Steve Waugh's day at the MCG

By Malcolm Conn

MELBOURNE, DEC. 26. Two runs on Wednesday will give Steve Waugh a century, a place in history alongside Viv Richards, and confirm another stolen match after he counter-punched brilliantly against the beleaguered West Indies on the first day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Tuesday.

Once again the Australian captain, returning to the side from injury and nursing a tooth ache, rescued his country with an unbeaten 98 as 149 for five became 295 for seven at stumps, a good score on a playful wicket.

More than 73,000 came to pay homage, further enhancing the Boxing Day tradition, as Waugh batted four and-a-quarter hours and faced 183 balls during an innings which contained 13 fours.

The many who stayed for yet another disgracefully late stumps cheered and clapped wildly as Nixon McLean ran in for the day's last ball amid swirling pie wrappers and supermarket bags, with Waugh needing three for his 23rd century.

It would also have brought him equal with Viv Richards as the fifth-highest run scorer in Test cricket with 8540, but instead he bunted a single and left the ground with his bat in the air determined to live another day.

A stoic Jason Gillespie (14 not out) arrived at the crease with Australia teetering at 225 for seven, but 100 minutes later he had combined for a 70-run partnership.

``It was very satisfying. I've hardly picked up a bat since the injury so I'm pretty fresh and I think sometimes that's the best way to be going into a Test-not worrying about your cricket,'' Waugh said later.

``From ball one I felt as if it was going to be my day. It probably suited my game more than other players because I had to dig in and work hard.''

Waugh debuted on Boxing Day in Melbourne 15 years ago, against India, and his fondness for the most popular Test on the Australian calender continues to grow.

``I think it's the best Test for any Australian cricketer to play. With 70,000 it's just fantastic to walk out there in a Test and have a huge crowd. It really does lift you when you play in the middle,'' he said.

At 234 for seven and the match in the balance Waugh thankfully refused to go off in the gloom as the MCG lights took some minutes to kick in. This was not only a sign of confidence but necessary respect to all those who came to watch this record- breaking side.

Much about Melbourne is sporting, including the MCG pitch, and it was no different on Tuesday as the coarse, matted couch made the ball bounce as if it were delivered on a trampoline or grabbed the seam and caused it to deviate disconcertingly.

With the early moisture it was no surprise that the West Indies won the toss and bowled, or Australia included Andy Bichel ahead of the unlucky Stuart MacGill in the hope of doing the same.

Jimmy Adams may lead the most modest quartet of fast bowlers to play for the West Indies in more than 20 years but it remains a mystery why he does not initially back them more, particularly in helpful conditions.

When Gilchrist arrived at the wicket with Australia struggling at 149 for five Adams had just two slips and a gully with fieldsmen spread everywhere.

It was a delicious irony that Gilchrist's first scoring shot was sliced in the air wide of gully to the fence. More men behind the wicket instead of in front may have encouraged more such strokes and brought more chance of a dismissal.

Gilchrist out for single figures would have left the West Indies more in control of a Test than at any stage this series.

Just when it appeared Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden may survive their difficult beginning to build a solid foundation Hayden (13) drove at a ball sliding across the left- hander from Courtney Walsh and wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs took the first of four catches.

The inconsistency of this West Indian attack in the conditions proved to be the undoing of the Australian top order as they batted beyond the realities of Test cricket in such conditions.

Slater, who was dropped on 10, skied a sort of flick- pull on 30 to be caught by Jacobs and shortly after lunch Langer (31), crashed four boundaries in two overs off short Colin Stuart and Mervyn Dillon deliveries before yet again falling to an expansive stroke.

A pull aimed at a short Stuart delivery outside off stump took a bottom edge through to Jacobs. Two debutants combined. Stuart had his first wicket in Test cricket and New South Wales umpire Simon Taufel, 29, made his first decision.

Mark Waugh (25) played well until limply fending a Dillon lifter to gully and Ricky Ponting showed what great touch he is in by scoring 20 of his first 21 runs in boundaries either driven or pulled.

Sadly on 23 he pulled a short ball from McLean straight to a diving Wavell Hinds at deep square leg just three balls after the fieldsman had been pushed back.

When Gilchrist went after six boundaries in his cameo of 37, brilliantly caught by Sherwin diving away low to his right in the gully, the wonderful crowd felt their Boxing Day feast had been cut off at the entree.

Thankfully Steve Waugh was there to provide a substantial main meal.

Australia's captain Steve Waugh hits a four, off Samuels, as Ridley Jacobs, the West Indies wicket- keeper, looks on, on the first day of the fourth Test between the two teams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

- Reuters

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Anand interacts with Indian school children
Next     : Crucial runouts give Zimbabwe advantage