England seamers fightback as Aussies reach 105 for seven

Nottingham, August 2: Bad light stopped play at 1741GMT on the first day of the third Ashes Test with Australia 105 for seven at stumps , 80 runs behind England's first innings 185 here on Thursday. Adam Gilchrist was four not out and Brett Lee three not out.

England opening bowler took 3/39 and he was well supported by Darren Gough and recalled first-change man Alex Tudor, who both bagged braces, as Australia stumbled to stumps still 80 runs in arrears. The not out batsmen were Adam Gilchrist, who pushed his first ball down the ground for four, and Brett Lee, with three runs to his credit.

It was the presence of Tudor, brought into the side in place of Dominic Cork, who really made the difference, keeping the pressure on the tourists even when the openers took a break.

Australian opening pair Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater had put on 48 before the first wicket fell. Hayden, the more assured of the pair, was adjudged leg-before to Tudor, although the ball looked to have pitched outside leg stump.

Gough then followed up with the scalps of Slater and Ricky Ponting, the former never looking certain at the crease, prodding outside the line and getting an inside edge onto his stumps and the latter clipping a fine edge to wicket-keeper Alec Stewart, his 14 coming from just 20 deliveries.

After a nine-over period in which just 13 runs were scored, the pace trio pitching short to the Waugh brothers, Caddick saw captain Steve Waugh's back foot push turning into a edge for his contemporary Michael Atherton to take a sharp chance above his head at first slip. It was Atherton again who snaffled Mark Waugh three overs later, Tudor's deliver swinging away late for the younger twin to edge.

Earlier, Glenn McGrath was England's nemesis yet again, taking five for 49, as Australia bowled out the hosts for a meagre 185 on the first day of the third Ashes Test here at Trent Bridge on Thursday. It was the 20th time in 73 matches that McGrath had taken five or more wickets in a Test innings and the fifth against England.

Australia need just a draw here to retain the Ashes and claim them for what would be a record seventh successive series. Only Marcus Trescothick (69) and Alec Stewart (46) made notable scores as England crumbled once more against their oldest foes.

Darren Gough was nought not out after Andy Caddick (13) was bowled by Brett Lee. The home side's failure to reach 200 was all the more acute as stand-in captain Michael Atherton had earlier won England's first toss in 10 Tests and elected to bat.

England, 93 for three at lunch, ideally needed opener Trescothick (52 not out), to go on and make a century. However, when he had notched up 69, a full length delivery from Jason Gillespie drew the Somerset left-hander into an outside edge, which was well caught by diving wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist.

Trescothick had faced 93 balls including 13 fours but at 117 for four England were in trouble. Their problems increased when luckless Surrey left-hander Ian Ward (six) was undone by the superb leg-cutter with which McGrath, bowling from around the wicket, started his second spell. England were now 142 for five in the 37th over with Ward's county team-mate Stewart, on 25 not out, the last member of the top order left.

Recalled Surrey fast bowler Alex Tudor failed to last long either, falling lbw for three to a low full toss from leg-spinner Shane Warne. His 100th wicket against England soon followed when Robert Croft (three) was taken at silly point.

Stewart played in typically aggresive style before on 46 he was the penultimate batsman dismissed, caught at second slip by Mark Waugh off McGrath. The wicket-keeper had faced 90 balls including eight fours, England were now 180 for nine, Australia rarely relaxing a grip on the match established as early as the second delivery when Atherton was given out caught at second slip off McGrath for nought when the ball hit his arm guard rather than the glove.

It was the 16th time in Tests that McGrath had dismissed the Lancashire stalwart and Atherton's 20th duck was a new England record. After this innings Australia already have one hand on the famous old urn.