowling: Powell 5 1 7 0, Richards 6 4 4 1, Williams 8 5 6 0, Breese 10 0 24 0, Murphy 4 0 7 0.

 

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