Honours Even After Day One
By Paul Bakel
January 3 2003
Mark Butcher marked his 50th Test for England with a determined century as the tourists ended the first day of the fifth Test on 264 for five at the SCG.
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Mark Butcher marked his 50th Test
for England with a determined century as the tourists ended the first day
of the fifth Test on 264 for five at the SCG. The Surrey left-hander was
dropped twice and survived two strong bat-pad appeals before going on to
claim his sixth Test century. Despite making a nervous start, Butcher dominated a 160-run third
wicket partnership with Nasser Hussain (75) before playing on to Brett Lee
having made 124 off 276 balls. The stand helped England to overcome a disappointing start when they
lost both openers inside the first 14 overs. Lee had taken advantage of a rare chance with the new ball in Glenn
McGrath's absence to deliver a superb five over spell which removed
Michael Vaughan and could also have claimed the scalp of Butcher. Vaughan had already played and missed to three successive Lee
outswingers when he attempted to drive another in Lee's second over and
instead edged behind to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist before he had scored. Lee might have had a wicket with his next delivery when he had a strong
appeal for leg before against Butcher which umpire Russell Tiffin turned
down. The Aussies were not to be denied though as Marcus Trescothick fell to
yet another loose drive outside off stump and edged Andy Bichel to
Gilchrist, who took a diving catch in front of first slip. Butcher was given another reprieve two overs later when he drove Bichel
low to Damien Martyn at gully, who failed to hold the low chance after he
had made just 13, and he was also fortunate to survive when he edged Jason
Gillespie behind only for Gilchrist to fumble a one-handed catch just
seven runs short of his half-century. Butcher then began to expand his strokeplay and moved confidently
towards his half-century only to spend a nervous 19 minutes on 49. Once past his 50, Butcher began playing with more freedom but almost
fell five runs short of his century when he attempted to sweep only for
the ball to bounce off the bottom edge onto his pad and Matthew Hayden
collected the catch close to the wicket. However, umpire Dave Orchard
denied the appeals. But Australia did hit back after tea as Hussain gloved a rising
delivery from Jason Gillespie to Gilchrist. New batsman Robert Key followed eight overs later when Australian
captain Steve Waugh struck with his sixth delivery to trap him leg before
in his crease. But after Butcher was dismissed, Alec Stewart eased the tension by
striking four boundaries in a bright unbeaten 20 off 13 balls.
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