Australia were on course to complete their first Ashes whitewash
for 86 years after Shane Warne marked his farewell with a brilliant
half-century and England's batting failed again in the final test
yesterday.
The world's greatest wicket-taker showed his prowess with the
bat by cracking an explosive 71 off 65 balls to help Australia
reach 393 in their first innings, a lead of 102.
Warne then demonstrated his genius with the ball when he
dismissed England captain Andrew Flintoff in the second last over
to put the tourists in disarray at 114 for five, just 12 runs ahead
and needing a miracle to avoid a heavy defeat at the Sydney Cricket
Ground.
Brett Lee and Stuart Clark ripped through England's top order to
capture two wickets each with their probing seamers, leaving Kevin
Pietersen (29 not out) and nightwatchman Monty Panesar (nought)
together at the close.
Lee dismissed Alastair Cook for four and Ian Bell for 28, both
caught behind by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, while Clark trapped
Andrew Strauss lbw for 24 and had Paul Collingwood caught by
Matthew Hayden at gully for 17.
The third umpire gave Flintoff out stumped by Gilchrist after
the wicketkeeper combined with Warne for the second time following
their heroics with the bat.
Australia were briefly in danger of falling behind England's
first-innings total of 291 before their middle and lower order
piled on the runs, with Gilchrist (62), Andrew Symonds (48) and
Clark (35) joining Warne in the run-feast. Warne, playing in his
last test, delivered on his pledge to go out with a bang by belting
nine fours and two sixes in his 12th test half-century.
He shared a 58-run partnership with Gilchrist to put Australia
in front and a 68-run stand with Clark to stretch the advantage and
keep Australia on course for their first Ashes cleansweep since
1920-21.
Warne, who has scored more test runs than any player in history
without making a hundred, was foiled in probably his final chance
when he was last man out.
(China Daily via Agencies?January 5, 2007)