Marylebone Cricket Club v Australians Arundel Castle 25,26,27 June 2001 (3-day match)

Result: Australia won by 280 runs - Match Scorecard

Toss: Australia (Australia elected to bat)

Umpires: NL Bainton and A Clarkson

 

First Day Report :

 

The Ashes tour started in earnest today for the travelling Australians with a minute silence in memory of two great cricketers who have recently passed away; Sir Donald Bradman and Lord Cowdrey. With the arrival of Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Simon Katich and Funky Miller to the Ashes squad;

 

Australia could be excused to think that this would be a nice gentle warm up session ahead of the first Test a week on Thursday. However things didn't go quite to plan as Queenslander John Dawes proceeded to put a spanner in the spokes of a well-oiled machine. Steve Waugh won the toss and on a hot summer's day he elected to bat. The going was tough at the start of the innings with only 12 runs scored from the opening 11 overs - tight bowling from Dawes and Willoughby applying the pressure. With the score on 11, Slater became the first casualty, trapped in front by the Australian. Langer became Dawes' second victim, caught at second slip by ex West Indian captain Jimmy Adams, who was obviously relishing the chance to beat the Australian team after a tough tour back in February.

 

Hayden who was desperate for a good knock to show some form on the tour fell for 31 and when Martyn fell for only 4 runs, Dawes had sent four of the top order back to the dressing room. Katich, first with Waugh and then Warne, rescued the Australians from what could have been an embarrassing experience, especially after dominating the Nat West tournament over the last two weeks and never looking in any real trouble. However, such is the resolve of this outfit that they did recover. Waugh scored a quick fire 45 runs off only 40 balls (including 7 fours) and then Warne scoring 69 runs before he was caught by Afridi off Adams, added 190 runs for the 7th wicket with Katich.

 

By this time Australia were well and truly in command, Katich ended the innings on 168 not out off 167 balls, including 27 fours and one six. Katich who relished playing in the English conditions is an ex county player representing Durham. The MCC were never going to be in this game after the great recovery by Simon Katich and Shane Warne. With only 12 runs on the board, Fleming had Mujtaba and Islam trapped leg before scoring 1 and 0 respectively. Only the opener Richardson showed any resolve against the bowlers. Gillespie with one wicket and Funky Miller with two soon had the home side reeling at 5 for 35 and looking in terrible trouble.

 

Although Miller took two wickets, he won't be pleased at the number of runs he conceded in the process, going for 33 runs in his six overs. The MCC made a small recovery with Richardson and Azhar Mahmood putting on 47 runs for the sixth wicket, Warne trapping Mahmood in front for an aggressive score of 30 off only 28 balls including six 4's. Colin Metson came in and faced 2 balls before close of play, the home side finishing on 6 for 82 and desperate trouble. I would expect the Australians to close out the innings in the first hour tomorrow and elect to bat, giving much needed batting practice for the newcomers.

 

Second Day Report :

 

New Zealand opener Mark Richardson carried his bat for 64 not out at Arundel today to help ease the M.C.C's pain against a rampant Australian team led by Funky Miller who took four wickets in the innings. Ewx Glamorgan wicket keeper Metson (0)was the first wicket to fall in the day, trapped leg before as he was beaten for pace by dizzy Gillespie Kruis, suffering from two body blows from the quickies fell to Shane Warne, bowling tightly in his limited spell. Deon Kruis became the sixth wicket to fall lbw in the innings and the seventh of the match. With Dawes falling to Miller, it was left to Willoughby and Richardson to fight it out.

 

However, two balls later and without any addition to the score, Willoughby was clean bolwed by Miller to end the MCC's score at 124. As was expected, Steve Waugh decided to bat on for much needed batting practice for his top order batsmen. The top order still do not look comfortable, Hayden, Langer and Slater all failing to trouble the scorers too much in their second innings. Hayden is now under immense pressure to prove that he is capable of getting the big knocks. He will have one chance in the last warm up match before the 1st Test at Edgbaston. If he fails, then he is likely to be left out of the 1st eleven.

 

Once again it was left to Steve Waugh to rescue his side from an embarrassing position scoring 105 (17 fours and 2 sixes) before Kruis claimed his wicket after a 158 run partnership with Martyn (80). Seccombe who was drafted into the squad as cover for Adam Gilchrist scored 20 but looked uncomfortable taking 59 balls to score his 20. The vice-captain will not be under any threat for the 1st Test! Miller's was the final wicket to fall in the day, becoming Willoughby's third victim of the innings.

 

It was left to Shane Warne and Dizzy to see the visitors to the close without another wicket to fall, Warne continuing his rich vein of form on 30 not out. The Australian's will continue to bat tomorrow and look for some goof bowling practice later in the day. Australia are 560 runs ahead with two wickets left in their second innings.

 

Final Day Report :

 

Declaring on their overnight score, the Australians had set Jimmy Adams' side 561 runs to win, something the former West Indian captain was all too familiar with after on his last tour of Australia!

 

The MCC were never in the game and with the early wicket came tough times. Richardson and Ward struggled to score at a decent pace; in fact when Richardson was clean bowled by Gillespie he had faced 73 balls and been in for just under two hours for his 17 runs.

 

David Ward's innings of 57 included 18 in one over off Shane Warne, however with the score on 109, Warne had him caught by Steve Waugh. Langer who was injured today, taking a blow to the arm while fielding has scored just four runs from his two innings, and will be praying he will recover to play in the final warm up match against Essex on Friday. With Katich and Martyn both scoring freely, Langer will hope for a decent knock to cement his place in next weeks Test match.

 

The victory was never in doubt after a slight wobble on the first day, but after Katich's unbeaten century they were firmly in the driving seat. Funky Miller took 7 wickets in the match including taking 2 wickets in an over three times. Waugh took the opportunity to 'rest' his front line bowlers and called up the majority of his side for bowling practice - Martyn taking 2 wickets in his 5 overs, however he did concede 38 runs in the process! The only players not to bowl in the second innings were Seccombe, Steve Waugh and Justin Langer. Former West Indies skipper Jimmy Adams was left unbeaten on 81, with 11 fours and a six. Australia now move on to Chelmsford, unbeaten and confident.