Steve Waugh, Healy put Aussies in command

It was almost as though another captain took over from Stewart when the Waugh-Healy liaison commenced. Where Stewart had been positive and aggressive he suddenly backed off and went into run-saving mode. The change was dramatic and disastrous as the two Australians counter-attacked to punch out their sixth century partnership.

My mind went back to the same ground in the 1986-87 Ashes series. On that occasion it was Allan Border who bowed to Ian Botham’s reputation as a hitter and allowed the Englishman easy runs early in his innings. Botham proceeded to blast a century, which tilted thepsychological balance in the series very much in England’s favour. Judging by the sight of a few slumped shoulders and some sloppy fielding prior to lunch it wouldn’t surprise if the Waugh-Healy partnership has a similar affect in this series. Just prior to the break it had reached the point where Healy was virtually dictating the field placings as he manoeuvred the ball into the gaps and occasionally lofted into the outfield. When that starts to happen, the fielding captain is at least one move behind the play where he really needs to be like a top-class snooker player, a couple ahead.

The amazing Healy just keeps improving both as a ‘keeper and a batsman. Healy’s batting career started slowly, but it’s improved to the point where he has now not only taken the wicket-keeping world record from Rod Marsh, but also the most centuries (four) for an Australian ‘keeper. His ability to maintain a strike rate that most top order batsmen only dream about, even in the most tense of situations, is as much a tributeto Healy’s wonderful temperament as it is to his undoubted skill.

He contributed greatly to the decline in confidence of the English players, which plummeted to the depths when Damien Fleming ripped into the bowling and posted a career high 71 not out, that included eleven fours. Some of the boundaries were a little fortuitous, but none was better than the pull shot that took him to within reach of his first Test 50. It featured a cocking of the left leg, a-la Gordon Greenidge, as it flew to the backward square-leg boundary off the luckless Darren Gough and would have brought a nod of approval from the Bajan. From four for 106 with `a last four’ that were described by Shane Warne as `three number 11’s and a ten,’ Australia had reached 485. The England players should hang their heads.

The one positive for the England bowlers was the form of Alan Mullally. Having shown improvement at first-class level he needed to confirm it at Test level. Five wickets in the first innings of the series did exactly that andwhen the luck turns Gough’s way, as it surely must, they’ll be a difficult combination. However, they need support in the field and from the captain and this was missing after the first two sessions of the Australian innings.

The only calamity for England when they batted was the loss of Mike Atherton. Not many bowlers have the confidence or the temerity to nominate the way they will torment their victims before the series even commences, as most feel it is tempting fate. Nonetheless, Glenn McGrath did exactly that when he said he would target Atherton in an attempt to improve the already good record he has against the former England captain. He proved to be as good as his word when he prised out Atherton with a well-directed delivery around off-stump.

Undaunted by Atherton’s loss, both Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain played confidently and competently. The pitch is good and apart from McGrath, the bowling didn’t look overly dangerous. Despite their blunders England have the opportunity to save the gameas long as they don’t fall into the trap of becoming negative as they did when Waugh and Healy joined forces.

SCOREBOARD

Australia (1st innings): Mark Taylor c Hussain b Cork 46, Michael Slater c Butcher b Mullally 16, Justin Langer lbw Gough 8, Mark Waugh c Stewart b Mullally 31, Steve Waugh c Stewart b Mullally 112, Ricky Ponting c Butcher b Cork 21, Ian Healy c Mullally b Fraser 134, Michael Kasprowicz c Stewart b Mullally 0, Damien Fleming not out 71, Stuart Macgill c Stewart b Mullally 20, Glen McGrath c Atherton b Croft 5. Extras (lb 14, nb 6, w 1): 21. Total (all out in 158 overs): 485

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-59, 3-106, 4-106, 5-178, 6-365, 7-365, 8-420, 9-445

Bowling: Gough 34-4-135-1, Cork 31-6-98-2, Mullally 40-10-105-5, Croft 23-6-55-1, Fraser 28-7-76-1, Ramprakash 2-1-2-0

England (1st innings): Mark Butcher not out 23, Mike Atherton c Mark Waugh b McGrath 0, Nasser Hussain not out 23. Extras (lb 6, nb 1): 7. Total (for one wicket, 19 overs): 53

Fall ofwickets: 1-11

Bowling: McGrath 7-2-13-1, Fleming 7-2-20-0, Kasprowicz 4-1-14-0, Macgill 1-1-0-0