Gough’s hat-trick climaxes heady day at SCG

Headley took advantage of this movement by maintaining a full length and he dismissed Taylor with one thatmoved from leg to off. He then surprised Michael Slater with a well-directed bouncer to claim two wickets before drinks. It could have been even better as Alec Tudor, preferred to Allan Mullally, had Justin Langer caught behind off a no-ball. However, he made amends when Langer was also surprised by some steep bounce and was caught at point cutting.

The Waugh twins decided the England strike rate was too high and proceeded to work on decelerating it, while also accelerating the run rate. Steve was in superb form from the outset as he took the attack to the bowlers, a trait he has displayed regularly in the last twelve months. He sprinted away with a series of drives through the off-side from both back and front foot and then Mark surged after a slow start, flicking the ball off his hip with contempt. Steve reached his half-century first although both players faced the same number off balls (87), signalling trouble ahead for England.

The England attack was not ideally suited to containing and with theWaugh twins both in form the runs came easily. It could be said that England save most of their theories for off the field selection for the final Test being a perfect example. The original tour party was chosen with the left-armer Mullally included to take wickets and help the off-spinners with his footmarks. So what did they do at the SCG? Picked three right-arm quickies, whose marks aid leg-spinners and Australia has included two in the side.

Just when it looked like the Waugh twins were about to post their second double century partnership at Test level, Steve was beaten in flight by Peter Such and bowled four short of his hundred. Mark restored family honour by cruising to his 16th hundred, but shortly afterwards Darren Lehmann, who had butchered the spinners, holed out at point from Tudor.

Mark Waugh’s highest Test score at his home ground was ended when the tireless Headley utilised the new ball to pick up his third wicket. This set off a chain reaction as England ripped through the lower half ofthe order.

First Darren Gough had Ian Healy caught behind off a lifting delivery, then he dispensed with bounce and piloted two magnificent yorkers through Stuart MacGill and then Colin Miller, to claim a magnificent hat-trick. The capacity crowd erupted, but no sooner had they settled back into their seats than Headley removed Glenn McGrath for his third consecutive duck. Australia had lost five wickets for three runs in fifteen balls the art of collapsing is catching.

Watching this mayhem from the other end was Shane Warne, who must have wondered how long he was going to remain an innocent bystander. He shouldn’t remain on the sidelines for long as the pitch is receptive to spin and Taylor will be keen to exploit England’s well-documented weakness against leg-spin.

SCOREBOARD

Australia (1st innings): M Taylor c Hick b Headley 2, M Slater c Hegg b Headley 18, J Langer c Ramprakash b Tudor 26, M Waugh c Hegg b Headley 121, S Waugh b Such 96, D Lehmann c Hussain b Tudor 32, I Healy c Hegg bGough 14, S Warne not out 2, S MacGill b Gough 0, C Miller b Gough 0, G McGrath c Hegg b Headley 0. Extras (lb-2, nb-9): 11. Total (all out, 87.3 overs) 322.

Fall Of Wickets: 1-4, 2-52, 3-52, 4-242, 5-284, 6-319 7-321, 8-321, 9-321.

Bowling: Gough 17-4-61-3, Headley 19.3-3-62-4, Tudor 12-1-64-2, Such 24-6-77-1, Ramprakash 15-0-56-0.