| England vs Austrailia, 4th Ashes Test, Headingley 16th-20th August 2001 Days 3-5 |
| It was nice to see the England top-order in form yesterday, even if they were still failing to make good scores. Rain destroyed the morning session completely, which is why this day's report looks quite short. Ramprakash also looked in good form, and scored 40 before being dismissed by Lee. England had now reached 252-6, their second-highest score of the series, and the first time that all the top-order had contributed for a long while. Stewart was looking in top form and racing along, but no-one was prepared to wait in there with him. Tudor tried to play like a top-order batsman, and was promptly dismissed by McGrath for 2. Caddick, to be fair, took a number of blows off a fired-up Lee bowling over 90mph, and had an awful decision when he was given out caught off Lee for 5, the ball clearly hitting closer to his elbow than his gloves. Gough hit two lovely fours, before getting out from a ridiculously mishit attempt at a hook off McGrath for 8. Meanwhile Stewart was playing in highely unorthodox, yet effective, fashion, with many strokes where he was at least 3 foot outside leg-stump before playing what could only be described as overhead smashes and top-spin forehands. Mullally, on the other hand, offered little resistance, becoming McGrath's 7th victim of the innings for 0, England being dismissed for 309, their highest score of the series. That fact in itself is quite amusing. Austrailia again got off to a racing start, being well past 70 overnight off barely 15 overs, the only casualty being Slater, bowled by Gough off an inside edge for 16. Rain completely butchered the 4th day, keeping it to about 40 overs. The next to fall was Ponting for 72, lbw to Gough with the Aussies on 129-2. Hayden followed soon after for 35 after edging Mullally to Stewart, and on the fall of Martyn's wicket for 6, Austrailia declared on 171-4, setting England a target of 315 to win. I would doubt that sort of target would be set to any other team in the world, and the fact that Gilchrist thought it sensible is a complete justified mockery of England's batting. England survived the few overs they had on the 4th evening unscathed on 4-0. The 5th day was started in fine fashion by Atherton, pulling McGrath's first ball for 4. However, he was soon dismissed for 8, with England on 8-1. Trescothick was dismissed for 10, and on 33-2 England looked in a terrible state. Enter Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain. Butcher, in all fairness, was playing beautifully and almost controllably, and reached 55* by lunch. Hussain was also playing well on 35*. After lunch it was more of the same, and Butcher reached his century with a lovely flick off his pads from a Warne delivery, with England on 170-2. Hussain went on to 55 before being dismissed by Gillespie, yet another horrible decision against Hussain as he clearly didn't hit the ball, given out caught behind with England on 214-3. Ramprakash came out and looked to be continuing his form, and at tea England were 222-3, with Butcher 117* and Ramprakash 7*. After tea it was business as usual, Butcher carrying on to 150 and Engladn making steady progress. The breakthrough finally came all too late, Ramprakash being dismissed by Warne for 32, though the ball did appear ti hit the ground as it was caught by Waugh at first slip. However, by this time England needed only 26 more, and should be safe if they didn't get one of their characteristic collapses. However it wasn't to happen. Butcher was seeing the ball like he was seeing the sidescreen, and had no problems hitting four after four after six, despatching all comers. England reached 316-4, fittingly Butcher hit the winning runs with another boundary through the off-side. Butcher finally scored 173*, with Afzaal 4*. Some final thoughts: - Gilchrist's record as captain is now won 1, lost one, therefore 50%. This is considerably higher than most English captains. - Mullally's bowling is about as dangerous as a butter knife. - Not even Afzaal was able to stop England winning this test match. - Who will be dropped when Vaughan and Thorpe return? - When will Ramprakash realise that 40 isn't the most he's allowed to score? - Will Butcher be dropped after his mammoth innings? - Ponting, coming into this series, was completely out of form. Thanks to England he scored 220 runs in the test and looks in top form. Until the next test, adieu! |