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 2

England looked to consolidate their overnight position after a tremendous first day began on the defensive and they lost their first wicket in only the third full over of the day, Butcher nicking a wide ball off Gillespie to Adam Gilchrist behind the wicket. Failing to add to the overnight total, both Australian bowlers had the batsmen pegged down with accurate line and length bowling and Butcher lost his wicket after becoming frustrated at not moving the score along.

Gillespie didn't have long to get back in the thick of it when he had Craig White caught in the deep, the Englishman attempting to hook a ball. White only succeeded in playing it to long-leg and Andy Bichel was waiting, it was the perfect climax to a superlative over, White beaten throughout.

At the mid session interval, England had scrambled 26 runs for the loss of Butcher and White.

Shane Warne bowled with a lot more purpose this morning, partly due to the fact that the English bowlers allowed him to dictate and were content not to attack. Dawson in his first Test match in Australia fell for six to the spin king, trapped leg-before to a quicker delivery. Caddick then came and went without scoring, once again to Warne when he failed to connect with a fuller delivery and Warne bowled him round his legs. It was a poor shot from the tail-ender, one he will not be happy about playing.

England's first and only four of the session came quarter of an hour before the lunch interval, Alec Stewart pulling Glenn McGrath with a well controlled shot.

In an inspired bowling change, Waugh brought Gillespie back on and with his first ball had Alec Stewart trapped leg-before for 29 well worked runs, it was the fifth wicket to fall in the session and only 42 runs added to the total. Four balls later it was all over, Hoggard playing forward to a good length only managed to nick the ball to Adam Gilchrist who made no mistake behind the wicket. Gillespie and Warne both picking up four wickets each.

Afternoon Session Report Day 2

Australia started their response to England's innings by hitting their first 50 runs in only 58 balls, both openers contributing with ease it seemed against what could only be described as ordinary bowling.

Hayden was fortunate to see through Harmison's first over when he was dropped by Butcher on 22 and then in the very next over, Caddick put a caught and bowled chance down. In what was an incredible batting display, the opening pair put on 80 runs in 14 overs, Langer on 28 and Hayden after five 4's and one huge six of Harmison on 40 not out.

It was an amazing display of quality aggressive batting, the first 50 came in 58 balls and the second in 59 balls.

The pair continued to dominate and secured yet another century partnership, their seventh together. Hayden (46) tried to hit White for six to reach his 50 but only managed to sky the ball to a waiting Caddick. Langer(48) followed soon after when he was adjudged caught behind by Bucknor, Dawson claiming his first Ashes wicket but unfortunately television replays clearly showed the ball hit the pads and not the bat.

Ponting and Martyn looked nervous and managed to see out the few remaining overs before the interval to see Australia go in with the loss of only two wickets. If yesterday was Australia's day, the first two sessions without doubt belonged solely to Australia after another lesson in aggressive test batting by the opening pair.

Evening Session Report Day 2

After two sessions of dour bowling from England, the tourists came out after tea with a renewed vigour. Harmison, White and Dawson bowled a tighter line and restricted Ponting and Martyn to the easy runs on offer earlier in the day. Dawson, playing in his first Test in Australia, bowled particularly well and Harmison after a poor start to the tour, seemed to gain confidence on a steady track.

Ponting and Martyn by rotating the strike with quick and well worked singles began to apply more pressure and with it, the runs flowed once more. The pitch has showed signs of inconsistent bounce and will become even harder to bat on from the third day until the conclusion of this Test match.

Australia, 95 runs behind England's first innings total at the close of play with the loss of only two wickets are in a good position. England lost all three sessions today but will take some solace in how Australia approached the match in the first session.

Batting though will become more uncomfortable as the pitch is showing signs of uneven bounce. Although Australia have the upper hand, it will only require two quick wickets tomorrow to turn the game around to their benefit.

England's fielding was sub standard today, suffering from the same afflictions the Australian's did yesterday. Hayden was dropped twice and should have gone on to punish England. Both Martyn (48 not out) and Ponting (83 not out) were dropped, the former lucky to survive a simple catch behind off Dawson.

At the close of play on day two, Australia 95 runs behind England are 2 for 247.

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