NOTTINGHAM, England, 15 August 2003 — Nasser Hussain’s first Test hundred in nearly a year guided England 296 for three at stumps on the opening day of the third Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge here yesterday.
At the close Hussain was 108 not out and debutant Ed Smith an unbeaten 40 after Mark Butcher had earlier made a hundred as England enjoyed their first day of series dominance.
Left-hander Butcher and Hussain turned the innings around with a stand of 189 that rescued England from the depths of 29 for two after captain Michael Vaughan won the toss. Essex batsman Hussain sensationally quit the England Test captaincy after the drawn series opener at Edgbaston.
He then had his commitment questioned following a lackluster display during the Proteas’ innings and 92 run second Test victory at Lord’s that saw the Proteas go 1-0 up in the five match campaign.
That might have explained why, after a single off Jacques Kallis took him to three figures, he repeatedly punched the air.
Hussain’s 13th Test hundred came in 189 balls including 16 fours.
It was his first Test century since scoring 110 against India at Headingley in August 2002.
Smith, replacing the dropped Anthony McGrath, pulled the first delivery with the new ball, from fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, for four. It was one of seven boundaries in a composed innings that has so far lasted 77 balls.
England started the final session well placed on 212 for two with Butcher 103 not out and Hussain 72 not out.
But Butcher added just three runs to his tea score — his eighth Test hundred — before he edged Ntini to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
England were now 218 for three, Butcher facing 182 balls including 21 fours.
Shaun Pollock subsequently had a good lbw appeal against Hussain, then 74, rejected by Darrell Hair.
England then almost gifted South Africa a wicket when Hussain, 98, lured Smith down the pitch after setting off for a single against left-arm spinner Paul Adams.
But Smith got back to beat Boucher’s throw to the non-striker’s end.
Pollock had earlier been unsuccessful with an lbw appeal against Butcher, then nought, which Hair’s fellow Australian Daryl Harper rejected with the ball appearing to pitch just outside leg stump.
Butcher’s only other scare before his dismissal came when on 41 he edged Ntini past the outstretched hand of second slip Kallis, playing his first match of the series following the death of his father.
Boundaries were coming from both ends with Butcher strong off his legs and driving anything over-pitched on off stump.
Meanwhile Hussain reeled off a succession of cover-driven fours, including one to get off the mark against Hall.
Earlier, opener Vaughan fell for one, edging a Pollock leg-cutter to third slip Herschelle Gibbs, England seven for one in the fifth over. Then all-rounder Hall, in the 12th over, took a wicket sixth ball when opener Marcus Trescothick (24) edged to Boucher.
