Gilchrist slams century

By Malcolm Conn

BRISBANE, NOV. 10. Adam Gilchrist continues to confirm his standing as one of the most damaging and dangerous players in the game after another brutal century during the third day of the rain-marred first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane.

The Australian wicket-keeper, resuming on 88, went on to club 118, allowing Steve Waugh to declare on 486 for 9. New Zealand replied with 29 for nil, thanks to a mixture of modest bowling and good luck before rain closed in again.

Just 87 minutes of play was possible yesterday after little more than two hours on Friday. This is likely to force Australia's first draw in 24 Tests.

The world champion Test team had won 20 of 23 Tests, losing two to India and one to England in a sequence spanning more than two years.

Australia's previous matches with no result were the second and third Tests on a tour of Sri Lanka more than two years ago, when both were ruined by rain. This was also Australia's last series loss until beaten by India in spectacular style during March. There was some suggestion that Steve Waugh might have declared straight away yesterday after rain closed in again, preventing any play until half an hour before lunch.

However, he batted on and Brett Lee added just one run to his over score of 60 before being dismissed in controversial circumstances.

A delivery from Chris Cairns cut back off the wicket and appeared to flick the top of Lee's pad as it went through to wicket-keeper Adam Parore.

Lee was given out by Australian umpire Daryl Harper, causing the exciting and excitable fast bowler to complain in obvious fashion as he left the ground without his usual broad smile.

If match referee Jackie Hendriks did not have a chat to Lee about his demeanour as the young man left the ground then the former West Indian players should have.

It was not Harper's first poor decision of the match. He failed to give Justin Langer out left before wicket to just the fifth ball of the match when the recently promoted Australian opener was clearly caught in front.

Langer went on to make 104.

Lee's demise ended a record eighth wicket partnership of 135 for Australia against New Zealand. Gilchrist was unbeaten on 98 when lunch was cal.led at the usual time after only half an hour's play had been possible due to the weather.

It begged the question why cricket continues to be so intransigent in so many areas. The weather was fine enough to continue playing when lunch was taken but closed in again an hour or so after the break. Gilchrist attempted to gain his fourth Test century before the break but a mighty swing squired out on the leg side for a single, giving Jason Gillespie the strike.

However, the weather stayed fine enough for the powerful left hander to cut a Cairns delivery just wide of gully for two in the first over after the break. Gilchrist was eventually dismissed mistiming a pull to be wonderfully caught by substitute fieldsman Lou Vincent sprinting 10 metres then diving full length to gather the ball just centimetres above the ground.

The innings took two minutes longer than four hours and included 158 balls with 17 fours and a six. In the pursuit of quick runs Gillespie also played some uncharacteristically bold strokes to be unbeaten on 21 from 31 balls with three fours. Gilchrist was far from disappointed with his dismissal knowing that a declaration was imminent. He ran from the ground smiling and holding his bat above his head.

New Zealand's innings began amid great uncertainty as Steve Waugh attacked with constantly changing close fields as opening bowlers Glenn McGrath and Gillespie bowled several deliveries which jagged off the seam on the damp wicket and flew past the outside edge.

Matthew Bell, opening the batting with Mark Richardson, could have been run out before he scored. The right- hander, who moves about at the crease before the ball is delivered, chopped a ball to point and darted off for his first career run.

Richardson sent him back as Lee ran around from point and hurled the ball to short leg Justin Langer, who had come up behind the stumps. Bell would have been out scrambling back but the throw was too high, allowing him to gain his first run from a misfield as Langer jumped but could not gather the ball.

The match continued through persistent drizzle until it became too heavy to remain on the ground. More rain is forecast for this morning.

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