Report
Headley inspires remarkable England victory
Dean Headley engineered one of the most dramatic victories in Test history as Australia lost their last seven wickets for just 32 runs in 79 balls to allow England to snatch a thrilling 12-run triumph in fourth Ashes Test at the MCG on Tuesday
Paul Andreacchio
29-Dec-1998
Dean Headley engineered one of the most dramatic victories in Test history as Australia lost their last seven wickets for just 32 runs in 79 balls to allow England to snatch a thrilling 12-run triumph in fourth Ashes Test at the MCG on Tuesday.
Australia's first innings hero Steve Waugh stood in disbelief at the non-striker's end when Darren Gough trapped Glenn McGrath lbw for a duck at 7:32pm local time to cap an unforgettable final session that lasted four hours and two minutes. Chasing 175 for victory to extend their series lead to 3-0, Australia seemed to be cruising at 3-130 when Headley (6-60) ignited an astonishing collapse.
After England were dismissed just before tea for 244, Australia stumbled early in their chase, losing the wickets of openers Mark Taylor (19) and Michael Slater (18) cheaply. Slater was first man out when trapped plumb lbw by Headley, who featured again at fine leg when he caught an attempted pull shot from Taylor off Alan Mullally with the score 2-41.
Mark Waugh (43) and Justin Langer (30) then settled Australia's nerves and seemed to guarantee victory by adding 62 for the third wicket, before Mullally struck again thanks to a spectacular catch by Mark Ramprakash, which visibly inspired the Englishmen. Mullally (2-20) had earlier watched Graeme Hick at second slip drop Langer before he reached double figures, but exacted some revenge when the left-hander launched into a pull shot which seemed to travelling wide of Ramprakash, who dived full length to his right, stuck out his right hand and caught the ball inches off the ground.
Full postWaugh, MacGill pull rug from underneath England
The imperious figure of Steve Waugh and a memorable cameo from Stuart MacGill conspired to pull the rug from underneath England on day three of the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG on Monday
Paul Andreacchio
28-Dec-1998
The imperious figure of Steve Waugh and a memorable cameo from Stuart MacGill conspired to pull the rug from underneath England on day three of the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG on Monday.
At the end of a remarkable day extended to almost eight hours to compensate for the first day washout and England's poor over rate, England went to stumps 2-65, still five runs short of Australia's total.
The dashing Waugh found an ally in MacGill to torment the England attack and steer Australia to a healthy, if unlikely, first innings lead of 70. Waugh (122 not out) played with controlled aggression to blast his 17th Test century while MacGill (43) scored his highest first-class score as the pair added 88 runs for the ninth wicket to guide Australia to 340 in reply to England's 270.
The shellshocked Englishmen then promptly made a disastrous start to their second innings when opener Michael Atherton (0) was clean bowled by Damien Fleming in the second over.
Full postEngland on the ropes after Miller's triple strike
Australia have one hand on the Ashes urn after the unlikely figure of Colin Miller caused England to stumble late on day four in their bid to save the third Test at the Adelaide Oval on Monday
Paul Andreacchcio
14-Dec-1998
Australia have one hand on the Ashes urn after the unlikely figure of Colin Miller caused England to stumble late on day four in their bid to save the third Test at the Adelaide Oval on Monday.
Miller captured the wickets of Nasser Hussain (41) eight minutes before stumps and nightwatchman Dean Headley (2) four balls later to have England reeling at 4-122, still 321 short of an impossible victory target of 443. The tourists' hopes of survival rest with noted fighter Mark Ramprakash (43), who was promoted in the order ahead of his out-of-sorts captain Alec Stewart, who has yet to face a ball.
England's hopes nosedived early when openers Mark Butcher and Michael Atherton were back in the pavilion before tea. And their predicament could have been worse had Mark Taylor held a tough one-handed chance low down to dismiss first innings top-scorer Hussain.
Damien Fleming may have been the unlucky bowler in that instance, but he was handed the wicket of Butcher (19) who slashed at an ordinary ball short and wide of off stump only to feather a bottom edge to keeper Ian Healy. Soon after Atherton (5), who laboured for 43 balls, popped a Miller arm ball straight to Mark Waugh at bat-pad to leave England rocking at 2-31.
