Lunch - Tea

 

Two wickets fell between Lunch and the Tea break, one to Mark Waugh and the other to Glenn McGrath, and at Tea, England are 5 for 259.

 

England, desperate for a big partnership, didn't find it between Butcher and Hussain; the latter falling to Mark Waugh shortly after the interval. In what appears to be an inspire spot of captaincy, Steve Waugh asked his brother to bowl a spell and it paid dividends.

Hussain playing what looked an innocuous forward defensive shot to Mark Waugh could do nothing to hide his disappointment and disbelief as the ball spun backwards and clips the top of this off stump, removing the bail in the process. Mark Waugh leapt in the air with excitement and his words 'You beauty' were clear for all to hear and see.

Butcher and Hussain had taken the score on to 166 before the wicket fell, a partnership of only 62 runs off exactly 20 overs.

Afzaal was the next man in, and was very lucky to make it to double figures after a dubious decision by third umpire Mervyn Kitchen gave him a lucky break. Shane Warne brought back on by Steve Waugh, replacing Mark Waugh after only one wicket taking over, and immediately put the batsman under pressure. However, not before Afzaal had played a glorious cover drive gifted to him on the full for four.

 

When the Australian's appealed for a stumping off Warne, television replays clearly showed that Afzaal had failed to get his foot back over the line and should have been given out. However Kitchen had other ideas and was obviously watching another match as he gave the youngster not out.

 

Afzaal seemed to thrive on the decision and set about punishing anything short or loose, scoring very quickly, racing past partner Ramprakash who was playing a more sedate innings at the other end. Afzaal reached his first Test half century with 9 fours and celebrated in true style as if he had reached his maiden test century, you can't question his enthusiasm.

 

Glenn McGrath it was who broke the growing partnership, seven minutes before tea when he had Afzaal caught on his leg side, Gillespie the fielder who just managed to hold on to the catch at the second attempt. It was a disappointing end to a great innings from Afzaal, caught in the McGrath trap having only two fielders on the leg side.

 

Stewart, the next man in, had seven balls to contend with and was very fortunate not to be bowled behind his legs by Shane Warne with the very last ball of the session. Gilchrist missed the ball and it went through for 3 byes. So at Tea, England are 5 for 259, and still need 183 runs to avoid the follow on.

 

Tea - Close

 

Shane Warne took his wicket tally to 400, mid way through the final session of the day when he had Alec Stewart caught behind by Adam Gilchrist for 29. Replays showed that there was indeed some doubt as to whether the ball made any contact with the bat, but Peter Willey raised his finger and Warne had reached the landmark.

 

With the wicket came the knowledge that he had become the first Australian to reach 400 wickets in Test cricket, reaching 400 wickets slower only to Richard Hadlee, the great New Zealand fast bowler. Haddlee took 80 tests to reach the milestone, Warne 92.
One interesting note concerning Warne's wickets: on taking 150, 250 and 400 wickets; Alec Stewart was the victim.

 

Andy Caddick fell leg before the very next ball, given by Peter Willey with a slight hesitation. Warne on a hat trick to new boy Jimmy Ormond, failed to get the wicket.

Ormond in fact played a very confident supportive innings, playing Brett lee with ease and relishing the duel with Shane Warne, the England bowler hit him for a great four off his legs. In the same over, Ramprakash hit two fours off a tired Shane Warne and the runs scored in one over totalled 17.

 

Lee bowled the next over, going for only 1 run; but it was enough to give Ormond the strike the very next over. Waugh kept Warne on, even though the Australian had been hit to all part the preceding over. Waugh's faith was rewarded when he clean bowled Ormond, giving Warne a clear view of his middle and off stump, bowled him pitching the ball from leg, a superb ball from a very tired leg spinner.

 

Ramprakash was the other hero this afternoon, reaching a well-deserved century, his first on home soil. The century beat his previous high score against Australia of 72, scored at Perth in 1994/5. It was a confident Ramprakash out in the middle, full of confidence and maturity not often seen from the Surrey batsman, certainly not when playing for England.

Supported by Gough at the end, Ramps ended the day on 124 not out, his team only 33 runs shy of avoiding the follow on. It is unlikely that Steve Waugh will enforce the follow on at this time due to the workload on his bowlers.