August 20, 2001 - 1720 GMT
Butcher guides England to historic win

LEEDS: Mark Butcher steered England to an extraordinary win in the fourth Ashes Test here in front of a virtual full house at Headingley, Leeds against Australia in the dying moments of the final session. The Surrey left-hander scored his third Test century - England's first in the series - and hit the winning runs to finish with 173 runs off 227 balls. 

Chasing 315 to win, England lost both the openers early in the day but Nasser Hussain and Mark Butcher added 181 runs for the third wicket to revive England's chances of a win. After the loss of Hussain for 55 before tea, Butcher found an able partner in his county colleague Mark Ramprakash and the two took the score from 214 to 289 when Ramprakash, after scoring 32 runs off 51 balls, edged a Shane Warne delivery to Mark Waugh in slips.

But his loss, when only 26 runs were required to win, failed to bring Aussies back in the match. Afzaal managed to score four runs and was out there when senior partner Butcher scored the winning runs in the 74th over of the innings.

England scored 300 or more runs in an innings for the third time in Tests and became only the 13th team to record a total of 315 or more for victory in the final innings in 120 years of Test cricket. Butcher, who finished with career-best 173 not out, hit some glorious boundaries, including a six, proved his critics wrong with a career-saving knock and stopped Australia from going for an Ashes whitewash.

For Australia, Jason Gillespie took two wickets for 9 runs while McGrath and Warne took one wicket each. Lee proved to be expensive with figures of 16-4-65-0 while Mark Waugh gave just 7 runs from his only over of the match.

The fifth and final Test of the Ashes series will start on Thursday at The Oval.

August 20, 2001 - 1230 GMT
Hussain, Butcher lead fight back after early loss

LEEDS: England lost two early wickets here in the first session of the final day of the fourth Test here at Headingley, Leeds as they chased a victory target of 315 against Australia.

Michael Atherton hit the first ball of the day for a four off McGrath but two balls later, he edged the ball to Adam Gilchrist off McGrath and went his and the England total on eight. His opening partner Marcus Trescothick departed half an hour later when he was caught by Matthew Hayden off Jason Gillespie for 10 in the gully region.

The dismissal of Trescothick left the hosts in deep trouble on 33 for two but since the departure of the two openers, Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain have added 85 runs in 20 overs to revive the England innings on a seamer's paradise.

After resuming the day at 4/0 in 2.3 overs, England lost Atherton to the third ball of the day as the batsman gloved the ball to the wicketkeeper, who took a simple catch. It was the 18th time that Atherton had fallen to McGrath in his 32 Test innings against Australia. Fifteen of those dismissals have been to catches to the wicketkeeper or in the slips.

Atherton's dismissal brought Mark Butcher to the wicket, and he was soon in trouble, edging McGrath over the slips to the boundary. The former England captain survived a loud appeal for caught behind off McGrath's next delivery, but umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan rightly gave the batsman the benefit of doubt as the ball had brushed Butcher's shirt above the elbow and not the glove.

Trescothick's departure brought Nasser Hussain to the wicket who led England's fightback with Butcher and the pair guided England to 118 for two at lunch, still needing 197 runs to win.

The England skipper was particularly severe on Gillespie, driving him for four to bring up England's 50 and then hooking him for six over square leg. The left-handed Butcher also took the attack and completed his fifty just before the lunch interval.

England require another 197 runs with 8 wickets remaining but with Hussain (31 not out) and Butcher (55 not out), England may have a little hope of making it to the huge total.

In 120 years of Test cricket only 12 teams have managed a higher total than 315 in the final innings for victory. Two of those totals were achieved by England, against Australia in Melbourne in 1928/29 and more recently against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1997. Australia in 1948 are the only winners at this ground chasing a total over 250, so history, and the early exchanges, would suggest the hosts face quite a battle.


DAY FOUR
August 19, 2001 - 1900 GMT
England set 315 for victory

LEEDS: England have been asked to chase 315 runs for victory against Australia after the tourists decided to declare their innings at 176 runs for the loss of four wickets in 39.3 overs here at Headingley, Leeds on the fourth day of the fourth Test.

Most of the day's play was washed out because of rain and only half an hour’s play was possible after lunch before dark clouds gathered over Leeds and light rain called a halt to proceedings. Before lunch, 40 minutes of play was lost to rain but the weather became devastating in the latter part of the day, not before England had struck to claim their fourth wicket - third of the day.

