Warne gets 600 on Vaughan’s day

For Australia, the day began perfectly when opening bowler Glenn McGrath was declared fit after missing the second test with damaged ankle ligaments. Things, however, got steadily worse, the world champions dropping four catches in a ragged fielding display.

Vaughan, who hit one six and 21 fours, was given two extra lives and also bowled off a no-ball before recording his 15th Test century.

Marcus Trescothick made 63 in a 137-run stand for the second wicket while Ian Bell, struggling at times to get the ball off the square, put on 127 with Vaughan for the third wicket to end on 59 not out.

Nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard was bowled by Brett Lee off the final ball.

The defining moment of the day, though, was Warne’s.

He dismissed Trescothick, caught behind off an attempted sweep for his landmark.

It was not pretty but Warne did not care. The ball came off the back of the left-hander’s bat and looped up off Adam Gilchrist’s thigh before the wicketkeeper gratefully completed the catch.

The crowd rose to give Warne his ovation, the 35-year-old saluting back by holding the ball above his head. He ended the day with one for 75 to Lee’s three for 58.

Vaughan hogged the rest of the applause.

McGrath, who appeared to have little chance of playing after also missing the second test, ended the day empty-handed on 0-76 although he deserved a lot more.

His second ball of the match spat up and flew over the slips for four off Trescothick’s gloves. Trescothick, beaten repeatedly, should have been out to McGrath again on 13 but Gilchrist tried to take the catch one-handed and fumbled.

Lee made the breakthrough, shaking up Andrew Strauss with a 95mph lifter that hit him just under his jaw line, then fooling him with a slow yorker. Strauss, who made six, was Lee’s 150th Test wicket.

Vaughan marched in at 26 for one and looked assured immediately, turning the ball off his legs with aplomb and driving immaculately off the back foot. Cutting at McGrath, he snicked the ball high to first slip but Gilchrist, too eager to make amends, dived across Warne and tipped the catch for four.

Next ball, Vaughan drove, missed and lost his off stump only for a no-ball to be called. Vaughan, breathing again, celebrated with two lavish back-foot boundaries off Gillespie.

Gillespie was made to suffer even more after tea, which England had reached on 195 for two. One four-over burst from the long-haired seamer went for 42 runs. Vaughan deposited him into the square-leg stand for six, then drove him through mid-off and flicked him to midwicket.

To make matters worse, Vaughan had been dropped moments before on 141 — 100 runs after his first life — when he looked to attack Warne off the back foot only to edge to slip. Matthew Hayden juggled the ball to the ground.

Bell also got a reprieve from the disgusted McGrath. He chipped a slower ball back but McGrath could not hold on with his right hand.

Bell got into a rut at one stage, failing to score off 37 balls and making just 25 of the century partnership with Vaughan before his captain threw his wicket away.

After almost four and three-quarters hours, he hoisted Simon Katich’s part-time wrist spin to deep mid-wicket. Kevin Pietersen fell foolishly for 21, hooking the new ball from Lee to square leg.

Why Warne Loves Eng

• Warne’s bunnies are all English
Alec Stewart 14 times.
Nasser Hussain 11 times
Mike Atherton 10 times.
Graham Thorpe 9 times.

• Warne’s best (8/71) is against England at Brisbane in 1994-95.

• Warne’s milestones are England’s millstones.
No. 50 Nasser Hussain
No.150 Steve Rhodes
No.250 Alec Stewart
No.400 Alec Stewart
No.600 Marcus Tresothick

• Hence Warne’s performance against England is 149 wickets in 29 matches at 22.18

• In England, he has taken 105 wickets at 21.70 in 105 matches.