Ashes 2002/3 | Australia v England 2nd Test | Adelaide

Australia v England Adelaide Oval 2nd Test match 21st - 26th Nov 2002 (5-day match)

Result: Australia Won by an innings and 51 runs

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

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

Toss: England

Close of Play:

Day 1:England 295/4 (Butcher 22*; 89.3 overs)

Day 2:England 342, Australia 247/2 (Ponting 83*, Martyn 48*; 64 overs)

Day 3: Australia 552/9d, England 36/3 (Vaughan 17*; 11.2 overs)

Morning Session Report Day 1

England made the most of their good fortune in the first session of the second Test at Adelaide. On a flat, dry wicket; McGrath and Gillespie bowled a superb opening spell of 10 overs conceding 29 runs and no extras. It was a lesson of line and length bowling and with only two short pitch balls bowled, both by Gillespie dispatched to the boundary, England struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

When Bichel was introduced into the attack the runs started to flow, the Australian went for eight runs in his first over. However, Michael Vaughan was lucky to survive the over after Justin Langer took a superb catch to 'dismiss' the England opener. Vaughan decided to stand his ground and the third umpire ruled in his favour, a clear mistake and certainly questions the value of the technology currently on offer.

It was all plain sailing after this incident and both Trescothick and Vaughan scored at ease it seemed, the later hitting two enormous sixes in his half century. Bichel's fourth over again brought the third umpire into play with a caught and bowled appeal, this time however it was a clear decision to make and the batsman given not out. Warne came on to bowl and surprisingly struggled to find his line and length, Vaughan hitting him for two boundaries in his opening over.

After a great display of aggressive batting, Glenn McGrath finally got the breakthrough when he bowled Marcus Trescothick for 35, an opening partnership of 88. In a change to the expected lineup, Robert key came in at the fall of the first wicket. Key looked nervous and faced 15 balls for his solitary run and will have been pleased to return to the safety of the dressing room at lunch. Vaughan after his early reprieve, played well for his 56 and England 1 for 94 at lunch on the first day had won the first battle.

Mid Afternoon Session Report Day 1

It was England who consolidated their position for a change during the afternoon session in Adelaide. Michael Vaughan reached a century that should never have been and third umpire must have been wondering what he had done after giving him not out on 19 earlier in the day. That said, Vaughan took his chances and slowly but surely set about the Australian bowling.

At Tea England were well in control at 2 for 201 with the Yorkshireman on 120 not out, his highest Test score away from England. He had been a doubt just before the start of play when he injured his knee in training but was so determined to play the gamble has certainly paid off.

His century was his first against Australia and his sixth in international cricket, a fine time to hit his first away from home.

Australia had a scare in the first hour after lunch when Shane Warne, fielding at first slip appeared to damage his middle finger diving for a catch off Jason Gillespie, Vaughan the batsman. Warne bowled fairly well on the whole, managing to impart a lot of spin on the ball and on a dry track spun the ball at will.

Robert Key looked nervous from the start and didn't really come to the game. When Ponting pulled off a spectacular catch at silly mid-on to dismiss the England player for one run, Key stood his ground in the hope that the umpire would not give him out. But after the third consultation of the day Bucknor walked back to the crease and raised his finger. Key, after a fine century in Hobart, walked back to the dressing room swinging his bat disappointed at his luck.

At tea England are 2 for 201, with Hussain on 35 not out and Vaughan 120 - well in control.

Evening Session Report Day 1

England continued to impress after tea and Vaughan dominated, increasing his highest score in Australia. He finally went for 177 to Bichel, three balls short of what would have been stumps on day 1.

Vaughan and Hussain (47) posted a partnership of 140 runs placing England in a strong position. During the evening session, Gillespie could be seen stretching his calf and has to raise doubts about his match fitness after going wicketless on the opening day. England were so much in control that even Steve Waugh had a bowl, bowling short pitched deliveries that put the players in two minds.

In a scene reminiscent to Bodyline 70 years ago, Gillespie had Vaughan flinching at a short delivery when it struck him on the shoulder, dropping his bat in the process.

Hussain who had taken a back seat for much of his innings fell to Shane Warne on 47, Adam Gilchrist taking a magnificent catch to send the skipper back to the pavilion. Butcher replaced him, lower down the order than was expected after the Surrey man suffered from a migraine attack earlier in the day, he was 22 not out at the close.

It was as if the justice God's were looking down on Andy Bichel at the end of the day when he had Michael Vaughan caught at slip by Steve Waugh over a 150 runs later than he should have had him caught by Langer. The Australian batsman certainly made the most of his good fortune and has guided England to a commanding position at 4 for 295 at the close.

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