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England slips up Aussie McGrath engineers slump in second test
Updated: Thursday July 19, 2001 2:38 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Australia's formidable pace attack, led by Glenn McGrath, shrugged off a string of interruptions for rain and bad light to reduce England to 121 for four after the first day of the second Ashes test on Thursday. Graham Thorpe, back after six weeks without playing following a calf injury, was on 16 not out while Alec Stewart had yet to score. Only 40.1 overs were possible during a stop-start day at Lord's, played under gray skies and which began with a 90-minute delay for rain. This was always going to be a difficult match for the hosts after being humiliated in the first test and things began badly again as Steve Waugh won the toss -- England have lost their last nine in tests as well as the last seven in the Ashes -- and invited them to bat on a damp pitch. England, however, looked to have weathered the storm at 75 for one only to lose three wickets for 46 runs in the final session, with McGrath taking two for 10 in a second spell of 8.1 overs. The first passage of play lasted a mere 20 minutes and 20 deliveries before bad light intervened, England's openers sharing two meaningful shots and one fortunate escape. Michael Atherton, standing in for injured skipper Nasser Hussain, played and missed twice in McGrath's first over before hooking the pace bowler for four. Marcus Trescothick then cut Jason Gillespie for a further boundary only to be dropped moments later at second slip by Mark Waugh off a Gillespie no-ball. The Somerset left-hander continued to struggle after an early lunch, driving Gillespie just short of Steve Waugh in the gully, then, on nine, shaping to cut and sending the ball flying through the six-man slip cordon. Luck endsHis luck ran out when he drove at Gillespie without moving his feet and was caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist to make it 33 for one. Television replays suggested the bowler had overstepped. Mark Butcher, another left-hander, came in to square cut Gillespie for four before pulling leg-spinner Shane Warne's first ball for another boundary. Warne, in his one significant contribution in a two-over cameo, then induced Atherton to prod him straight to short leg only for the catch to go down. McGrath then swung the game Australia's way. Butcher, after making 21, was snapped up off the returning pace bowler's fourth ball by Mark Waugh at second slip, helping Waugh to equal the world record of 157 test catches by a fielder, set by former Australian captain Mark Taylor. Atherton soon followed. After two fine cover-driven boundaries off McGrath earlier in the day, Atherton fell to him for the 15th time in test cricket. For the first time, however, it was lbw as Atherton, on the back foot, offered no stroke to an off-cutter which looked set to clear the stumps. Atherton batted for almost two hours and 20 minutes for his 37. Ramprakash, so often criticised for a suspect temperament, joined Thorpe and the two Surrey team mates looked the part until Ramprakash, on 14, was bowled by the ball of the day, Brett Lee cutting a ball back through the gate. Australia lead the five-match series after winning at Edgbaston by an innings and 118 runs. England, who have won just once against Australia at Lord's in 105 years and 25 matches, made three changes, drafting in Thorpe and Ramprakash and all-rounder Dominic Cork as part of an all-seam attack. Australia, the world's top test side with 17 wins in 19 games, fielded an unchanged team from the first test.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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