Today's Vodafone Challenge match with Somerset at Taunton marked a new high in one of Australia's leading batsmen. Ricky Ponting had the honour of leading his country for the first time in the four-day match against Somerset.

 

The team bore no resemblance to the one that beat England into submission last week in less than 4 days in Birmingham. The visitors made seven changes from the first Test victory, with both captain and vice captain resting.

 

In typical fashion, the Australian's attacked a weakened bowling attack, dispatching the ball to all parts of the ground with monotonous regularity, Ponting the main instigator in the assault. Somerset were without Andy Caddick, although they did welcome new recruit Shoaib Akhtar making a guest appearance for the west country side.

 

Although Shoaib bowled fast and accurate in his opening spell, he failed to get the breakthrough he would have liked. Justin Langer who has failed to impress on the current tour had a lot to prove in this the final game before the second test match on Thursday. Langer came in after the fall of Slater (28) and Hayden (6) and knew that a failure in this game meant an end (barring any injuries to his team mates) to his chances of playing in the test matches.

 

Together with his captain the pair put on 168 for the 3rd wicket, guiding his team to a very comfortable position as was expected by the near capacity crowd of 4,5000. In the innings, only 5 overs of play were possible between lunch and tea thanks mainly to the heavy shower that fell during the lunchtime interval.

 

Ponting resuming on 94 completed another century with a delightful cut shot over the Somerset slip cordon for four off Shoaib Akhtar. His hundred came from 108 balls, and included 17 fours and two sixes. By the time Ponting fell to Akhtar for 128, clean bowled; Langer was still at the crease, 55 not out.

 

Justin, short of time at the crease made inroads into his 'predicament' by scoring a sluggish 104 not out at the close of play, a day that saw the Australians score 348 runs with the loss of only three wickets. Although an easy batting wicket, he will no doubt be

 

relieved that he has finally put some runs on the board, albeit against a mediocre bowling attack. Langer's century came off 176 balls, and included 13 fours. It wasn't his most fluent knock of his career but it served its purpose.

 

Second Day Report :

 

Australia declared on their overnight score of 3 for 348 against Somerset in Taunton today in Australia's latest Vodofone challenge.

 

With 31 overs lost due to rain on the second day, no play was possible until 1:45. Fleming wasted no time at all in making inroads into the Somerset top order, sending Holloway, captain Burns and Peter Bowler back to the changing rooms with only 33on the board.

 

One of the two guest Pakistan test players, Aamir Sohail, scored a dogged half-century as wickets continued to fall at the other end. However, together with 20-year-old Wood, the pair put on 78 for the fourth wicket and help add a little respectability to the home score. Sohail should not have made it this far in the innings after being dropped on six, but he did and he made the Australian's pay for their rare mistake.

 

Sohail fell 21 runs later and it was left to Parsons, Turner and Blackwell to take the score past the 200 mark and make a fight of the game, a game that in all fairness would have been out of their reach if it had not been for the weather.

 

Fleming returned his best figures of the tour so far taking 6 wickets for only 59 runs. He was a catch away from returning his best ever first class figures when Hoffke dropped a simple catch at mid-off from number 11 Jamie Grove.

 

Funky Miller took the final wicket of the innings two balls into the last over of the day.

 

Australia are now 81 runs ahead with 10 wickets standing in their second innings. With two days left in the game, they will look to force home their advantage, weather allowing.

 

Third Day Report :

 

 

After amassing a 400+ lead, Ricky Ponting declared to give his bowling attack some practice ahead of Thursday's Test match and push for a place in the lineup.

 

Earlier in the day, Damien Martyn hit his fifth century on tour after being dropped for nought by Jason Kerr at gully. He gave no other chances in his long innings and when his captain declared on 4 for 335, he was unbeaten on 176. His magical knock came off 231-balls and included 25 fours.

 

Shoaib Akhtar, the quickest of his fellow players only bowled seven overs in the day leaving the field early after suffering from cramp. The final couple of months in the English summer have not been good for Shoaib, breaking down on more than one occasion.

 

Langer after his first innings century, failed again when he was trapped leg before by Shoaib Akhtar, one of his two victims in his opening spell. Katich was the other early wicket to fall, caught behind for thee.

 

Martyn and Seccombe came together with only 15 on the board and put on a 156 run partnership, taking Australia out of trouble. It wasn't the only century partnership of the innings however as Martyn and Waugh put on an undefeated stand of 142, leaving Somerset a mountain to climb on the final day.

 

At the close on day three, Somerset guided by captain Burns and Aamir Sohail had reached 52 for the loss of one wicket and now require 365 runs to win with 9 wickets standing.

 

Injuries are Australia's main concern at the moment with neither Slater nor Hayden taking to the field during today's play. Akhtar hit Slater on the wrist on Friday and although he continued to bat, he didn't take to the field again. Hayden is also nursing an injured knee after it locked up on him yesterday.

 

 

 

Brett Lee is Australia's other injury concern, his bruised ribs playing up again, an injury that forced him to withdraw from the friendly game. Both Hayden and Slater are expected to be fit for Thursday, although Lee's condition is a serious matter of concern for the camp.

 

Final Day Report :

 

Australia completed their expected victory over Somerset today with a convincing 176 run victory. Both sides were fielding a 'second eleven' but gave the crowd a good contest, albeit one-sided.

 

Damien Fleming did his Test prospects no harm at all today when he returned match figures of 8-97 however he failed to match his first innings haul and took only two wickets in the second innings on a batting wicket.

 

With Brett Lee suffering from bruised ribs, Fleming stands a very good chance of taking his place. After recent injuries, the ACB are unlikely to risk further damage to their demon bowler and make sure the quickie is fit and available for selection for the third Test.

 

The other injury concerns centre around the prolific batsmen, Michael Slater (wrist injury) and Matthew Hayden (locked knee injury). Both were unable to bat or field on the final two days, but both are expected to be fit and available to face England.

 

Only Burns and Wood held up the inevitable on the final day of the Vodofone challenge today, both scoring half centuries. However, with the failure of their colleagues to offer any resistance, they crumbled. The final four wickets fell for only 12 runs and the match ended a little before 3pm this afternoon. Wood's 50 came off only 47 balls and included 9 fours.

 

Simon Katich renowned for his batting prowess, turned his arm over and captured three tail ender wickets and in the process took a career best 3 for 21 from only four overs.

 

Australia now move to the home of cricket in preparation for the second Test match on Thursday.