Australia versus England | The Ashes Cricket Series Since 1877

England face an uphill task in Perth if they want to make Australia bat again and take the Test match to a fourth day. At the start of their second innings, England were 271 runs behind after Australia's innings closed at 456 all out. With the loss of Marcus Trescothick in the closing overs, England are still 238 runs behind with Vaughan and nightwatchman Dawson at the crease battling hard.

Silverwood was ruled out for the entire Test match before the start of play which dealt Nasser Hussain a severe blow before a ball had been bowled on the second day. This of course placed more pressure on the remaining fit bowlers but the two main strike bowlers and all rounder White bowled with passion and purpose throughout.

Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn, the overnight batsmen, both reached 50 with ease, hitting many a boundary on the way as they tried to take control of the bowlers. Harmison who had been struggling with his run up during the morning session was replaced by White, who immediately repaid his captain's faith by bowling Ricky Ponting with an in-swinger.

White 5 wickets in the innings The only other wicket to fall before lunch was that of Darren Lehmann who, struggling to find form and keep his place, hit an aggressive 42 before he held out to Harmison on the ropes. This was the second time his brother-in-law took his wicket in the series.

Steve Waugh who had been suffering from an upset stomach continued to take the fight to England and together with Martyn pushed the innings total higher and in so doing increased their first innings lead.

Tudor was rewarded with Martyn's wicket after the West Australian's steady innings came to an end with a lack of footwork, managing to edge an attempted drive to Alec Stewart behind the wicket for 71.

Gilchrist and Waugh added 52 quick runs before Gilchrist, trying to play the hook shot, got out similarly to Darren Lehmann just before lunch. Alex Tudor took an amazingly balanced catch at deep fine leg and only just managed to avoid touching the ropes with his feet as he took the catch. Gilchrist's 38 came off only 28 balls and prompted the tail to apply the same methods later in the innings.

Steve Waugh was the first wicket to fall after tea when he went for a fine 53, his 45th half century in Test cricket. Tudor claimed his wicket bowling wide of the crease and with the different angle; Waugh missed the ball and was clean bowled.

Lee who had been recalled for this Test match showed he wasn't limited to sending in fast short pitched balls when he hit the England attack to all parts of the ground in his quick 41. Together with Warne (35) the pair took the lead past the 200 mark.

Tudor gets Shane Warne at last ! Warne was the first to go when he tried to take on Harmison for a third run and was found wanting by some three foot, Tudor was at the stumps to break the wicket and claim the run out. Lee then became White's fourth victim of the innings, Key taking a good catch on the boundary ropes.

Gillespie continued the aggressive batting hitting White for a four and a big six in one of his overs. However, the bowler had the last laugh when he closed the innings with a fine Yorker leaving McGrath stranded on eight runs. Gillespie was White's fifth wicket of the innings, good reward for a fighting performance from White.

In reply, England lost Marcus Trescothick after some fast and intimidating bowling from Brett Lee, fresh from his all-round performance with the bat. With the score on 13, Trescothick defending himself from a short pitched delivery only succeeded in parrying the ball to a diving Adam Gilchrist.

In came nightwatchman Richard Dawson and he survived some fiery bowling from Lee and ended the day as did his partner Vaughan on eight not out. With nine wickets standing in the second innings, England are 238 runs behind Australia.

Images courtesy BBC

Back to Ashes 2002/3 Home

334notout.com blog: Deep Fine Leg - Latest Posts

Menu