The Aussies, bidding to go 4-0 up in the five-match series, resumed the fourth day on 69 for one with Ricky Ponting leading the way with a run-a-ball 72 on an increasingly unreliable pitch and a series of rain interruptions before Australia declared at 176 for four.

Rain disturbed most of the day’s play either side of the intervals. All the efforts of the groundsmen to clear the ground were washed away when rain increased here after tea.

Earlier, the day began with overnight Australian batsmen Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting resuming the innings at 69 runs for the loss of one wicket. The two blasted the English bowlers but stand-in vice-captain Ponting was more attacking of the two. He and Matthew Hayden put on a quickfire 104 as eleven came off left-armer Alan Mullally's first over and 10 off the next from Darren Gough.

Ponting followed his brilliant first innings hundred with a run-a-ball 72 before lunch as Australia extended their lead at will. He was adjudged leg before to Gough after making 72 while Hayden was next to go for 35 - twelve runs later - when he was caught
by Alec Stewart off Mullally to give the left-armer his second wicket of the match.

First innings-centurion Damien Martyn was the last to go for Australia as soon after the lunch interval, Martyn (6) was adjudged lbw to Caddick. Gough and Caddick bowled well on the pitch which helped the faster bowlers than medium pacers, however Waugh survived their scare and managed to score 24 runs off 28 balls before first rain and later stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist stopped Australia’s progress through declaration.

For England, Gough took 2 wickets for 68 runs from his 17 overs while Mullally followed with 1/34 from his 7.3 overs.

The hosts, who were due to face 20 overs on resumption were forced off the field because of bad light after just 2.3 overs. They made 4 runs and all the runs scored came from Micheal Atherton's bat. The home team might be under pressure on Monday as they have only
passed 300 once in the series, and only breached 200 once in a second innings. 

The pitch will be difficult to bat on Monday. Gilchrist would be looking to his pacers and Shane Warne, who are capable of dismissing the hosts in one day but heavy rain - which wrote off more than two sessions in the first three days and most of the fourth day - might just save the home side from a humiliating defeat as they still need 311 to win in 90 overs.

Australia is trailing the five-match series 3-0.

August 19, 2001 - 1132 GMT
Frustration increases for Australia as rain prevents play

LEEDS: Tea was taken early here on the fourth day of the fourth Test between England and Australia as rain disturbed most of the day’s play either side of the intervals.

All the efforts of the groundsmen to clear the ground were washed away when rain increased here at a time when Australia were leading by 314 runs with 6 wickets remaining. 

England took the key wicket of first innings-centurion Damien Martyn between showers but soon after the departure of Martyn, rain began to pour heavily and has prevented play since 1305 GMT.

After the departure of overnight batsmen Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting before lunch, Caddick and Gough began to extract something from an increasingly difficult pitch and posed problems for new batsmen Mark Waugh and Damien Martyn. Martyn made 6 before he was adjudged lbw to Caddick. However Waugh survived the scare and managed to score 24 runs off 28 balls before rain halted Australia’s progress.

The pitch will be difficult to bat on if play resumes today. Gilchrist would be looking to put England as soon as the play starts so that his pacers and Shane Warne can dismiss the hosts quickly. But heavy rain - which wrote off more than two sessions in the first
three days – can save the home side who are trailing by 0-3 in the five-match series.

Australia are leading by 314 runs and they may declare their innings as soon as play resumes. England has only crossed 300 once in the series and an Australian win may seem possible if rain doesn’t prevent any more play today and tomorrow.

August 19, 2001 - 0822 GMT
Ponting blasts English bowlers in rain-marred session

LEEDS: Stand-in vice-captain Ricky Ponting followed his brilliant first innings hundred with a run-a-ball 72 before lunch in a rain-marred session as Australia extended their lead to 284 on the fourth morning of the fourth Tests. 

The tourists lost their overnight batsmen before lunch but not before the two - Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting - had blasted the English bowlers. They took the score from 25/1 to 124 before light rain forced the players off after 40 minutes' play. 

Their 50 came off just 57 balls before Ponting reached his own half-century from 52, an innings which included seven fours. He was finally dismissed before lunch when he was declared leg before to Darren Gough for 72.

Hayden was next to go for 35 - twelve runs later - when he was caught by Alec Stewart off Mullally to give the left-armer his second wicket of the match. 

At lunch, Australia had scored 146 runs for the loss of three wickets in 33 overs. Damien Martyn and Mark Waugh were at the crease at lunch with 0 and 4 runs respectively. For England, Gough took 2 wickets for 57 runs from his 15 overs while Mullally followed with
1/17 from his four overs. 

