Stewart and Caddick smash 103 for last wicket

England last wicket pair Alec Stewart and Andrew Caddick blasted 103 from 79 balls against Australia as the Ashes series got off to a spectacular start at Edgbaston on Thursday.

England had subsided from 106 for one to 191 for nine shortly after tea on the opening day of the first test before Stewart and Caddick helped them to reach 294, Shane Warne claiming five wickets.

But Australia, who won the toss, underlined what was an essentially good pitch by making a high-speed 133 for two by the close of a day which saw 236 runs scored from 35.3 overs in the final session. Michael Slater was unbeaten on 76.

Stewart, who hit 65 off 82 balls, and Caddick, with his test best of 49 not out from 40 deliveries, provided a real sting in the England tail.

Australia had started the match perfectly when Jason Gillespie dispatched Marcus Trescothick for nought with the seventh ball of the day, only for Michael Atherton (57) and Mark Butcher (38) to counter-attack by adding 104 off 148 balls.

Warne broke through by removing Butcher and went on to take five for 71, supported by Gillespie (two for 67) and McGrath (three for 67), before Stewart and Caddick revived England's innings, and their supporters' spirits in the 19,000 crowd, in compelling style.

At the close, Mark Waugh was yet to score, after Matthew Hayden went for 35 to a brilliant catch by Craig White off left-arm spinner Ashley Giles and Ricky Ponting fell lbw to Darren Gough for 11.

Scorecard

Mail Cricket Editor