The Hindu : Sport : Pacemen call the shots on day one

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 22, 2005

Sport

Sport

Pacemen call the shots on day one

Ted Corbett

LONDON: So this is reality. England can compete with the world champion and after 41 overs on a helpful Lord's pitch bowl the Aussies out for 190 to start the Ashes series with a lifting show of strength. The world weary will tell you that England also bowled Australia out for 118 in the first Test at Edgbaston eight years ago and went on to lose the series 3-2.

Yes, but then there was no Steve Harmison and today the giant fast bowler was at his best, with five for 43 and a spell of four for seven in 14 balls.

Glenn McGrath's reply came first ball after tea. He had Marcus Trescothick gobbled up at slip by Justin Langer — his 500th Test wicket — and four balls later Andrew Strauss caught by Warne, alongside Langer. Ian Bell, in his fourth Test and his first against Australia, ran down the steps to face a bowler who makes most batsmen run for their lives.

Australia won the toss and decided to bat. All three of the top batsmen were hit as Steve Harmison turned on the heat. At lunch Australia was 97 for five; after 30 overs, 35 minutes after the interval, Australia was 145 for six. All out 190 in 41 frantic overs. High drama, the story unfolding as slowly as a Japanese Ko drama but none the worse for that and a thrill at least once an over. What a series this will be, whoever wins.

Even those dyed-in-the-wool, bacon-and-egg, tie-and-blue blazer MCC types — some of whom had queued up from 1a.m. — cannot deny they have had their money's worth. Actually they played a part, standing to greet the England fielders as they walked out, clapping each bright England moment, sighing sympathetically when, for instance, Kevin Pietersen dropped a catch and missed a run out, groaning when an Australia shot fell out of reach.

Fiery start

Ricky Ponting may have been surprised by the weather. The forecasters suggested a warm day but there was overhead cloud when he decided to bat. Steve Harmison bowled beautifully for seven overs but Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden began brightly against Matthew Hoggard who could not get the ball to swing when he wanted it to. Harmison hit Langer on the elbow and Hayden on the helmet — hard enough to loosen the screws — but when Hoggard combined length and swing right he bowled Hayden at 35. Ponting, the bad starter, struggled, was hit on the helmet and in the 13th over was caught at third slip.

Langer was batting fluently, picking up the bad ball early and had made 40 out of 66 when Andrew Flintoff came on at the Pavilion End and induced a wild hook to his fourth ball; sky high to the huge hands of Harmison at square leg.

Gilchrist, Warne hit out

Michael Vaughan called up Simon Jones at the Nursery End and his first ball was edged by Damien Martyn to Geraint Jones; four down for 66. Michael Clarke and Simon Katich were forced on the defensive, but 10 minutes before lunch Clarke was lbw. Umpire Koertzen took his time over the decision but whatever the television electronics say he got it right.

Either side of lunch Gilchrist let fly; six 4s in 26 off 19 balls; the aggressive Aussie answer to deep trouble. However, Flintoff got him to edge a ball to Jones with a shot well beyond the bounds of desperation.

Bold shots from Shane Warne brought him 28 out of a stand of 47 with Katich before a ball from Harmison shot his stump out of the ground; 175 for seven. He blew away the rest of the tail in 14 balls leaving England with 47 overs to build the base for a solid first innings total.

Even in this enclosed press box it was not difficult to feel the atmosphere. Each wicket brought a cheer that would rate highly in Kolkata or Bridgetown. Suddenly the English fan has begun to appreciate his team and in turn the team has begun to appreciate the crowd.

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