Australia now lead by 284 runs and with 7 wickets remaining, they are in a better position to win the match than their hosts who will be hoping for more rain to save themselves from yet another humiliating defeat.

DAY THREE

August 18, 2001 - 1232 GMT
McGrath pushes England towards defeat 

LEEDS: Glenn McGrath took two more wickets in the first hour of the third day's play against England here at Headingley, Leeds and the blow pushed the hosts towards another defeat in the Ashes series. 

Australia, who lead the five-match series by 3-0, took three quick after the hosts resumed their innings at 155 for two. The loss of three wickets saw England slump to 193 for five in the first hour of play.

Nasser Hussain was the first to go and he was soon followed his overnight partner Mark Butcher. The two added just three runs to their overnight score before McGrath struck in his second over of the day and trapped the England captain lbw on the back foot for 46 to a delivery which could have struck Hussain just outside the off stump.

Nine balls later and without a run added, the left-handed Butcher followed after an inexplicable rush of blood as he pushed Jason Gillespie back down the pitch, called Ramprakash for a single but was run out when a diving Brett Lee struck the wickets after the ball was deflected by the bowler to mid-on.

Butcher and Hussain put on 91 runs and their departure wrecked all the good work of the previous evening, when they had tenaciously held off the Australian pace attack to suggest an England revival for the first time in the series.

Usman Afzaal, in his second Test, played a couple of attractive shots but edged a McGrath delivery to Shane Warne at first slip. His loss restricted England to 174 for five in the 61st over and after his loss, Surrey-colleagues Mark Ramprakash and Alec Stewart tried to rebuild the English innings at lunch with a 58-run unbeaten partnership.

At lunch, England had scored 232 runs for the loss of five wickets in 79 overs with Ramprakash and Stewart contributing 33 and 24 respectively while for Australia, McGrath ended with figures of four for 55. The hosts are still trailing by 215 runs while they require 16 more runs to avoid follow-on and make Australia bat again.


DAY TWO

August 17, 2001 - 1820 GMT
England survive 'Aussie' scare

LEEDS: England, battling to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat in the five-match series, were trailing by 292 runs when play ended on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test here at Headingley Leeds. 

The hosts, who reached 50 without loss at tea, with Michael Atherton on 22 and Marcus Trescothick on 27, lost both the batsmen in quick succession to Glenn McGrath who made both the openers edge the ball to wicketkeeper and stand-in Australian captain Adam Gilchrist.

Atherton (22) fell yet again to his nemesis McGrath shortly after tea as he edged the ball faintly to Adam Gilchrist while Trescothick (37) edged a wild pull shot to Gilchrist four overs later off the same bowler. But after the loss of the openers - in 19th and 23rd over - Nasser Hussain along with the in-form Mark Butcher batted sensibly to give England some hope of survival against some accurate Australian bowling.

Hussain and Butcher brought England back into the match with a battling last session. The two came together with the score on 67/2 and slowed down the proceedings. Hussain, who came into the match after representing an Essex second XI, showed considerable patience and concentration and left the ball when it mattered. Both he and Butcher struck the odd boundary while took some risky singles mostly off Shane Warne.

Hussain unleashed his batting prowess when he pulled Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee for impressive boundaries. Left-handed Butcher, on the other end, appeared to be maintaining the form he had shown earlier in the season as he looked assured against the paceman while also dealt well with Warne.

When play was called off two overs early due to bad light, Hussain and Butcher had added 88 for the third wicket to take England to 155/2, with Butcher unbeaten on 47 and Hussain on 45 not out. For Australia, Glenn McGrath took both the wickets to fall and bowled well, giving 39 runs in his 16 overs.

Earlier, England's Darren Gough took 5/103 to restrict Australia to 447 runs in 100.1 overs but his efforts were not enough as Australia's Damien Martyn completed his second century of the current Ashes series which helped his team post a formidable first-innings total.

Martyn, who was preferred over the experienced Justin Langer for the first Test, also scored a century in the opening Test and his bat has been wielding runs ever since. He continued to bat positively even when Australia lost debutant Simon Katich and in-form Adam Gilchrist in the first session.

At lunch, Martyn was batting at 97 not out and after lunch took the score to 447 almost single-handedly as wickets continued to fall at the other end. He reached his second Test century - also his second in this series - just after lunch and was the last man out for 118 when he was caught on a rebound by wicketkeeper Alec Stewart. He faced 135 balls and hitting 18 well-timed fours.

