MacGill rakes England over coals
Australia wins by 98 runs to take Ashes 3-1
Posted: Wednesday January 06, 1999 02:37 PM
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Slater, whose 123 runs in the second innings helped Australia to the
victory, runs a lap of honor AP |
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Stuart MacGill spun Australia to a 3-1 Ashes series victory over England when he sealed the fifth and final test Tuesday by claiming 12 wickets for the match.
MacGill, employed as a net bowler by England four years ago, followed his 5-57 in the tourists' first innings with 7-50 in the second, making the most of violent turn with his leg-spinners off a helpful pitch.
Both innings gave him career-best figures and it was the first time he got more than nine in a match. MacGill, standing in for Shane Warne who returned after a nine-month injury in this game, has taken 47 wickets in eight tests. He was the leading wicket-taker in the series with 27, having played just four of the five games.
Captain Mark Taylor, possibly playing a test for the last time at the SCG, broke a world record for catching to start England's slide Tuesday after it resumed on 104 for two, needing a record 287 in its second innings to level the series at 2-2.
Australia dismissed England for 188 just after lunch on day four to win by 98 runs and wrap up a sixth-straight Ashes series victory stretching back to the 1989 tour of England.
"I've played against England, which is something you joke about in the backyard, I've won the Ashes, which is overwhelming, and going on from there to not only take five wickets against England but to do it twice ...," said MacGill. "I'd be uncontrollable if I got seven wickets in a Sydney grade game. God only knows what's going to happen this evening."
England made a positive start to its innings but no team has scored more than 276 in the fourth innings to win in Sydney, and that was achieved 100 years ago.
MacGill removed Graeme Hick (7), Warren Hegg (3) and Nasser Hussain (53) before lunch Tuesday after getting Alec Stewart for 43 on Monday evening.
When ended Hussain's 170 minutes of dogged resistance, MacGill joined Glenn McGrath atop the series wicket-taking charts with 24 and he moved ahead when he got three more after the break.
Hussain of England (left) sweeps past Ian Healy during his innings of 53 Allsport | |
Paceman McGrath, bowling with fire despite an unhelpful pitch, made the initial breakthrough.
He had Mark Ramprakash caught low by Taylor at first slip, the captain completing his 157th test catch in his 104th match. It surpassed the 156 from 156 games set by Taylor's predecessor Allan Border.
Taylor took to the field Tuesday wearing the traditional baggy green cap instead of his trademark floppy white sun hat. It was a sign that his career is winding down and although he intends taking the team to the West Indies this year, he might not be back when Australia plays at the SCG next year against India or Pakistan.
Graeme Hick was next English batsman to fall, with 131 on the board, missing a sweep against MacGill and being bowled behind his legs.
John Crawley copped an unlucky decision, departing for five when he was hit on the pads by a ball from off-spinner Colin Miller which side-on replays suggested was climbing over the stumps.
MacGill then had Warren Hegg caught behind off a vicious leg spinner and surprised Hussain with a pitched up ball that the batsmen hit straight back at him.
From 175-7 at lunch, England lost 3-13 in quick time. MacGill bowled Alex Tudor around his legs and got his sixth of the innings when Dean Headley edged a catch to Ian Healy.
Peter Such was the last man out in a dismissal that summed up MacGill's dominance.
Such hit a lusty drive into the ankle of Michael Slater at silly point. The ball flew in the air and MacGill completed a diving catch to end the game.
MacGill has good friends in the England camp, having bowled in the nets for them on their previous two visits. The last time, four years ago, he met Stewart in a bar and ended up being employed as a full-time net bowler, working in depth which each player.
The series opened with a draw in Brisbane when rain on the final afternoon held up Australia's charge. The hosts won the next two games convincingly in Perth and Adelaide before England pulled one back in Melbourne.
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