Ashes 2002/3 | Australia v England 3rd Test | Perth

Australia v England W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth 29,30 November, 1,2,3 December 2002

Result: Australia won by an innings and 48 runs

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

Match Reports : Day 1; Day 2; Day 3

Toss: England

Morning Session Report Day 1

England captain Nasser Hussain won the toss for the third time in the series at the WACA in Perth this morning and wasted no time in electing to bat on a quick wicket. The curator had earlier in the week commented on the fact that this would be the fastest pitch we would have seen since the early 80's; he wasn't wrong!

Trescothick and Vaughan once again opened and set off at a lightning speed, Trescothick finding the boundary ropes at regular intervals during his stay at the crease.

Brett Lee didn't have too long to wait on his recall to Test cricket, with confidence high after two successful state matches (21 wickets) he was bowling at well over 90 mph. Although expensive in his opening spell, Lee took two key wickets in the morning session. The first to go was Trescothick tempted into playing a leave alone ball outside his off stump, the batsman beaten by pure speed (94.2 mph).

Butcher entered at the fall of the first wicket and looked comfortable. However, after 32 minutes at the crease he fell (run out) to a direct hit by Steve Waugh. Vaughan at the strikers end called for a quick single that was never there and Butcher was left stranded on nine runs and could do nothing but watch the ball hit his stumps.

It wasn't long before Lee got his second wicket, that of England captain Nasser Hussain who, after a brisk start, tried to pull a quick delivery from Brett Lee and only managed to edge the ball to Gilchrist behind the stumps. Hussain shook his head in disbelief at Bucknor's decision but was probably more annoyed at the shot he had played.

At lunch on day 1 of the third Test England are 3 for 91, Vaughan and Key at the wicket.

Afternoon Session Report Day 1

Bowled out for a meagre 185, England are up against it in the third Orange Test in Perth. It seems that the heavy defeat inflicted upon them a little over a week ago was still fresh in their minds when they took to the field today.

Apart from the first half hour of the early morning session, Australia have been in total command, it seems England have no answer to the Australian express train.

The first wicket to fall after lunch was that of Michael Vaughan for 34, while attempting to pull McGrath, he only succeeded in catching a thick outside edge and Adam Gilchrist did the rest. Stewart looked comfortable until he too fell to McGrath, falling to a superb one-handed catch by Gilchrist after Stewart managed to hit the bottom edge after an aggressive pull shot failed.

Once again Craig White (2) failed to make a mark on the tour when Brett Lee's pace got the better of him. White fell to a comfortable catch by Martyn at slip when attempting an over ambitious drive. Lee bowled with tremendous pace during the session, often bowling above 94 mph and what will concern England more than anything; he will only get quicker on a drying pitch.

Tudor was the next man in and although he didn't seem to relish facing Brett Lee, he survived. With Warne bowling at the other end it was tempting alternative to the hostile bowling he was facing. Unfortunately for Tudor, the very first ball he faced off Warne, he was caught at first slip by Martyn.

Key's long and patient innings lasted until two balls before the tea interval. In an inspired bowling change, Martyn had key playing on for 47 in his only over of the day. Key had earlier decided to take the challenge to Warne, hitting the Victorian back over his head for six runs. It was the only aggressive passage of play in the session and the runs were priceless to England.

Evening Session Report Day 1

With a new tail, forced through the deepening injury crisis, England showed more resolve than in previous matches, thanks mainly to Dawson and Silverwood. However it wasn't to last; Gillespie mopped up Silverwood and Harmison to close the England innings, well short of what was required on a good batting strip.

Australia in reply got off to flyer, scoring at more than six runs an over. Nasser Hussain has been under a great deal of pressure for some of his decisions during the match and his decision to open the bowling with Tudor and Silverwood once again raised eyebrows. On what is the quickest pitch in the world, Hussain decided not to open with his quickest bowler Harmison.

Langer fell for 19, run out attempting a third run to Chris Silverwood in the deep and although Hayden went for only 30 runs, Ponting and Martyn were there at the close steering Australia to the modest England total.

England's injury crisis appears to have deepended further with Chris Silverwood going off to hospital for a scan on his ankle. The bowler could only manage four overs during the afternoon session, conceeding 29 runs in the process. England could face the unhealthy prospect of playing the rest of this match with only two pacemen and a spinner on a very lively wicket.

At stumps on day one of the third Test in Perth, Australia chasing 185 runs are 2 for 126, 59 runs behind.

Images courtesy BBC

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