Australian View: Wilting in heat of the cauldron (30 December 1998)

30 December 1998

Australian View: Wilting in heat of the cauldron

By Ian Chappell

AT ONE point on the last day of the MCG Test, tyros Stuart MacGill and Matthew Nicholson must have thought the longest day of their cricket careers was going to coincide with the best. Both had made wonderful contributions: MacGill in his seventh Test claiming seven wickets and making 43 runs and new cap Nicholson claiming four wickets, three of them top-order batsmen, one of whom was bowled.

That is a good three days' work for a Test player and when you throw in a victory celebration it's easy to think, "What a great game, this cricket".

It was at about this time they found out about the glorious uncertainty of the game. After days of lying dormant the Bulldog spirit finally made its first appearance in the series, and for Australia, defeat was snatched from the jaws of certain victory. Both players had had their character tested in the MCG cauldron and they'd stood up well to the challenges of skill, temperament and courage that Test cricket presents.

MacGill had come back from a towering Graeme Hick six to claim his wicket and polish off the tail, then he played and missed a full over before rallying to make his highest Test score.

Nicholson, an athletic, laid-back character, had appeared unfazed when hammered in his opening spell, explaining: "I took some stick in the last Shield game and that stood me in good stead."

There is no doubt his bowling improved as the game went on and he has pace and some movement, two important attributes. But the game still had one further test for each player. Nicholson joined Steve Waugh with Australia in desperate trouble and England fighting bravely. He played calmly as you would expect of a lad hauled off a jet headed for Sydney and thrust on to another that eventually landed him in this Test.

After providing capable resistance he succumbed to the heroic Headley - no disgrace in that. MacGill strode to the centre quickly, suggesting he meant business. Unfortunately for the fast-improving leg-spinner his departure time followed his arrival by much less than any award-winning airline's turnaround.

Australia lost and there will be lessons to be learned. No harm in that. Talent is only useful when it is complemented with temperament and courage - ask Steve Waugh who experienced many a beating in his early days.

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