Australia regain control
of first Test

Australia regained control of the opening Ashes Test on Saturday, ripping through the English batting order then building a commanding 278-run lead with two days to go.

There was no repeat of England's inspired fightback the previous day as the tourists collapsed to be all out for 325 after resuming at 158 for one.

Australia, ahead by 167 on the first innings, then tightened the screws on England, reaching 111-2 at the close for an overall lead of 278.

Matthew Hayden, showing no signs of fatigue after his first innings 197, was not out 40 at the close of play with Damien Martyn also unbeaten on 40.

Somerset fast bowler Andy Caddick gave the tourists a brief glimmer of hope when he dismissed Justin Langer for 22 and first-innings century maker Ricky Ponting for three with a hostile opening spell.

But Hayden and Martyn put on 72 in an unbroken third-wicket stand to leave the England's batsman facing the daunting prospect of having to save the Test on the final two days.

Already a man down after Simon Jones injured his knee on Thursday, England lost their last eight wickets for 155 after starting the day on 158-1.

Glenn McGrath finished with figures of four for 87 while fellow pacemen Jason Gillespie and Andy Bichel captured two wickets each and leg spinner Shane Warne one.

Marcus Trescothick top-scored for England with 72 while John Crawley finished not out 69. Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain also completed half centuries but none of the England players went on to reach a hundred.

REASSERT CONTROL

After allowing England to fight their way back into the match the previous day, Australia were quick to reassert control of the match early on day three.

McGrath gave them the perfect start when he got rid of Butcher and Trescothick in the sixth over of the day.

The lanky paceman claimed his 100th Ashes wicket when he dismissed Butcher for 54 off the first ball of his 19th over.

Butcher was dropped by Hayden on Friday but the broad Queenslander did not give him another chance, taking the ball cleanly in the gully.

McGrath then removed Trescothick, who also had a life the previous day, with the final ball of the same over, caught by Ponting at first slip.

Hussain rode his luck to post his 24th test half century, dropped by Ponting off Warne on 12 and then given not out by umpire Rudi Koertzen on 18 when he appeared to glove a catch off Warne to Darren Lehmann close in.

Hussain brought up his fifty when he pulled Gillespie over the Gabba fence for six after lunch. But the Aussie paceman took revenge three balls later when he found the edge and Gilchrist took the easiest of catches to trigger a late batting collapse.

Gillespie, who had to pass a fitness test before the start of play after aggravating a calf strain on Friday, bowled Alec Stewart for a duck when the former England skipper dragged a ball on to his stumps.

McGrath then bowled Craig White for 12 after the all-rounder failed to offer a shot to a ball that crashed into the top of his off stump.

Crawley ensured England passed the follow-on target of 293 before running out of partners.

Bichel had Ashley Giles and Caddick both caught behind in quick succession before Warne gained some overdue reward for his efforts when he dismissed Matthew Hoggard to wrap up the English innings.

Mail Cricket Editor