But Gough's five wickets helped England wrap up the Australian tail as tourists lost the last five wickets for 51 either side of lunch. Australia, who resumed the day at 288 for the loss of four wickets in 66.3 overs, batted slowly and carefully in the first hour of play. Martyn collected 10 runs off the first over with the new ball off Tudor but lost his partner debutant Simon Katich who was bowled by Darren Gough for 15 runs.

Gilchrist, who has had been in tremendous form and who is captaining the Australian side in Steve Waugh's absence was, after scoring 19 runs, caught by Trescothick at cover off Darren Gough just before the break and his loss reduced the tourists to 396/6 in 90.5 overs.

Shane Warne followed with a duck while Brett Lee was caught by Ramprakash off Mullally without scoring at gully to give Alan Mullally his first Test wicket in more than 18 months. Atherton caught Jason Gillespie at first slip off Gough for 5 while Glenn McGrath remained not out with 8 runs as Australia were bowled out for 447 runs in 100.1 overs.

England, who managed to score 155 runs for the loss of two wickets in 52 overs, now trail by 292 runs and with eight wickets in hand, they would be looking forward to score as many runs as possible. On the other hand, Australia will be looking to dismiss the hosts and they might bank on Shane Warne's leg-spin to finish England's innings as early as possible.

August 17, 2001 - 1620 GMT
Gough grabs five to make Australia falter

LEEDS: England's Darren Gough took 5/103 to restrict Australia to 447 runs in 100.1 overs here on the second day of the fourth Test at Headinley, Leeds. But his efforts were not enough as Australia's Damien Martyn completed his second century of the current Ashes series which helped his team post a formidable first-innings total.

After resuming at 97 not out after lunch, Martyn took the score to 447 almost single-handedly as wickets continued to fall at the other end. He reached his second Test century - also his second in this series - just after lunch and was the last man out for 118 when
he was caught on a rebound by wicketkeeper Alec Stewart. He faced 135 balls and hitting 18 well-timed fours.

While Martyn scored a century, Darren Gough took wickets on the other end and finished with five-wickets in an innings. He helped England wrap up the Australian tail as tourists lost the last five wickets for 51 either side of lunch.

After lunch, Shane Warne followed with a duck while Brett Lee was caught by Ramprakash off Mullally without scoring. Atherton caught Jason Gillespie at first slip off Gough for 5 while Glenn McGrath remained not out with 8 runs as Australia managed 447
runs in 100.1 overs.

England, battling to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat in the five-match series, were trailing by 397 runs at tea. The hosts reached 50 without loss at tea, with Michael Atherton on 22 and Marcus Trescothick on 27.

August 17, 2001 - 1240 GMT
Martyn steers Australia to commanding position

LEEDS: In-form Damien Martyn stroked his way to his third fifty of the series at lunch on the second day of the third Test here at Headingley Leeds against England. Martyn, who was preferred over the experienced Justin Langer for the first Test, scored a century in the opening Test and his bat has been wielding runs ever since.

He continued to bat positively even when Australia lost debutant Simon Katich and in-form Adam Gilchrist in the first session. At lunch, Martyn was batting at 97 looking well set for his second Test century while Shane Warne, who had not scored, was supporting him.

Earlier, after resuming the day at 288 for the loss of four wickets in 66.3 overs, Australia batted slowly and carefully in the first hour of play. Martyn collected 10 runs off the first over with the new ball of Tudor but his partner Katich was bowled by Darren Gough later for 15 runs.

Gilchrist, who has had been in tremendous form and who is captaining the Australian side in Steve Waugh's absence was, after scoring 19 runs, caught by Trescothick at cover off Darren Gough just before the break and his loss reduced the tourists to 396/6 in 90.5 overs.

Australia have, at lunch, scored 408 runs for the loss of six wickets in 93 overs with Damien Martyn making 97 of them. For England, Darren Gough took both the wickets to fall in the morning session while Caddick took three wickets yesterday.

DAY ONE
August 16, 2001 - 1900 GMT
Ponting shines with century on rain-marred day

LEEDS: Stand-in vice-captain Ricky Ponting hit back as Australia recovered from a two-wicket burst from Andrew Caddick to reach 288/4 at close of play on the first day of the rain-delayed fourth Ashes Test at Headingley, Leeds.

Ponting, after a desperate run of form which has seen him average less than eight in his last 10 Test innings, unleashed a series of fine boundaries to score his eighth Test century after the morning session was washed out by rain. 

