Australia look in ominous form

break up their line and length, but the England captain batted in uncharacteristic fashion and this seemed to set the pattern for some strange dismissals. Stewart could learn a lot from the way Waugh played and he should resolve to play his natural game. Stewart was eventually out, late on a cut from a lifting McGrath delivery and the skipper produced another surprise by promoting Mark Ealham.

He immediately went for the bowling, the first scoring shot an orthodox off-drive, but fromthen on the ball flew at all angles, including a top edge six over the keeper’s head. Ealham was eventually bowled, outthought by McGrath who brought up the fine leg and when the batsman wandered across towards off-stump he hit the exposed middle peg. Ealham had scored 21 off 19 deliveries; some would say doing the job of a pinch-hitter, but a genuine batsman playing normally will consistently be more effective job by making big scores.

Graeme Hick seemed to get caught up in the rush and he hit a skied catch off the leading edge, which Adam Gilchrist gleefully accepted. Shortly afterwards Knight lifted a drive a metre off the turf and the agile Mark Waugh took a miraculous catch. Waugh anticipated the shot, dived to his left and despite being at full stretch clutched it easily and capped off the effort with a gymnastic cartwheel. On coming to his feet he casually accepted the congratulations of Shane Warne, who’d beaten the batsman with flight and then Waugh tossed the ball to the umpire as though it was aneveryday catch.

Meanwhile, at the other end Nasser Hussain played sensibly and attractively, until McGrath induced a mis-timed pull shot. He was McGrath’s fourth victim, the result of disciplined pace bowling on a pitch with a bit of bounce. Once again Australia were well led, with Warne attacking constantly and complemented by sharp fielding, they bowled England out in the 44th over.

Australia began well but Gilchrist was fooled by a good change of pace by Allan Mullally, who bowled the keeper-batsman for the second time in the series. Ponting looked assured right from the start after having spent some quality time in the middle in the last game and a flashing pull shot signalled that his form was returning. There were more classic back foot shots and the boundaries flowed for awhile as the two Australians raced neck and neck to their 50. In addition to the boundaries, Waugh and Ponting ran aggressively between wickets to expose the lack of athleticism and strong throwing arms in the England side.

Asthe century partnership was posted, Gough was brought back into the attack and bowled with a lot of pace, but no breakthroughs. The only break in play was caused by some idiots in the crowd who threw empty bottles onto the field and eventually Stewart called on Warne to come out and placate his home fans. This looked far too much like pandering to the lunatic fringe and it’s a task that shouldn’t appear on a captain’s job description.

The crowd was soon calmed and Waugh hit the winning boundary to guide Australia home with more than 10 overs to spare. The unfinished partnership was worth 138 and Australia had lost only three wickets in claiming their two comprehensive victories. It was hard not to think that England had played their best in Brisbane and may be on the wane, while Australia are now very close to playing at their best. It will be interesting to see if the re-appearance of Steve Waugh as captain has any affect on a team that is responding well to Warne’sleadership.

SCOREBOARD

England: N Knight c Waugh b Warne 27, A Stewart c Gilchrist b McGrath 8, M Ealham b McGrath 21, N Hussain c Warne b Hussain 47, G Hick c Gilchrist b Fleming 3, N Fairbrother c Bevan b Dale 15, A Hollioake c Gilchrist b McGrath 13, R Croft run out 2, D Gough c M Waugh b Bevan 15, D Headley not out 10, A Mullally c Ponting b Bevan 2. Extras (lb3, w8, nb4): 15.

Total (43.2 overs) 178

Fall Of Wickets: 1-15, 2-44, 3-77, 4-85, 5-112, 6-139, 7-143, 8-145, 9-173.

Bowling: McGrath 10-0-54-4, Dale 8-2-27-1, Julian 5-0-28-0, Warne 10-0-44-1, Fleming 7-1-13-1, Bevan 3.2-0-9-2.

Australia: M Waugh not out 83, A Gilchrist b Mullally 21, R Ponting not out 75. Extras (lb2, w1) 3.

Total (for one wicket, 39.2 overs): 182

Fall Of Wicket: 1-44.

Bowling: Gough 10-0-48-0, Mullally 10-2-42-1, Headley 3-0-21-0, Ealham 6.2-0-25-0, A Hollioake 4-0-14-0, Croft 6-0-30-0.