The Australians took a stranglehold on the third Test thanks to another fighting knock from Steve Waugh, who was well supported by his brother Mark and the two other tough nuts, Ian Healy and Shane Warne.Having taken a lead of 73 in the first innings, it looked like a 300 target would be easily accomplished by Australia, but Dean Headley had other ideas. The lively right-armer confirmed his potential as a Test match bowler by producing another withering spell with the new ball. In conditions totally different to the first innings, Headley troubled all the Australian batsmen and again dismissed the left-handers.The job of a new ball bowler is to get rid of top order batsmen and Headley fulfilled his contract by dismissing openers Mark Taylor and Matthew Elliott in both innings. That would be classified a good performance by a seasoned veteran, but for a debutant, it was incredibly good and indicates a bowler of equitable temperament.His other attributes are a good line, movement in the air and off the seam (particularly away from the left-handers) and good pace. In fact Headley's pace increased as the match progressed and he hurried all batsmen with his short-pitched deliveries. To cap a fine performance, he displayed the spirited approach of a competitor. Headley is a real find and when he returned for a second spell to dismiss Michael Bevan for a duck, he once again brought England back into the game.Bevan's continued failure must now put a large question mark against his future as a Test player. Where all other Australian batsmen have feasted on English bowling in recent years, Bevan has struggled to keep his average in double figures and he keeps getting out in the same manner; either caught edging or a short-pitched ball finding the shoulder of the bat. This time it was the latter and it must be time now for Ricky Ponting to replace the befuddled left-hander.There are no such problems for Steve Waugh and for the second time in the match he was a thorn in England's side. He started off scoring at a much quicker rate than twin Mark. Then after lunch, the roles were reversed as the pair added an invaluable 92 to negate Headley's initial raid. Just when the Waughs appeared to be winning the battle, Mark Ealham made one dart back off the pitch to bowl the elegant right-hander.Headley then made it all three left-handers in each innings, before Ian Healey joined Waugh to bring another twist to this fluctuating match. As usual, Healy succeeded when Australia needed runs and the pair added 78. The bulk of these were scored by the pugnacious 'keeper as Waugh was sufferring from a bruised right thumb which restricted his stroke play.Nevertheless, this didn't stop Waugh from doggedly battling on in a supporting role and Shane Warne took up where Healy left off. His innings included a magnificent pull for six off a bouncer as Headley tired late in the afternoon.Meanwhile, Steve hung on grimly to the end, giving him the opportunity to reach a hundred in each innings for the first time in an Ashes match since Arthur Morris did it in 1946-47. If Waugh does achieve that landmark, he will be only the third Australian to achieve the feat (Warren Bardsley was the first) and it would be a fitting reward for a gutsy cricketer. However, I'm sure Steve believes victory is the only real reward and if it is achieved he will have been largely responsible for Australia levelling the series. SCOREBOARD
