| Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire.
Third Test 2nd to 6th August 2001 |
| Umpires: JH Hampshire
and S Venkataraghavan (Ind) |
| Result: Australia
Won by 7 Wickets |
| Match Reports - : Day 1; Day 2; Day
3; Day 4 & 5 not required |
| Toss: England (elected
to bat) |
Second Day Report
With a lead of 81 runs and only three wickets to get, England would have fancied their chances
of wrapping up the innings early on day two, Gilchrist and Gillespie had other plans.
In a defiant knock of 54 off only 59 balls including 10 fours, Adam Gilchrist guided the
visitors to a first innings lead. Australia have only been behind after the first innings once
in their last 20 matches, the last time was against India earlier this year.
Gillespie played his part also and remained not out at the close of the innings, 27 not out off
63 balls, including 3 fours. Averaging a little over 14 runs in Test cricket, Gillespie looked
a much more accomplished batsman than a number 10 bat.
Gilchrist throughout their partnership had complete faith in his partner, taking a run of the first
ball on four consecutive overs, giving Gillie the bulk of the strike as the figures indicate.
Brett Lee that was the first to go, Alex Tudor continuing his fine spell of bowling, Butcher
taking a well judged catch at second slip, and in the process of his follow through nearly took
Atherton's head off with his feet at first slip ! Lee had looked comfortable while he was at the
middle but Tudor's line and length was too much for the tailender.
After a partnership of 20 with Brett Lee and still well behind the England first innings total, it
was left to Gillespie to stay with Gilchrist long enough to allow the stroke maker time to eat away
at the deficit. Stay he did, with a superb display of defensive strokes against the accurate
English bowling, especially from Tudor.
With a record Australian partnership of 66 at Trent Bridge for the 9th wicket, Australia managed
to take their score into the black by three runs until Tudor, that man again, managed to tempt
Gilchrist to swipe at the ball and it carried through to Atherton who claimed his third catch of
the innings.
McGrath managed to score two quick runs to take the lead to 5, however Tudor, playing for
England for the first time in two years, took a very well deserved 5 wicket haul when he and
Butcher teamed up for the second time this morning, McGrath the wicket to fall.
Tudor was the difference for England in this Test match, for when he was brought on by
Atherton early yesterday (after a poor bowling start by Caddick and Gough) his enthusiasm
found his way to the other bowlers and the team gelled for the first time in the series.
Atherton and Trescothick looked at ease when they resumed 10 minutes before lunch carefully
seeing England to the interval without loss.
The pair continued after lunch and after a suspect start, they punished some loose bowling,
especially Marcus Trescothick who was well on his way to a second half century in the game.
However after taking the lead past 50, Warne with his second over of the innings managed to
achieve the breakthrough when Trescothick, trying to sweep the Victorian leg spinner for four,
was caught by Gilchrist diving forward. The ball had deflected off Matthew Hayden who was
fielding at silly point and the wicket keeper was quick enough to take the rebound. Warne was
shown on tv replay to bowl a no ball, but because the third umpire cannot call a no ball the wicket
stood.
Rain came down immediately after the wicket was given out and Butcher half way to the middle
made his way back to the pavilion, joining a disappointed Trescothick for a cup of tea.
After a lengthy delay caused by heavy rain, the players resumed with England despite the loss
of Butcher in command of the game. Oh how things can change in Test cricket and that's why we
love the game so much!
Atherton played a captain's innings and together with Ramprakash took the score to 3 figures in
a typical Atherton knock full of grit and determination. Ramprakash played his part in the partner-
ship with a collection of attractive strokes that seemed to point in his finally finding some
international form.
Shortly after Atherton had scored his 50, he was given out, caught behind off Warne by umpire
Vengkat, a decision that left him furious with the decision, his second bad call of the match. Replays
showed that the England captain didn't hit the ball and was right to question the decision.
Things went from bad to worse for England, Warne taking the third of his 5 victims when two balls
later, Alec Stewart played a loose delivery onto his stumps without scoring.
Ward and Ramprakash had looked to have settled the nerves a little with an 11 partnership but Warne
had other ideas, Ramprakash playing for spin that never came, found himself stranded and Gilchrist
without moving removed the stumps.
Things were tight in the final 7 overs, White and Ward defending their wickets at all costs from some
pretty accurate bowling from Warne, and some hostile bowling from a tiring Gillespie. With two balls
left in the day, Warne took his 5th wicket of the innings, White playing the ball into his pads and
Steve Waugh fielding close in managed to dive forward and catch the ball. Holding the ball aloft
on his way back to the dressing room, Warne's smile stretched from ear to ear.
At close of play on day 2, England with 4 second innings wickets standing lead Australia by 139 runs.
Ashes
2001 Main Menu |
