Gilchrist and Martyn hammer highest Test scores

Graham Griffiths

Adam Gilchrist hit a gloriously uninhibited 152 and Damien Martyn stroked his maiden Test century to tighten Australia's stranglehold on the first Ashes Test during the rain-interrupted third day on Saturday.

Australia extended their overnight 332 for four to 576 all out midway through the final session, giving them a 282-run first-innings lead. England replied with 48 for the loss of Michael Atherton's wicket at close of play.

Martyn's 105 and Gilchrist's highest Test score -- after he had been dropped on 14 -- came in their first appearance against England as they shared a sixth wicket partnership of 160.

England's agony at Edgbaston was increased as Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath, who contributed a single, smashed 63 for the last wicket off 50 balls in 36 minutes.

If Gilchrist ultimately stole the spotlight, the individual honours were certainly shared by Martyn, who won his Test place ahead of the out-of-form Justin Langer and repaid the selectors' faith handsomely, both in terms of his strokeplay and his discipline and concentration.

Although he made his debut in the 1992-93 home series against West Indies, Martyn is playing only his 12th Test. His previous highest score was an unbeaten 89 against New Zealand at Hamilton in 2000.

Before Martyn and Gilchrist put England's bowling to the sword in their contrasting but highly effective styles, the home country had a brief moment to savour.

In a mirror image of the start to Friday's play, Darren Gough dealt an immediate blow on a warm and overcast morning in front of another capacity crowd.

Having dismissed Michael Slater with the seventh ball on the second morning, the Yorkshire paceman this time accounted for Steve Waugh for 105 with the 12th ball of the day.

The Australian captain, having added just four to his overnight score, played back to a full length delivery from Gough and was trapped lbw. He had batted 244 minutes, faced 181 balls and hit 13 fours.

Waugh had added 69 in 116 balls for the fifth wicket with Martyn, who subsequently went on to complete his half-century from 76 deliveries with his sixth four.

Martyn, who twice lashed Gough through the off side for four in one over, and Gilchrist took their side to 381 for five with positive batting before bad light, followed by a downpour, kept the players off the field for 160 minutes, including the lunch break.

When they returned, England compounded their problems by missing two chances in quick succession.

Gilchrist, on 14, sliced Andrew Caddick past a diving Craig White in the gully and in the next over Martyn, on 65, edged Gough and was dropped by wicketkeeper Alec Stewart as he flung himself in front of Michael Atherton at first slip, who looked well placed to take the catch.

Martyn and Gilchrist made the most of their good fortune by pressing home Australia's advantage with conviction, completing their century partnership from 139 balls, before wicketkeeper-batsman Gilchrist went to his 50 off 70 deliveries.

The stand was finally broken by Mark Butcher, whose medium pacers accounted for Martyn with the aid of a brilliant, diving catch at backward point by Marcus Trescothick. The Western Australian made his runs from 165 balls and hit 15 fours and one five.

Butcher, getting movement both ways, now cut through the tail. Starting with Martyn's wicket, he had a spell of four for five in 14 deliveries, though Gilchrist went on playing strokes in a wonderfully entertaining style.

Gilchrist smashed Butcher for 22 in one over -- three sixes and a four -- and when he finally fell to a catch at long-on he had faced just 143 balls, hitting 20 fours and five sixes.

scorecard

Mail Cricket Editor