Ashes 2002/3 | Australia v England 1st Test | Gabba

Australia v England Gabba - Brisbane 1st Test match 7th - 11th Nov 2002 (5-day match)

Result: Australia won by 384 Runs

Umpires : SA Bucknor (WI) and RE Koertzen (SA)

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

Morning Session Report Day 3

The morning session belonged to Australia, thanks mainly to McGrath's two wickets in one over. Gillespie after intense physio work overnight and in the hour leading up to the start of play opened the bowling with McGrath. Although looking a little circumspect, he bowled with pace and accuracy, tying up one end as McGrath weaved his magical web.

Both Trescothick and butcher looked comfortable if not too attacking, certainly not after Trescothick's two early fours off McGrath at the start of play. Butcher was the first to go, he also had the honour of becoming McGrath's 100th victim in Tests between the two countries, falling to Hayden in the slips cordon. Five balls later Trescothick fell to Ponting at second slip, pushing at a wide delivery. Only 12 Australian bowlers have managed to capture 100 wickets against England, McGrath is now one of them.

Hussain and Crawley rode their chances and played with composure at a time when Australia were looking to feed on the early scalps. One over before the drinks break, Bichel was introduced and scoring came a little easier for the England pair. Warne came on at the resumption of play and immediately imparted spin, making life a little more uncomfortable. Shortly after England had reached 200, Hussain was very lucky not to have lost his wicket when Lehmann caught a bad glove at silly point. The umpire didn't give it but replays clearly showed the ball had hit the captain.

At lunch on day three of the first Test match, England are 3 for 243

Mid Afternoon Session Report Day 3

The Australian dominance continued in the afternoon session with both Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath using the new ball wisely and effectively, the former bowling with great speed and direction, causing the English middle order a few headaches along the way.

Warne and Lehmann gave the quicks a well deserved rest in preparation for the new ball, Steve Waugh took the new ball immediately when available after 80 overs. McGrath returned to his radaresque bowling and Gillespie with new found speed accounted for Hussain who was caught in two minds when he nicked a delivery behind to Adam Gilchrist.

Hussain had a few balls earlier; hit Gillespie into the front row of the stands for six to reach his well deserved 50. A fan, standing up drinking a beer with his left hand, nonchalantly raised his right hand a 'caught' Hussain, much to the hilarity of the surrounding fans and Aussie fielders - if only Vaughan had been watching, he might have learnt a few things!!

A few balls later, England lost Alec Stewart who while deciding to leave the ball outside his off stump, delayed his decision to move his bat and only succeeded in playing on for a duck. Craig White looked good for his quick 12 but it was the Australian stalwart McGrath who had the last laugh when White could only watch his off stump being dislodged as he offer no shot to a straight delivery that moved slightly off the pitch.

White's dismissal left only Crawley as a recognised batsman and he kept on picking at the bad balls to reach his fifth 50 in England colours against Australia.

Andrew Bichel who had not bowled all that well today picked up two tail enders; Giles and Caddick and it was left to the spin king to remove Hoggard for four, Hayden diving forward to take the edge.

England were all out for 325 and Australia now have a 167-run first innings lead.

Evening Session Report Day 3

With a well deserved first innings lead of 167, the Australian batsmen went out in confident mood against a depleted English bowling attack.

Caddick, bowling erratically as he had done at the start of the first innings was punished by Langer continually finding the boundaries with ease. Caddick had enough and changed his attack by going around the wicket to the left-hander and with his first ball from the new direction had Langer caught behind by Alec Stewart for 22 on the rise.

Nine runs later, Caddick struck again, this time Ponting (3) gloved a vicious ball after it had hit a crack on the pitch to a waiting Trescothick at first slip. Although over 200 runs behind, England's tails were up once again. Enter Damien Martyn and together with Matty hayden the pair consolidated their lead and were both there at the close of play.

Martyn was the more aggressive of the two, cutting White to the boundary three times in one over. The pair were both on 40 at the close, both having hit five fours each. At stumps on day three, Australia are 2/111 - a lead of 278 runs.

Images courtesy of the BBC

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