Ashes 2002/3 | Australia v England 5th Test | Sydney

Australia v England Sydney Cricket Ground 2,3,4,5,6 January 2003 (5-day match)

Result: England won by 225 runs

Umpires : DL Orchard (SA) and RB Tiffin (Zim)

Match Reports :Match Reports : Day 1; Day 2; Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5 - Steve Waugh hits 29th 100

The third day of the Sydney test belonged to two people, the first an Australian; the second an Englishman. It was however Vaughan's century that put England in a dominant position to take the final Test of the series.

Steve Waugh began the day with so much hope fresh in the knowledge that a confident start could take the game out of England's reach; England however had other ideas. Hoggard who was surprisingly given the ball this morning, rather than Harmison who has shown a gritty determination in the series, made the most of his opportunity and sent Steve Waugh back to the pavilion without scoring, Butcher taking the catch head high at second slip.

Gilchrist in his own inimitable style set about scoring at a quick pace, knowing that runs were even more important now after loosing their last recognised batsman so early in the day's play. 26 runs were added in quick time before Hoggard took his second and third wicket of the day.

Bichel was the first to go to a catch by John Crawley and lee fell to an Alec Stewart catch the very next ball. Hoggard now had the ball swinging on command it seemed and Gillespie the next man in, narrowly avoided connecting with the bat to give Hoggard his first Ashes hat trick.

Gillespie recovered from his loose opening shot and supported Adam Gilchrist admirably, so much so that Gilchrist often took the first ball of the over preferring to give his colleague the majority of the strike.

Gilchrist went past his previous highest international score of 85 at the SCG and wasted no time in securing his first Test hundred in the only way Gilchrist could, a tennis style shot for three to long on. The crowd went wild and the joy on Gilchrist's face was plain for all to see. England seemed to loose their way when Gilchrist and Gillespie were together and the Australian pair saw their way to lunch safely without loosing another wicket. It was an extraordinary session.

Shortly after lunch, Harmison accounted for Gilchrist's wicket and the batsman looked in disbelief at the umpire who gave him out caught behind for 133, his highest first class score at the SCG this season.

Gillespie then took the game to England and hit what was then the only six of the game and by the time MacGill was dismissed, Gillespie (31 not out) had made certain of a first innings lead, albeit only 1 run. England have now failed to gain a first innings advantage over England for 21 Test matches.

England can be proud of the way they have fought in this fifth test match, some would say it's a case of too little too late. I for one have to agree but it does make a much more interesting spectacle when both teams are competing for once.

Despite not taking a first innings lead into the third day, England began positively. Trescothick was once again the first to go when he played on to Lee for 22 runs after hitting four boundaries in his short innings. Lee in his short career has now taken 100 Test wickets.

Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher then put on 87 for the second wicket before MacGill found the footholds and Butcher who was on 30 played to short leg and was on his way back, his final Ashes Test innings in Australia over for another tour.

Hussain came in and Steve Waugh was unlucky not to have had him sent back after a clear leg-before decision went against the bowler, Hussain living dangerously but managed to survive the day on 34 not out.

Michael Vaughan's third century of the series came off an effortless flick off his legs and the ball going to the boundary off Damien Martyn's bowling.

England are in complete control at the moment and unless Australia's bowlers cane find a little extra tomorrow, they will face an impossible task to save the final Test of the series when they eventually start their second innings.

With 8 second innings wicket remaining, England lead Australia by 217 runs.

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