Shane Warne leads England at Trent's 5th Test
By Vic Mills
NOTTINGHAM, England (JP): Shane Warne regained the initiative for Australia on the second day of the fifth Test at Trent Bridge with three late wickets.
England had earlier bowled Australia out for 427 and were 106 without loss before Warne struck. Graham Thorpe and Adam Hollioake then held firm until the close to leave England 188 for four.
Resuming on 302 for three, Australia fell foul of a rejuvenated England attack.
With the hot, hazy conditions to their liking, the pace bowlers moved the ball around almost at will.
Andrew Caddick began the fight back, trapping Mark Waugh (68) leg-before to claim his fiftieth Test wicket.
When Ricky Ponting (9) edged a delivery from Dean Headley onto his stumps shortly after, Australia had stumbled to 325 for five.
An innocent bystander during the fall of wickets, Steve Waugh continued to drive fluently through the off-side, bringing up his fifty in 77 balls with 9 hours.
First change Devon Malcolm was next to use the conditions as he had Ian Healy (16) caught at second slip by Adam Hollioake and then bowled Shane Warne for his third duck in the series.
Beside themselves with excitement, England fans were out of their seats again when Malcolm produced the perfect leg cutter to defeat Steve Waugh's (75) authentic forward defensive shot.
Paul Reiffel and Jason Gillespie demonstrated their nuisance value to deny England the perfect morning and Australia went to launch at 405 for eight.
The session belonged to England, but Australia had still managed to accumulate a formidable score.
Headley wrapped up the Australian innings after the interval having Reiffel (26) caught at first slip by Thorpe and bowling McGrath (1) to leave Australia 427 all out.
After a luckless first day, Headley (4 for 87), Malcolm (3 for 100) and Caddick (2 for 102) fully deserved their share of the spoils.
Caddick, in particular, confirmed that his omission from the Headingley Test had been a grave selectorial error.
Following the lead set by their bowlers, England openers, Michael Atherton and Alec Stewart, set about their reply in a positive fashion.
Having weathered the early assaults from Mcgrath and Reifel, they turned their sights on Gillespie.
The hero of Headingley was dispatched for 32 in four wayward overs with Stewart helping himself to 4 fours in an over and racing to his first fifty of the series in 62 balls with 10 fours.
Partnership
England posted only their second fifty opening partnership of the summer during the onslaught.
Little wonder that Atherton ran to congratulate his partner as they trooped off for tea with England 76 without loss.
There was no break to the tempo after the interval as Stewart brought up the hundred partnership with a lofted on-drive off Warne.
The leg spinner replied with the classic delivery. Pitched middle and off, the ball spun, bounced and took the edge of Atherton's (26) forward push.
Healy completed the text book dismissal and England were 106 for one.
The same combination accounted for Stewart (87) albeit in more spectacular fashion.
Teased into an expansive drive, the edge flew off Healy's gloves and looped gently behind.
In an instant the keeper turned, dived and gloved the ball one-handed just inches off the ground. The catch was Healy's 300th in Test cricket and his 100th in Ashes Tests.
England slumped to 141 for four late in the session as first Warne bowled Nasser Husaain (2) and then McGrath induced John Crawley 918) to glove another catch to Healy.
In a day of fluctuating fortunes, the Surrey pair of Graham Thorpe (30) and Adam Hollioake (15) were left to mount a rearguard action as England closed on 188 for four, still the small matter of 239 behind Australia.