Australia surge ahead

THE Ashes series’ two most experienced campaigners – Alec Stewart and Steve Waugh – experienced contrasting fortunes on the opening day of the fourth Test.

England’s attempt to finish the series on a positive note was almost settled by Australia, who once again set the tone by dominating yet another opening day. England veteran Alec Stewart failed a fitness test on his injured right hand and the tourists decided to select only four specialist bowlers to accommodate the loss.

Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden forged a 195-run opening stand and captain Steve Waugh demonstrated his determination to remain part of the Australian success story. He hit an unbeaten rapid 62 and guided his side to 356 for three at the close.

Stewart’s loss was significant in that it deprived England of the extra bowler they needed as they struggled to make in-roads into Australia’s line-up, particularly when Hayden and Langer were together at the crease.

Restricted to 88 runs in the first session by tight new-ball spells from Andrew Caddick and Steve Harmison, the Australian pair let loose after lunch and added 99 runs in only 14 overs which enabled both to reach three figures.

Hayden reached the milestone first but after smashing three sixes and 10 other boundaries he fell victim to his own adventure when he spooned Caddick high in the air to John Crawley at mid-off for a superb 102.

Langer was equally adventurous and reached his first century of the series with a four and a six off successive balls from off-spinner Richard Dawson, punching the air in delight even before the ball had landed in the lower reaches of the Great Southern Stand.

Unlike Hayden, though, Langer had the discipline to play a more composed innings after reaching his hundred and finished the day unbeaten on 146 having played the supporting role in an unbroken 91-run stand with captain Waugh.

Once Hayden fell, England regained the momentum with Craig White dismissing Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn in quick succession to prompt the ovation of the day when Waugh walked out to bat with the majority of the crowd convinced it would be his last MCG Test.

Waugh clearly had other ideas and launched into England’s tiring attack with 10 boundaries in his 49-ball half-century which may yet persuade Australia’s selectors to give him one last West Indies tour later this year.

Perhaps the most significant moment during his unbeaten innings, though, may have been the sixth delivery with the new ball from Caddick which Waugh edged low to Mark Butcher at slip and prompted a return to the old-fashioned honest values of fielders.

Michael Vaughan and Langer have both benefited earlier in the series for refusing to accept appeals and standing their ground in previous Tests, but this time Butcher took the initiative and immediately claimed he was not sure.

The appeal was referred and given not out by third umpire Darrell Hair when television replays were again inconclusive and Waugh escaped on 58 with a chance to progress to a career-saving century on the second.