But he needed a reprieve from the third umpire after England appealed for a slip catch before he had scored. He came to the crease in the twelfth over and was joined by Mark Waugh in the fourteenth over. The two added 221 runs for the third wicket before Ponting was dismissed for 144 which came off 154 balls and included 20 fours and three sixes as he was finally caught by Stewart off Tudor.

Mark Waugh made 72 runs before he was dismissed in the last over of the day as he gave Andy Caddick his third wicket of the match. Ramprakash caught him in the slips but it seems that he has hurt himself in the process.

Australia began well but lost two wickets in a space of three runs. Michael Slater opened with a four off the first ball of the match, where Alan Mullally missed the ball as he slipped on the damp outfield. The openers cracked 15 runs off three overs before England gradually took the upper hand. Both the openers - Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden - went in quick succession as Andrew Caddick had them both leg before for 21 and 15 runs respectively.

The tourists, who have won the first three Tests of the five-match series, have scored their runs at an amazing rate of 4.43 runs per over.

For England, Caddick took three wickets for 97 runs while Tudor chipped in with one wicket.

England went into the game with an all-seam attack, dropping off-spinner Robert Croft and recalling left-armer Mullally for his first game for over a year-and-a-half. Captain Nasser Hussain, his broken finger mended, and Usman Afzaal were also brought back. Australia made one enforced change, Simon Katich replacing the injured Steve Waugh. 

Australia would love to increase their total of 288/4 which came in 66.3 overs as they have in-form Damien Martyn still out there at 19 not out. 

August 16, 2001 - 1530 GMT
Australia lose openers on opening day

LEEDS: Australia lost two wickets here on the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley, Leeds against England before tea. Both the openers - Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden - went in quick succession as Andrew Caddick had them both leg before for 21 and 15 runs respectively.

Stand-in vice-captain Ricky Ponting would have been Caddick's third victim but the third umpire ruled out an appeal for a slip catch and Ponting made most of that chance. He pulled Alan Mullally for a six on the leg side before tea and batted confidently for his 32 not out. Mark Waugh was the other not out batsman and had scored 9 runs.

Australia had scored 86 runs in the 26 overs bowled in the evening session for the loss of two wickets. The partnership between Waugh and Ponting has so far collected 44 runs off 73 balls. For England, Caddick has taken both the wickets for 37 runs from his nine overs while the others also bowled well within themselves.

The tourists, who have won the first three Tests of the five-match series, have scored their runs at an amazing rate of 3.31 runs per over.

August 16, 2001 - 1325 GMT
Australia opts to bat after winning toss

LEEDS: Australia have won the toss and have opted to bat first here at Headingley Leeds on the opening day of the fourth Test against England, after heavy rain washed out the morning session.

Australia's stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist won the toss like his predecessor but instead opted to bat on a very dry pitch.

Australia will back Shane Warne to bowl England out in the fourth innings while England have opted for an all-seam attack.

The umpires inspected the ground at 1325, and decided that the afternoon session will run from 1415 to 1610 GMT, with the evening session from 1630 to 1900. 

Alan Mullally makes a comeback to the England XI after eighteen months and would add variety to the England attack, which is spearheaded by Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough and Alex Tudor.

Australia announced their final eleven on Tuesday, with Gilchrist replacing the injured Waugh as captain and debutant Simon Katich taking Waugh's place in the middle order. 

England: Nasser Hussain (capt), Mike Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Mark Ramprakash, Usman Afzaal, Alec Stewart (wicketkeeper), Alex Tudor, Andy Caddick, Darren Gough, Alan Mullally. 

Australia: Adam Gilchrist (capt and wicketkeeper), Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Simon Katich, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.

August 16, 2001 - 1125 GMT
Rain delays fourth Test

LEEDS: Heavy rain has delayed the start of the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley. The good news is the rain has stopped and the groundstaff are working frantically to clear excess water from the square.

The umpires are due to inspect the ground at 12 noon, but there seems little chance of any play before lunch. However, the previous showers had already done their damage with water clearly visible on the surface of the outfield. Under a dark grey sky early morning rain lashed down on the Yorkshire headquarters following a cloudburst the previous night. 

Australia announced their side on Tuesday but England have yet to announce their eleven with speculation that off-spinner Robert Croft may be used on a strangely dry looking Headingley pitch.

Australia have already retained the Ashes after winning the first three matches in the five-match series.