Australia take control of second Test

Daniel Laidlaw

Bad light and rain conspired to cut in half a frustrating first day of the second Test that by the close of play saw Australia in the ascendancy. After the fourth and final stoppage of play 50 minutes past the scheduled close, England were 121/4 after losing the toss and being sent in.

Glenn McGrath, who claimed his career-best figures at Lord's four years ago, collected two wickets and an out-of-sorts Brett Lee one in a final session that saw Australia take control of a truncated day.

Graham Thorpe insisted he was not England's saviour but he may yet be cast as one after the English middle order again hinted at vulnerability. Returning from a calf injury, Thorpe is 16 not out and has only Alec Stewart (0*) and Ian Ward for company of the remaining specialist batsmen.

After a sound start on a traditional slow seamer amid weather interruptions, England progressed to 75/1 before losing Mark Butcher (21), stand-in captain Michael Atherton (37) and then Mark Ramprakash, bowled by Lee for 14 just prior to stumps.

As expected, England brought in Thorpe for the injured Nasser Hussain and Ramprakash, the original back-up batsman before he too succumbed to injury prior to the first Test, replaced Usman Afzaal after one match. Dominic Cork beat Chris Silverwood for the fourth seamer's place at the expense of off-spinner Ashley Giles, while Australia were unchanged as previously announced.

After rain delayed the start of play by 90 minutes, just 3.2 overs were possible before more rain intervened, in which time Marcus Trescothick was dropped by second slip Mark Waugh from a Gillespie no-ball. In reality the ball nearly dropped Waugh rather than the other way around, as the thick edge from the wide cut shot slammed into his shoulder almost before he could react.

Ironically, Trescothick was later dismissed off a non-called Gillespie no-ball. On 15 with the score at 33, Trescothick flashed forcefully at the full ball angled across him, the nick flying through to Gilchrist. The stroke was reckless and attempted with feet planted, driving on the full length irrespective of width. It was England's only mistake leading up to tea, which was taken at 55/1 during the second rain interlude and set up the pivotal final session.

Mark Butcher, who seemed to have carried over his good form from Edgbaston, failed to make the most of his third consecutive start. Defending cautiously at McGrath, the ball seamed from leg to off and took the edge low to second slip, where Mark Waugh held the catch to equal Allan Border on 157 as the leading catcher in Test history.

Reluctant skipper Michael Atherton batted with typical grit, beaten often outside off but digging in determinedly, ever the survivor. He was undone yet again, however, by old nemesis Glenn McGrath. McGrath dismissed Atherton for the second time in three innings and 15th occasion overall when he had him leg-before shouldering arms with the score on 96.

After a brief interval for light the pitch for some reason became unduly venomous, as Atherton and Thorpe were both made to jump or double over by the ball jagging around. Atherton's demise was a product of such prodigious seam movement, as he quite reasonably raised his bat to a ball outside off only for it to nip back savagely and trap him in front of middle. So certain was McGrath that he had his man that he did not bother with an appeal, simply charging down the wicket to celebrate.

Gillespie bowled the fullest length but as is his style conceded a few runs in the hunt for wickets while Lee, strongly challenged for his place by Damien Fleming, bowled a surfeit of no-balls and generally failed to build up pressure without reaching any kind of peak. By comparison, McGrath's slightly reduced pace and consistent accuracy yielded greater movement and results and he stood a class above.

One of the benefits of having an outright fast bowler, though, is that he is never more than one fiery ball away from a wicket. Brett Lee found just such a delivery when he penetrated the defence of Mark Ramprakash, who recorded another Lord's failure. Playing forward defensively, Ramprakash seemed to do everything right except cover the ball, as Lee demonstrated his value by nipping one back at increased pace to rattle Ramprakash's middle stump and give Australia the ascendancy.

Play was halted for the final time just a few minutes later when the batsmen accepted the offer of the light, with Australia favourites for another win and a 2-0 lead in the series.