2nd Test: Australia v England at Adelaide, 21-25 Nov 2002 CricInfo Live Report

2nd Test: Australia v England at Adelaide, 21-25 Nov 2002
Claire Killeen

Australia 1st innings: Lunch, Tea-Day 3, Stumps,
Live Reports from previous days

ENGLAND IN TATTERS AT ADELAIDE
England have begun disastrously in their second innings, losing three early wickets after Australia declared at 9 for 552 with a lead of 210 runs. England at stumps were 3/36 off just over 11 overs.

Opener Marcus Trescothick fell lbw to Jason Gillespie, who continues his great form in this series. It was the seventh time Gillespie has had the measure of Trescothick and it gave the quick his 50th wicket in Australia.

Glenn McGrath then had England on the ropes when he trapped Mark Butcher (4) plumb in front. Bowling a great line and length, McGrath was so positive he had his man he did not bother to turn around to watch the umpire raise his finger.

A bowling change by Steve Waugh brought about the third wicket, Bichel, called upon for the last over as on day one, bamboozled Hussain and bowled him for 10. It puts England in a dire position heading into day four.

Earlier Australia put on 112 runs for their last three wickets. Adam Gilchrist blasted a confident 50 off 65 balls, his first half-century at Adelaide Oval. He teamed up with Shane Warne (25) and then tailender Andy Bichel.

Bichel, trying to cement his position in the side over Brett Lee, played aggressively and confidently as he fell two runs short of his own half-century. In the process he made his highest score in Test cricket.

Matthew Hoggard was the man to stop him. Trying to push the ball to leg, Bichel played it on to his stumps to give Hoggard his first wicket of the series.

Harmison put an end to Gilchrist with a short one, which he nicked through to Alec Stewart. The partnership between Gilchrist and Bichel proved to be handy as they added 77 runs, hammering more nails into the England coffin.

Craig White (four for 106) and Stephen Harmison (2/143) were the pick of the bowlers.

WHITE BLUNTS AUSTRALIA'S BATTING IN MIDDLE SESSION
England all-rounder Craig White has helped to starve Australia’s middle-order batsmen of runs and, more importantly, take three key wickets in the second session of the second Ashes Test.

Australia lead by 98 runs at tea at 6/440, losing four wickets for 99 runs in the session.

Ricky Ponting's 154 was a magnificent innings. Leading by example after the loss of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer yesterday, the 27-year-old played a sharp and quick innings, showing just how much he has matured as a player. His performance was watchful up until his century but he upped the tempo and registered his highest score against England.

Ponting and Damien Martyn came out after lunch and played aggressively. Martyn attempting to secure the No 4 position and make it his own, fell victim to a Nasser Hussain and Stephen Harmison plan - five runs short of his century.

Harmison (one for 90) had troubled Martyn with the short ball then banged a delivery into the rib cage area. The ball flicked his gloves, went down onto his thigh and then into the hands of Hussain at fine leg. It was a deliberate ploy by England with a change in field position which brought immediate success. It was Harmison's first Ashes wicket.

Martyn’s dismissal brought the Australian captain to the crease. Steve Waugh began his innings aggressively, going better than a run a ball early. His aggressive style awoke Ponting’s belligerent nature and he went on the rampage. But it was this attack that ended his beautifully crafted innings of 154.

White (four for 71) gave him a short one and Ponting, planning to pull him over the short boundary, mis-timed and did not hit it cleanly. Richard Dawson made the simple catch out on the boundary. In the 12 overs after lunch Australia added 57 to the total.

Adelaide's favourite son made his way out onto the crease. The reception for Darren Lehmann was enormous. He did not last long and fell cheaply for five to his brother-in-law White. The 31-year-old tied down the left-hander and Lehmann slashed at the ball and it flew to slips. Andrew Flintoff subbing for Hussain, who went off after dropping Waugh at leg gully, juggled the ball before claiming the catch.

Pinch hitter, Adam Gilchrist, then got the innings alive taking his score from nought to six for the second time in two innings. He pulled White to the boundary with Marcus Trescothick making an athletic attempt to get near the ball, but to no advantage with Gilchrist finding the fence.

Waugh taking 39 runs off 35 deliveries did not hang around. He played a cut shot with Mark Butcher taking a great catch to his left off the bowling of White.

PONTING CENTURY PUTS AUSTRALIA IN CONTROL
Ricky Ponting scored his fifth Test century this year to put Australia in a commanding position against England on day three of the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval today.

Ponting completed back-to-back centuries after his effort at Brisbane's Gabba ground in the first Test and at lunch, Australia were 2/341, one run behind England with eight wickets in hand.

After his pearler of an innings at the Gabba, Ponting has continued his glorious form to complete a solid and mature 133 not out. Scoring runs in the first hour was difficult with the English bowlers making both Ponting and Damien Martyn work hard for their runs.

Yet no matter how well Andrew Caddick, Stephen Harmison and Matthew Hoggard bowled this morning, the fielding was a let down. Too many mis-fields allowed the pressure to be reduced on the batsmen who have now added 227 runs for the third wicket.

The two Australians played patient cricket against good bowling. They picked off ones and twos, slowly gaining upon the England total of 342. Then Ponting took control of the innings in the second hour and intelligently knocked up his 14th Test century off 191 balls.

Ponting, especially over the last year, has made improvements to his game. Even though England bowled a great line and length, Ponting made his innings look incredibly easy. In the process, he has raised his batting average by five points this calender year to a shade below 50.

Martyn played an excellent supporting role. The West Australian composed an amazingly diligent and watchful innings of 83 not out. He showed incredible copybook defence against all but the short ball.

The pitch continually shows signs of uneven bounce and it will be difficult to make runs.

Another worrying sign for England is opener Michael Vaughan. Although cleared of any shoulder damage, he is not fielding due to soreness this morning.