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Eng openers open a new chapter By: Agencies December 29, 2004
Durban: Marcus Trescothick toasted his partnership with Andrew Strauss after the opening pair had given England the edge against South Africa in Durban.
Their 273-run stand for the first wicket turned a 163-run deficit at the start of day three into an 88-run lead.
We work well together, feed off each other and enjoy each others company. Strauss is playing fantastically. When you take part in a stand like that its fantastic, said Trescothick, who like the unbeaten Strauss made 132.
When youre playing with someone who is in such good form as he is, it makes my job a lot easier. Hes scoring so quickly, quicker than Ive ever seen him score.
When you get a 270-run partnership you know its your day and you know youve done well.
The partnership - a record for Kingsmead and Englands fifth best of all time for the first wicket ended when Trescothick fell to Shaun Pollock late in the day.
But by then the pair had already succeeded in putting England in the driving seat.
We had to really fight back hard. The first two days were pretty hard work, Trescothick added.
We dug in and fought hard and it was just unfortunate to lose myself at the end of the day. We just wanted to bat out the day and lose as few wickets as possible.
Trescothick was delighted to score his third Test century away from home his previous two coming in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Before this Test, the left-hander averaged only 30.4 away, and he has been keen to narrow the gap with his home average of 53.9.
I wouldnt say Ive put it to rest, but Ive made a big step forward to putting it to rest, he commented.
Its a mental battle for me, something I have to deal with and work hard to try to understand what is different, he added.
South Africa coach Ray Jennings said his bowlers had not put the required effort in.
Theres no such thing as a flat pitch. Its all a matter of perception, of getting out what you put in, he sniped.
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