At Chester-le-Street, June 23 (day/night). Australia won by 57 runs. Australia 6 pts. Toss: England.
Australia's most convincing performance so far pulled them off the bottom of the table. It owed
much to the return of Symonds, his misdemeanours forgiven, and Lee. Trescothick, deputising for
an injured Vaughan, made a decision as baffling as Ponting's in Cardiff when he chose to field.
But with Australia 96 for three it looked like being justified - until Symonds, with a calm,
commanding 73, and the stylish Martyn added 142. Lee was hostile and accurate from the very
first ball of England's reply, while the equally tight McGrath removed Trescothick and local boy
Collingwood for ducks. Flintoff was mounting a composed recovery but holed out off Hogg, and
Symonds, bowling his medium-pace rather than off-spin, chipped in with Pietersen's wicket. Earlier,
Gough had taunted Watson with ghost impressions after reports that alleged ghostly sightings at
the Lumley Castle Hotel had scared Watson so badly that he moved into Lee's room; more
practically, Gough's spirited career-best 46 ensured the tourists fielded for 50 overs.
Man of the Match: A. Symonds.