England v Australian The AMP Oval 5th Test match

23,24,25,26,27 August 2001 (5-day match) -

Umpires : P Willey and R Koertzen (SA)

Match Reports : Day 1; Day 2; Day 3; Day 4; Day 5

Toss: Australia (elected to bat) Australia won by an innings and 25 runs

Second Day Report | Morning Session

A glorious summer's day greeted the capacity crowd at the Amp Oval for the second day's play of the final Test. The outfield is lightning fast and is only expected to get quicker with the sun beating down in London. This doesn't bode well for a tired England attack, looking for some inspiration after another poor performance in the field yesterday.

The saying 'catches win matches' must have haunted Mark Butcher this morning, and not for the first time this series. England's hero from Headingley, fielding at second slip, put down Mark Waugh with the 4th ball of the day's play off Andy Caddick, the ball after he reached his 44th half century in Test cricket.

44 runs were added without loss in the first hours play, including 7 boundaries. The bowlers were again guilty of some loose bowling, however the ball has beaten the bat more than it did in the whole day's play yesterday, thanks mainly to the new ball being taken first up.

Mark Waugh looks in great form, batting very aggressively and in true Caribbean style, matching the same weather conditions expected on the island of Barbados. Steve Waugh on the other hand has looked a little more circumspect, and is showing no reaction to his calf injury that threatened his tour at Trent Bridge. On reaching 27 not out, Steve Waugh has beaten his previous highest score at the oval, set in 1993 by 1 run.

The pair continued to bat throughout the morning session both undefeated at the interval, picking off runs at will it seemed, on their way to yet another century partnership between the two brothers. The hundred partnership is their 9th together in Test cricket, the 5th against England, and the 4th in this series. On their way to this landmark, Mark Waugh hit a massive six of Phil Tufnell, hitting the ball 60 metres in the air as it landed on the upper level of the stand and the cries of 'catch it' from the bowler, must have been aimed at the fielders in the stand as there was no chance of any of the players getting anywhere near the ball!

Brother Waugh then decided to get in the act, hitting Tufnell for six over mid on with a hard sweep-slog and in doing brought up his 43rd half century of his career. He then hit ten runs including two boundaries off Darren Gough to take the score way past 400, the 4th time Australia had reached 400 in an innings this series. Waugh not wanting to aggravate his calf injury, cut down on the running between the wickets, hitting boundaries in stead and at lunch, he limped off unbeaten on 77, Mark still there on 92.

116 runs were scored in the first session including 2 sixes and 16 fours, scoring just under a run a minute, the second hour a more purposeful one from the Aussies. England are now facing a total of well over 650. Langer who is still waiting to resume his innings on 102, must be glad of the additional rest after suffering a nasty blow to his forehead yesterday. Steve Waugh limped off the ground, gingerly walking up the Oval steps to the dressing room. There is no doubt that he will receive some treatment during the lunch break, hoping to resume his innings, on his way towards another century.

At lunch Australia are 2 for 440.

Lunch - Tea

More of the same was the order of play for the session between lunch and tea, with both brothers reaching well deserved hundreds. Mark Waugh continued to pound the English bowlers into submission and reached his 20th century in Test cricket and his 6th against England off 161 balls, including 13 fours and one huge six back in the pavilion.

Steve Waugh reached the 90's in quick time after lunch, but then got bogged down due to his inability to take quick singles. Hussain sensing his discomfort played to this and he remained in the 90's for over 40 minutes, unable to find a gap big enough to get the few runs he required for his 27th century in Test cricket. When on 99, he pushed the ball into the gap off Darren Gough and took off for what was his quickest single of the day, diving full length to make sure he was in on the tightly run single. His 9th century against England came after a hard fought 190 balls which had included 15 fours and 1 six.

Mark Waugh gave up his wicket in the pursuit of runs after scoring 120 runs, clean bowled on middle stump by Darren Gough, when the Australian gave himself room to hit Gough through cover. Gough, who was showing signs of frustration and tiredness, failed to celebrate; a sure sign of and England team that has given up the ghost.

Afzaal came on to bowl his first over in Test cricket, and with his 3rd ball, he took the prized wicket of Adam Gilchrist. Gilchrist on 25 at the time, tried to slog a wide full toss through extra cover, unfortunately for him; Ramprakash was there to take the catch. Afzaal jumped for joy, giving Alec Stewart a big hug; he had taken his first wicket in Test cricket.

Martyn came in and in quick time, put on 46 runs with his captain, both player picking off the boundaries at will. At tea on the second day, Australia are now 4 for 580.

Tea - Close

It only took Steve Waugh 39 minutes to declare after tea, and in that time he and fellow partner Damien Martyn had taken the lead to 641 with the loss of only 4 wickets, the seventh highest innings scored at the Oval by any team. Martyn continued his recent good form, scoring 64 runs off only 54 balls, including 10 fours.

Steve Waugh continued to bat on, and even though he only had one good leg, he batted for 2 1/2 sessions today scoring 157 undefeated, facing 256 deliveries. It was a knock of pure grit and determination from the Australian captain, especially after taking such a gamble in declaring himself fit for the game.

England needed a solid start chasing the mammoth total, and solid start they got, thanks mainly to some loose bowling from Gillespie and superb shot placement by Marcus Trescothick who took only 49 balls to race to his half century.

However, it was that man again, Shane Warne who got the breakthrough when he clean bowled Atherton for 13. The pitch showing signs of early spin, pitched on leg and clipped off stump, Atherton playing and missing the ball. Warne bowled until the close and was very unlucky not to have Butcher out twice, first by a leg before decision that went in favour of the batsman; and then padding up to another delivery, missed with his front pad but the ball struck his back pad and missed his stumps.

When play resumes tomorrow, England will have a mountain to climb trailing by 561 runs on a pitch that is favouring Warne's bowling; runs will not come easy. Trescothick looks very comfortable at the crease and England will look to him to eat into the Australian lead.