1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane, 7-11 Nov 2002 CricInfo Live Report

1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane, 7-11 Nov 2002
Claire Killeen

Australia 2nd innings: Day 4: Lunch,
England 2nd innings: Day 4: Tea,
Live Reports from previous days

ENGLAND ROCKED EARLY AND FACE LONG HAUL
Australia's dominance of day four continued after they declared with a 463-run lead midway through the afternoon session of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba today.

They merely picked up with the ball where they left off with the bat when declaring at 5/296. By a most welcome tea break for Nasser Hussain and Mark Butcher, England were reeling at 2/31, still 433 short of the victory mark.

The only comfort for England was that things could have been even worse. They were 2/3 at one stage after losing two wickets within eight balls.

Glenn McGrath (1/17) was accurate and with his third ball, the quick had English opener, Michael Vaughan trapped leg before wicket for a duck.

It appeared to be an unlucky decision. Replays showed Vaughan was on his toes when the ball hit him high on the knee roll, suggesting it would have gone over the top of the wickets.

Any possibility of a repeat of the positive start made by England in the first innings was further negated when Marcus Trescothick pushed at a delivery from Jason Gillespie (1/13). The ball took a healthy edge of Trescothick's bat and a massive dive to his left by wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist saw him take the chance one-handed sending Trescothick on his way for one - the sixth time he had fallen to Gillespie.

Butcher (19*) and Hussain (10*) have steadied the innings playing smart and patient cricket. With the openers gone, Butcher and Hussain had a first goal of seeing themselves through to tea while also seeing the shine off the new ball.

Earlier in the session, England had only mild success with the ball. Andrew Caddick (3/95) took his 50th Ashes wicket and in the process snared the Australian captain, Steve Waugh (12), for the second time this match. Waugh tried to drive through the covers but instead edged the ball to Trescothick at first slip.

Gilchrist (60*), promoted up the order, made a quick-fire 50 off 51 balls. It included two sixes, which both went back over the head of Ashley Giles (2/90). One reached the top tier of the Gabba stand.

His second six, brought up his 7000th first-class run. His partner Darren Lehmann (20*) brought up his 19000th first-class run - most of them for his home state of South Australia.

HAYDEN DOUBLE PUTS AUSTRALIA IN COMMAND
Australian opener, Matthew Hayden showed today why he is rated as the world’s No 1 batsman when scoring his second century of the first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba.

The left-hander in his two innings has made 300 runs, being the fourth Australian to score a century in each innings against England.

By lunch, Australia, who were 4/231, had extended their lead to 398 runs. As well as Hayden's 103, a determined Damien Martyn (64) and a dashing Adam Gilchrist (21*) have carried Australia to a position of absolute strength.

Hayden from the start of today's play was aggressive and pragmatic. He smashed Matthew Hoggard (0/42) out of the attack with tremendous timing and power. At one stage he hit Hoggard to the deep backward point boundary three times out of four deliveries.

Hayden first reached his 50 and then motored on to his century. His hundred came off 149 balls and he became the second player to reach three figures in each innings at the Gabba. The first was Greg Chappell in 1975/76 against the West Indies.

Martyn was content to take a backseat and play a supporting role. Choosing his shots wisely, he too notched his 50 at the Gabba after being 40 overnight.

However, the initial momentum was to be short-lived when the two overnight batsmen departed in rather quick succession. Hayden, who usually plays the spinners well, attempted a drive, but only spooned it back to left-arm spinner Ashley Giles (2/60). The Queenslander thought he had hit the ball into ground and almost convinced England and the umpires that they had missed something.

But his departure brought another big hitter to the crease. Gilchrist was promoted up the order and reminded the English just how dangerous he could be. From the second delivery he faced, Gilchrist danced down the pitch and smashed Giles down the ground for six. In doing so he avoided a pair.

Martyn was the next to go. Looking to drive, he got an edge off Giles which the England captain Nasser Hussain picked up at first slip.

Steve Waugh (8) will perhaps be heading for a target of 450 –500 runs, to give his bowlers a chance to dismiss England. With Giles picking up the two wickets this morning, it appears Shane Warne’s spin may come into effect as England mount a chase.