Barmy Army scuttle England hopes in Test

BARMY Army chanting may have cost England the chance to push for an incredible victory in the fourth Test after their loud support aided Australia’s successful struggle to a five-wicket win at the MCG.

Needing only 99 more runs for victory on the final day after resuming on eight without loss, Australia’s stroll to another emphatic triumph seemed assured particularly with England missing side-strain victim Craig White from their attack.

Instead of coasting to their target, though, Australia were put under pressure by hostile spells of fast bowling from Andrew Caddick and Steve Harmison during 113 minutes of compelling action.

England had already made inroads with prolific opener Matthew Hayden hooking the first delivery of the day straight to substitute fielder Alex Tudor in the deep while Harmison had ended Ricky Ponting’s threatening innings of 30 from 35 balls when he gloved behind and three balls later also had Damien Martyn caught behind.

But the turning point of the session was Harmison’s next over when the vocal and passionate support supplied by the Barmy Army unwittingly aided Australia’s bid for victory.

Batsman Waugh had just got off the mark with an inside edge for four when Harmison ran in again to the roars of the 18,666 crowd and as the Australian captain tried to withdraw his bat he edged behind to Foster.

Unable to hear the obvious edge because of the noise from the crowd neither Foster or the slips appealed to umpire Dave Orchard and it was only when they saw the replay on the big screen that England reacted.

As if to compound their disappointment, Waugh drove the next ball straight to Hussain at cover, who pulled off an outstanding catch which would have left Australia reeling on 69 for four still requiring a further 38 runs for victory only for Orchard to signal a no-ball for over-stepping.

“It was a good catch and probably if it hadn’t been a no-ball England would have had a roll on, particularly the way he caught it,” said Waugh.

Hussain was more concerned with the previous ball and England’s failure to appeal until it was almost an after-thought, saying: “We couldn’t hear anything because of the noise"

It was a further five overs until Waugh’s almost embarrassing weakness against fast short-pitched bowling ended his innings when he gloved Caddick to Mark Butcher at third slip and was followed three balls later by opener Justin Langer.

Australia now only needed nine more for victory, which was completed in the 22nd overAdam Gilchrist drove Harmison for four to seal victory and keep them on course to become only the second team ever to claim an Ashes whitewash.