More misery for England's cricketers

Martin Love smashed his second double-century in a fortnight as Australia 'A' took control of their three-day Ashes tour match against England on Friday.

Love followed up his 250 against the English in an earlier tour game for Queensland with 201 not out to allow the Australians to declare at 353 for three less than an hour before close of play.

England, in reply, raced to 50-1 off 13 overs but lost opener Michael Vaughan along the way for eight, playing on to fast bowler Brad Williams.

Mark Butcher finished not out 30 with Marcus Trescothick unbeaten on five after another disappointing day for the English.

Australia A's batsmen hammered the tourists bowlers from the outset after Trescothick, filling in as captain after Nasser Hussain skipped the match to visit his pregnant wife in Perth, went against convention when he won the toss and sent the home side into bat.

Bellerive Oval in Hobart is renowned as a reliable batting wicket and the English bowlers failed to make the most of any early life in the wicket before the pitch quickly flattened out.

Trescothick's surprise decision initially looked like it might pay off after fast bowler Alex Tudor forced the early retirement of opener Matthew Elliott then dismissed Australia A captain Jimmy Maher cheaply.

But it quickly became apparent that the wicket favoured the batting side as the Australians smashed 124 runs by lunch then added another 138 in the second session.

Love led the way with a chanceless innings. The 28-year-old Queenslander batted for five hours, faced 243 balls and hit 25 fours.

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He brought up his 24th first-class hundred in 111 balls with a single off all-rounder Craig White.

Love passed 10,000 first-class runs when he made it to 197 then brought up his sixth double century in the next over when he drove spinner Richard Dawson through the covers for two.

He also shared in two consecutive century partnerships, the first with Blewett for 140 then a second with Michael Clarke worth 109.

Batting at number three, Love came to the crease when Elliott retired hurt after the first ball of the innings when he was struck on the arm by a Tudor bouncer.

Elliott, a former Test opener, was taken to a nearby hospital and cleared of any serious damage although he did not bat or field for the rest of the day.

Tudor then got rid of Maher for six with the total on 13 when he got a ball to seam away from the left-hander and wicketkeeper James Foster took the catch.

Love and Blewett took the score along to 153 before Blewett was bowled by White for 25, bringing 21-year-old Clarke to the centre.

Clarke made an immediate impression against the tourists, hitting a boundary in the first over he faced and reaching the tea break unbeaten on 40 after an unbroken stand of 109 with Love.

He brought up his 50 with a boundary but fell immediately after when he got a top edge to a ball from Dawson and 12th man Chris Silverwood held the easiest of catches.

He was replaced by Marcus North who finished unbeaten on 33 from as many balls when Maher declared.

England's batsmen made a bad start to their reply when Vaughan dragged a wide delivery from Williams back on to stumps with the total on 11.

But Butcher and Trescothick survived to the close with the left-handed Butcher showing signs of promise with four boundaries.

Mail Cricket Editor