England v Australian Edgbaston 1st Test match 5,6,7,8,9 July 2001 (5-day match)

Result: Australia won by and innings and 118 runs -

Umpires : SA Bucknor (WI) and G Sharp

Match Reports : Day 1; Day 2; Day 3; Day 4

Toss: Australia (elected to field)

Close of Play:

Day 1: England 294, Australia 133/2 (Slater 76*, ME Waugh 0*; 22 overs)

Day 2: Australia 332/4 (SR Waugh 101*, Martyn 34*; 81.2 overs)

Day 3: Australia 576, England 48/1 (Trescothick 21*, Butcher 15*; 13 overs)

Second Day Report :

With the threat of showers and the fact that the light covers were still on the pitch 25 minutes before play was scheduled to start this morning, it was with relief that the umpires announced play would being on time after the clouds lifted right on cue.

Gough was at his fiery best this morning, and with his first delivery of the day knocked out Michael Slater's middle stump, Slater playing all around the ball. After yesterday's fine attacking knock, the Yorkshireman knew Slater was the key man in the early session and the relief and pleasure of capturing the batsman was obvious for all to see. Slater had managed to add a single to his overnight score before Gough, bowling from opposite ends and cloud cover beat the batsman all ends up.

Steve Waugh joined his twin brother Mark at the crease and he wasted no time at all in attacking poorly directed balls from the English bowlers, all the while eating in to the ever decreasing English lead.

Caddick suffered more than most this morning, conceding 20 runs from his 5 overs before Nasser Hussain took him out of the attack. Caddick has not looked at all like his usual self in the match, certainly not running up to the crease with his normal vigour. The first hour of this morning's session was played at an electric pace, falling just short of yesterday's pace with 50 runs in 12 overs.

When Steve Waugh had reached 35 not out, the gritty batsman achieved a new milestone, he became only the third batsman in history to make 9,000 Test runs. The other two to achieve this milestone are Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar.

Steve Waugh moved on and reached his half-century with a drive to the long on boundary. His 50 came of just 71 balls and took 1 ½ hours, including 7 4's. At lunch Australia were 238 for three in their first innings, trailing England by 56 runs.

Mark Waugh was the second Australian batsman to fall in the day, Andy Caddick the bowler responsible for the breakthrough after the pair had put on 133 for the 4th wicket. Mark Waugh fell just one run short of his half-century, he didn't look comfortable at the crease at all today, playing many a careless shot.

In all honesty Caddick hadn't deserved the wicket after a poor performance yesterday and today. He looked erratic, length and line were missing and he had trouble with his run up, therefore lacking the aggression needed by a quick bowler. If Caddick is to pose any threat to the Australian bowlers, he will have to sort out his run up, he is shuffling his feet uncomfortably at the start of it, often leading to lack of confident foot placement at the crease. Tomorrow is another day and the Somerset bowler will hope that his fortunes improve.

With the introduction of Martyn, the Australian's picked up the run rate once again after a lull in the proceedings when the brother's were at the crease. Martyn's first 30 runs came in only 44 balls, which included 4 boundaries. Ten Minutes before the tea
interval, Steve Waugh reached another century with a fine boundary off Craig White's bowling, it was his 26th century in Test cricket. At tea Australia were 4 for 332, 38 runs ahead with Steve Waugh (101) and Damien Martyn (34) still at the crease.

Steve Waugh faced both balls that were bowled after tea by Darren Gough. Waugh kept looking to both umpires waiting for light to be offered. The offer cam and play was suspended, and later abandoned due to heavy rain with Australia 38 runs ahead with 6 first innings wickets left.

The England bowling attack will be glad of the enforced break to allow them time to re group and asses the damage done firstly by the Waugh's and then towards the close Waugh and Martyn. The outfield looked more like a pond than a cricket pitch at the end and play is unlikely to start on time tomorrow unless the weather improves dramatically. With bright spells and thundery showers forecast for Saturday, Australia will be hoping for 'more of the same' as they attempt to beat England into submission.

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