November 25 Monday 2002
McGrath on song as Australia inflict heavy defeat on England

ADELAIDE: Bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne led Australia to an innings and 51-run win over England inside four days to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

The home side was home for tea as it beat threatening heavy rain and wrapped up the match with over four sessions to spare. Fast bowler McGrath, 4-41, and legspinner Warne, 3-36, the two serial destroyers of England, combined to dismiss the tourists for 159 in the second innings. Australia took control of the second Test after hitting up a match-winning 552 for nine declared.

After England had taken first-day honors through a 177 from opener Michael Vaughan and reached 295 for three, Australia struck with the second new ball to take seven for 47. The Australian victory came on the back of the 384-run win in the series opener in Brisbane. Despite Australia's domination over England, skipper Steve Waugh refused to write off the tourists.

England skipper Nasser Hussain, who said he was not ashamed to lose to a team like Australia, said England will lose again in Perth beginning on Friday if his side does not improve.

From the time openers Justin Langer and Matt Hayden shared an opening stand of 101 and gave the innings a kickstart, the home side built it victory around a 242-run third wicket stand between Man-of-the-Match Ricky Ponting (154) and Damien Martyn (95).

Warne finished with 7-129 to take his tally for 2002 to 64 wickets in nine tests, putting himself well on course to becoming the most successful bowler for the year. Only Ashes veteran Alec Stewart, 57 runs, showed some fight on a rain interrupted day, and briefly delayed the inevitable during a 74-run stand for the fifth-wicket with Vaughan 
(41), that lasted 1 1-2 hours. Resuming the day on 36 for three after losing skipper Nasser Hussain to the last ball of the third day, England capitulated before and after lunch.

The tourists lost the last six wickets for 45 runs as three rain stoppages after lunch delayed the home side's charge. At 134 for nine, a light drizzle forced the players off the field, but Australia claimed the Test after a 17-minute delay, when McGrath dismissed Richard Dawson, 19 runs, caught behind by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. The highlight of the last day was the sensational outfield catch McGrath took to dismiss Vaughan. Vaughan swept Warne, and McGrath ran around the long leg boundary and scooped it inches off the ground as he dived forward.