Ashes 5th Test, Day 1: A day of drama on and off the pitch (3 January 1999)

3 January 1999

Ashes 5th Test, Day 1: A day of drama on and off the pitch

Peter Roebuck

Peter Roebuck sees the Barmy Army roar on their heroes against a rattled Australian side

AT the end of an extraordinary day of cut and thrust, thousands of spectators stayed in their seats and tried to catch their breath. On the baked and concrete terraces dedicated to Yabba, the rabbit seller whose calls were heard by Jardine and Hutton and Dexter, the Barmy Army stood and sang their songs and Sweet Chariot echoed around the ground.

England started and ended in a blaze of glory. Their passion could not be missed. English teams can seem cold and insecure. Now their blood was boiling as it had not been since Botham grabbed stumps and cursed his foes. In the beginning and end could be sensed the spirit of Melbourne, a team dragging themselves across the line. Between times the Waughs had dictated terms. Steve attending to the details and his brother painting with a broader brush. This was an exhausting and exhilarating day and the only long faces around were those left outside the ground. Seldom can a match have begun in such a fury.

Alec Stewart set aggressive fields as his opening bowlers hurled themselves into the fray. Perhaps losing the toss was not such a misfortune. The momentum was with the tourists. Dean Headley took early wickets, a committed cricketer who worries left-handers and has an impressive record against the Australians. Darren Gough contributed a searing spell but luck did not smile upon him. Nonetheless, Gough kept laughing.

Rattled, the Australians played ambitious stokes on a hard and bouncy pitch. The groundsman is from Bankstown, where they know about cricket and cricketers. England pushed for a fourth wicket. It was not to be. The pacemen were tired and the rest were not up to it. An odd team had been chosen. Rightly, Stewart resisted the cries to take the gloves again. Blimey, England have just won a match and he scored a century. But Alex Tudor was a luxury. Of course, the problem lies with a poorly-balanced touring party. The Waughs seemed unstoppable. Steve drove off both feet and found gaps with the precision of a marksman. Do not play snooker or poker against him - he has pitiless eyes. His brother glided strokes off his pads and behind point.

Mark has been hard pressed and must recapture a public, temporarily blind to his merits. He had been given a hostile reception and returns to the witness box this week to answer more questions about alleged attempted bribery and bookmakers. Some people cannot distinguish between folly and corruption. Foolishness is not a hanging offence whereas the gallows would not stop swinging.

England were in trouble. Their chances of squaring the series seemed slim. Stewart is a better leader than tactician. For an unconscionable time he kept Peter Such and Mark Ramprakash bowling together, a tidy off-spinner and a part-timer. Nor did he try pace as Darren Lehmann strode to the crease in a floppy hat. England's fielding also slipped, with Stewart and Such appearing heavy footed. Graeme Hick and Nasser Hussain compensated though, and Hegg was quietly efficient. But Stewart has strong points too. His team hold together. They did not falter in Melbourne with the Australians at 130 for three and they did not flag here. The Barmy Army helped.

At last Mark Waugh was taken, whereupon the Australians fell apart. The collapsibles, as they are now called, had the collywobbles. They had also chosen a strange team, three spinners, a keeper with a broken finger and Damien Fleming omitted. In response, Waugh seemed as happy as a rhino on a rubber dingy. If he really is back at his best, he'd hardly need so many assistants.

England have scorned meekness. These were not lambs going to the slaughter. Somehow they recaptured the spirit of Melbourne to turn the day around. Stewart's team are not easily discouraged. Now comes the hard part; putting runs on the board. Still, the mood is with the tourists and the Australians look rattled.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)