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

Fourth Day Report |Morning Session

Requiring only 33 runs to avoid the follow on, England batted well this morning with both Ramprakash and Gough contributing to the cause.

Slowly but surely the runs were added, a single here and a boundary there from Ramprakash and Gough, could they avoid the follow on?

Well, the job was made harder when Ramprakash trying to force a good length ball from McGrath, caught a thick outside edge and went quickly through to Gilchrist to take his 99th victim behind the wicket, Ramprakash gone for 133.

Gough and Ramprakash had put on 74 for the 9th wicket, a superb effort given the batting form of Darren Gough in previous Test encounters, a partnership that had given so much hope to a resurgent England.

Phil Tufnell came in to a rapturous applause from the knowledgeable Oval crowd, smiling as he made his way to the middle. He played well, getting right behind the quick deliveries from McGrath, a sign of a number 11 that has worked hard on his batting. Tufnell hit Warne back over mid off for a lovely four, a well controlled shot that was greeted with a collective cheer from the partisan crowd.

Warne it was who got the all important final wicket when he had Darren Gough stumped for 24, England failing to avoid the follow on by only 10 runs, a superb effort. Gough dug out the full-pitched ball but only managed to let it go along the ground to Gilchrist who, reacting with the usual speed removed the bails with Gough still outside his crease. Not only was it Shane Warne's 7th victim of the innings, but it was perhaps more importantly for Gilchrist, his 100th Test victim.

Atherton playing in probably his final Test in England, certainly against Australia; came out to a standing ovation.

However the former England captain and Lancashire stalwart failed in his second innings, once again falling to Glenn McGrath for the 19th time in Test cricket. Shane Warne, not happy to just take the wickets, took a good catch at first slip. Atherton clearly disappointed with the outcome, walked back to the pavilion to a rousing ovation, not only from the crowd but the Australian player in the middle, all clapping as he walked up the steps for the final time.

A combination of lunch, bad light and ultimately heavy rain made further play impossible and England ended the day on 1 for 40.