|
|
|
McGrath
hails Gillespie's role in Ashes victory
London, July 23: Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath
paid tribute to pace partner Jason Gillespie after Steve Waugh's
side beat England by eight wickets in the second Ashes Test at
Lord's on Sunday, victory achieved with more than a day and a half
to spare.
"It probably means i'll get a few less wickets but it's great
to have guys like that. You saw it today (Saturday) when Jason
bowled so well and we could build pressure from both ends."
"Shane (Warne) and I have done that for a long time and to me
that's what Test cricket is all about."
Man of the match McGrath took three wickets for four runs in 11
balls but Gillespie had fine innings figures of five for 43. McGrath
finished the Test with a match return of eight for 114 but Gillespie
was close behind with seven for 109.
England lasted one hour, losing their last six wickets for 39 runs
in eight overs to the new ball pairing after resuming on 163 for
four. Australia now have a 2-0 lead in the five match series after
winning the first Test at Edgbaston by an innings and 118 runs.
England are still searching for their first Lord's victory over
their oldest foes since 1934, their lone success in 105 years and 26
Tests.
McGrath added that he did not expect England's collapse, even though
Australia have won the last six Ashes series.
"I don't think we expect it but we feel that if we do the right
things, get the ball in the right areas, then we have a chance of
getting wickets and going through teams.
"Yesterday (Saturday) Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash batted
well. I was probably a little bit flat. It just goes to show that if
we are not at 100 per cent they can still score runs against
us."
McGrath said England's poor fielding, that saw them drop six catches
while Australia piled up 401 runs in their first innings, had been a
key factor.
"Their catching definitely let them down. They had some quite
easy opportunities which could have put a different aspect on this
game.
"By contrast you've got Ricky Ponting diving across in front of
Mark Waugh to take a great catch (to dismiss Ian Ward for nought).
"The old saying 'catches win matches' has never been more true
than in this match."
England have never won an Ashes series from 2-0 down and McGrath
insisted that their chances of doing so now were slim. "They've
definitely got their work cut out if they want to beat us.
"The way they batted on the last day in the second Test against
Pakistan (England collapsed and lost the match) that was more a
psychological blow than anything else.
"We saw that and we felt we could really use that and see what
scars we had left on them in the past."
McGrath said that although England's bowlers had tried hard they had
bowled the wrong line, notably against centurion Mark Waugh.
"They bowled a little too short, too straight. If you get too
straight against Mark Waugh he'll work you through midwicket all
day.
Now with Australia so firmly on top McGrath does not discount the
chance of a five-nil whitewash - only achieved once before by
Warwick Armstrong's 1920/21 Australians.
"Our goal with every Test is to win it. To win 5-0 would be the
ultimate goal. We feel that if we go out there and do the right
things, play the way we've been playing, that's a real
possibility."
"It's up to England now to bounce back. They are in an uphill
battle right now."
Steve Waugh's side have now won 18 out of their last 20 Tests,
England losing their last three and the Australia captain believes
memories of past defeats are playing on his opponent's minds.
"It's not easy for England to fight back in this situation,
particularly guys like Alec Stewart and Michael Atherton," said
Waugh.
"They've had a lot of losses against Australia, so it must be
tough for those guys to lift themselves and believe they can beat
Australia. They are good cricketers and it's really up to them to
lift the rest of the England side."
England have missed at least 13 chances in the first two Tests and
stand-in captain Atherton, deputising for the injured Nasser
Hussain, admitted England needed to sharpen up their performance.
"I suppose since the Pakistan Test at Old Trafford we've
dropped more chances than we should have.
"All three departments of the game require improvement. All you
can do is ask the side to be competitive and the result will look
after itself."
|
|
|
