The Hindu : Sport : Shane Warne carves out a niche of his own

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 12, 2005

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Sport

Shane Warne carves out a niche of his own

Ted Corbett

MANCHESTER: England prospered at Old Trafford on Thursday but it was Shane Warne who found his way into the history books with his 600th wicket; Marcus Trescothick caught behind after three-and-a-quarter hours spent scoring 63, which should have been the foundation stone for a big England score.

There has been no greater bowler than Warne and, warm-heartedly the whistling, singing Barmy Army acknowledged that with a generous round of applause and a standing ovation. He will never receive a finer appreciation. For the rest of the day they had booed his every move but at this great moment in his career their sporting instincts took over.

Warne had eased out Trescothick on a pitch made by a Lancashire groundsman who must love watching Michael Vaughan bat. Vaughan's innings was full of lovely shots reminiscent of those three centuries in Australia and the result was his 14th and his second at Old Trafford, his birth ground so to speak, since he was born only five miles away.

A few minutes before Australia announced its team there were many people round this ground convinced that McGrath would not play but he opened the bowling and continued for an hour and a quarter to record 8-0-29-0.

Below par

Frankly, this great bowler was below his best and I believe it is a sign of the real Aussie state of mind — as against their professed sanguinity — that they pressed him in to service. Not that he was unwilling but a week away from the game at the end of his career is probably more than his careworn body can stand. I have been reminded recently by an old county captain that on pitches as good as this rock hard beauty Brian Statham, at the end of his Lancashire career, bowled like McGrath without any movement on a good pitch.

Andrew Strauss was dropped by Adam Gilchrist off McGrath in his third over but three overs later Brett Lee, coming back from two nights in hospital, hit him on the chin strap of his helmet, needed treatment and was soon bowled, stumbling into a forward shot by a Lee slower ball for six with England at 26.

Vaughan made a majestic start, caught up with Marcus Trescothick and the Australians had to drop the over rate by the lunch interval at 93 for one to cope with their aggressive strokes. It looked as if Ricky Ponting intended to give Warne an over before lunch but he misjudged the time and it was not until 33 overs had been gone that Warne got to bowl.

Lucky

By that time Vaughan had faced an amazing over from McGrath. He was dropped high above his head as Gilchrist and Warne at first slip went for the edge and was bowled by a no-ball which gave him his century but which was eventually ruled to have been byes and he also completed fifty in 64 balls. McGrath completed five more overs after lunch and had figures of 13-1-61-0.

All the luck on this run-filled pitch was going England's way. Two dropped catches, McGrath ineffective, Jason Gillespie out of kilter and 150 scored in the first three hours suggested Australia might spend a long time trying to achieve a draw at the end of this game. Warne's leg breaks were turning slowly enough for Vaughan to wait before choosing his shot; at 130 the second wicket became a local record for an Ashes game; Lee's pace had been blunted; 600 beckoned.

It was not 600 England runs that came up but Warne's 600th wicket. Trescothick swung violently at a turning ball, miscued it and Gilchrist snatched the catch. Warne could be seen kissing his wristband. I suggest it must be, in line with those Live8 wristbands, one which says we should Make Batsmen History.

Ian Bell, still waiting for a substantial innings in this series, almost hit the ball back to Simon Katich, bowling left-arm spin, and confirming that Australia was in trouble but an on drive that scorched turf should have settled Bell's nerves and at tea England was 195 for two. For the first time in this series England needed Graham Thorpe to rub dirt in the Aussie wounds.

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