Full postAustralia emerges from crazy day with the upper hand
After three remarkable sessions of fluctuating fortunes in which 12 wickets fell and 216 runs were scored, Australia emerged with England in a headlock after day two of the second Ashes Test in Perth on Sunday
Paul Andreacchio
29-Nov-1998
After three remarkable sessions of fluctuating fortunes in which 12 wickets fell and 216 runs were scored, Australia emerged with England in a headlock after day two of the second Ashes Test in Perth on Sunday.
At stumps, England reached 5-126 in their second dig, still two runs behind Australia's first innings 240. But Graeme Hick has provided the tourists with a glimmer of hope by bludgeoning 42 off 33 balls, including two towering sixes off Jason Gillespie, which in the context of the low-scoring match has been a revelation. He shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 59 with the defiant Mark Ramprakash (26 off 119 balls), after England were in diabolical trouble at 5-67.
The architect of England's predicament was Damien Fleming (4-16), who routed the top order in the same he way he skittled England's lower order in their first innings of 112, when he took a career-best 5-46. The Victorian swing bowler, a controversial selection in the WACA Test ahead of Queensland's Michael Kasprowicz, continued his dream run when he dismissed Mark Butcher (1), Nasser Hussain (1), Alec Stewart (0) and Michael Atherton (35) either side of tea. England's joy at humbling Australia's lower order was shattered when Fleming took three early wickets in the middle session.
In an amazing two hours, Australia slumped from 4-194 at lunch to be all out for 240, an overall lead of 128. In reply England went to tea shell-shocked at 3-19 as nine wickets fell for 65 runs. England, buoyed by their magnificent comeback when they claimed Australia's last six wickets for just 32 runs, were set back on their heels when Fleming had Butcher caught by Ricky Ponting at third slip, Hussain trapped lbw, and Stewart and Atherton caught by Mark Taylor at first slip.
Full postAustralia in control as English batsmen flop in Perth
The Australian batsmen proved the demons lived in the minds of the Englishmen rather than in the WACA pitch as they cruised past the tourists' first innings total with only three wickets down on the opening day of the second Ashes Test in Perth
Paul Andreacchio
28-Nov-1998
The Australian batsmen proved the demons lived in the minds of the Englishmen rather than in the WACA pitch as they cruised past the tourists' first innings total with only three wickets down on the opening day of the second Ashes Test in Perth.
In response to England's paltry first innings of 112, Mark Waugh (19) and nightwatchman Jason Gillespie (5) guided Australia to 3-150 at stumps. Australia leads by 38 runs with seven wickets in hand in response to England's dismal three-hour 39-over effort; the third lowest Test score on the lively WACA pitch.
Michael Slater (34) was the first Australian to fall when Darren Gough (1-31) finally enjoyed a change of luck early in the final session. Gough has troubled most batsmen in the series but has been rewarded with only two wickets, so Slater's scalp was a welcome relief for the Yorkshireman. He had the Australian opener caught by Mark Butcher at third slip, in what was virtually England's only cause for celebration on a forgettable day.
Local hero Justin Langer (15) was next out, caught at short leg by John Crawley from the part-time off-spin of Mark Ramprakash (1-13), but not before he and Mark Taylor steered Australia past England's total. Taylor (61) was then caught behind by Alec Stewart late in the day, off the bowling of Dominic Cork (1-43), but not before the Australian skipper scored his 39th Test half-century.
Full postQueensland v South Australia - Sheffield Shield final rematch
Queensland and Australian wicket keeper, Ian Healy is out of the Sheffield Shield final rematch starting in Brisbane on Wednesday
Lawrie Colliver
26-Oct-1995
Queensland and Australian wicket keeper, Ian Healy is out of the Sheffield Shield final rematch starting in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The injury has already caused Healy to miss several matches including the opening Shield encounter against Victoria.
This setback for Queensland will be off set by theinclusion of Wade Seccombe who has done well when he has represented the Bulls so far this season.
The match will start on a pitch that is slightly underprepared following rain in Brisbane over recent days. Thus the toss will be very significant when play starts at 10am local time tomorrow.
Full post