October 30 Wednesday 2002
Hussain century gives England another pre-Ashes boost

PERTH: England captain Nasser Hussain fashioned a character-laden century here Tuesday as the tourists showed again that they may yet provide stern opposition for Australia in the Ashes series starting in nine days.

Hussain patiently compiled 117 -- his 48th century in first-class ranks -- in just over four and a half hours as England stroked a first innings 327 against Western Australia on the second day of a three-day match at the WACA Ground.

The tourists were replying to Western Australia's first innings 213. In their second innings, Western Australia went to stumps with 16 for one wicket, trailing overall by 98 runs. The not out batsmen were Michael Hussey (14) and Chris Rogers, yet to score.

In his chanceless, fighting 220-ball knock, coming in the wake of England's vastly improved performance in the field the previous day, Hussain eased his way to 21 delicately executed boundaries.

England desperately needed the past two days' improved performances after their woeful start to the tour -- they lost a one-day match with an Australian Cricket Board Chairman's XI and then were outplayed in a drawn two-day contest with Western Australia last week.

While Hussain would be pleased with his own form and that of most of the top order batsmen, there would be disappointment that the lower order failed, with the last six wickets toppling for just 39 runs.

Hussain shared a 59-run stand with Mark Butcher (29) for the third wicket before figuring in a liaison of 79 with John Crawley (45) for the fourth and 56 with Alec Stewart (29) for the fifth.

Hussain commanded centre stage for most of the day after openers Robert Key fell for 33 and Marcus Trescothick completed 46 in a 100-minute workout peppered with seven boundaries.

Key failed to add to his overnight score before edging a delivery from paceman Brad Williams to Matt Nicholson, in the gully.

Trescothick, who had resumed with 21, added 25. The big Somerset left-hander fell when he nicked a sizzling Nicholson delivery to second slip Mike Hussey. Hussain and Butcher, for the most part watchful, completed a hard-earned half-century together in 66 minutes.

The partnership ended just before lunch when veteran paceman Jo Angel trapped Butcher leg before wicket when the batsman padded up without offering a shot. Butcher's knock occupied more than two hours, with four boundaries.

Hussain and Crawley were well in control for most of the second session until fast bowler Stuart Karppinen bowled Crawley. England's brittle lower order was destroyed by one-Test fast bowler Matt Nicholson, who snapped up 6-79 from 19.5 well directed overs.

In the corresponding game against England four years earlier, Nicholson also ran riot, snatching a first innings 7-77 -- an effort which played a big part in his being selected for the Melbourne Test of that series.