Jacques and Hussey put Aussies on top

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE Reporting

A splendid knock of 150 from left hander Phil Jacques and another majestic unbeaten century of 101 from Michael Hussey who reached the milestone in the final over of the day and who was involved in a stand of 152 for the third wicket took Australia to a formidable score of 329 for 3 wickets on the first day of the Second Test at the Bellrive Oval, here today.

On a wicket that turned flat after the usual early life, the Aussie batsmen took control after Matthew Hayden 17 and Ricky Ponting fell 31.

With Hussey and Clarke at the wickets and Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist to come, the home team are nicely in control and the Lankan bowlers will have to do extraordinary work to come back into this Test.

Jacques said that the early overs were difficult. When I got going I needed a big hundred and set my sights on that. When facing Muralitharan, I tried something different. “He is a great bowler, varies his deliveries well and not easy to play” said Jacques.

Hussey said that his captain had told that this is a new game, and to forget the Brisbane one and to remain focused. And that is what I did” said Hussey.Trevor Bayliss the Lankan coach said that if the bowlers could knock over the remaining batsmen and bat better than they did in Brisbane theyt could come back into the game.

The wicket takers were Fernando, Muralidaran and Jayasuriya with one each. The day dawned bright and pleasant and Ricky Ponting beat Mahela Jayawardena to the toss and he was all smiles and said: “I’ll have first use of the wicket”.

But what stunned everyone here was the dropping of Chaminda Vaas. Had he played it was going to be his 100th Test and it sure would have gone to inspire him to go that extra mile.

It is not every cricketer who gets the opportunity of playing 100 Tests. Vaas had that rare opportunity. But the selectors here blew it up for him. His dropping was inexplicable considering that he is an allrounder and allrounders don”t come that easy.

He just managed to evade the hangman in the First Test in Brisbane. Having been a great servant of Sri Lanka cricket over the years, it would have been galling to him. But these are the vicissitudes he has to face as a cricketer. His dropping was premeditated murder.

That Vaas was to be dropped was well known.At the press briefing coach Bayliss said Vaas had a shoulder injury and did not think he could last the five days. Now that is interesting. How Dilhara Fernando retained his place after the Brisbane bashing was a mystery.

Kumar Sangakkara came through his fitness test and rightfully took his place as one drop batsman. All heaved a sigh of relief when it was known that Sanath Jayasuriya had retained his place. He too was on the chopping block, but thankfully got the nod of the selectors. There have been some queer selections on this tour.

Once the early life in the wicket died, it was going to be a batting paradise and that is how it turned out to be. Openers Phil Jacques and Matthew Hayden had a few anxious moments, and that was understandable.

Hayden survived a confident appeal for LBW facing Lasith Malinga. TV replays showed that he was out. But Aleem Dar who finally obtained his visa and who replaced New Zealander Tony Hill did not think so.

The wicket which was bare of green grass was seven week old wicket.

New ball bowlers Malinga and Farveez Mahroof were bowling well within themselves and the openers did not have it easy. Runs did not come easy. With the score on 48, Dilhara Fernando who replaced Mahroof had Hayden caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardena off an under edge. Australia 48 for one. Hayden 17.

Ricky Ponting joined Jacques and played some quality cricket. Jacques who had an uncertain beginning, began to settle down and play his natural strokes. He was scoring with well timed cuts and drives. Ponting too was beginning to come good with his signature on drives. Jacques and Ponting went to lunch on 48 and 16 and the total 86.

Muttiah Muralitharan who is probing hard to break Shane Warne’s record here was given his share of “no ball,no ball” calls by some of the spectators when he came on to deliver But the shouts did not unsettle him, as he kept firing his off spinners, top spinners and doosras teasingly. Jacques and Ponting seemed to be getting on top of him as they were playing him comfortably.

But after a stand of 85, Muralitharan got his doosra spot on to lure Ponting who played the wrong line to snick to Mahela Jayawardena who took a smart catch at slip. Ponting who said he would like to see Muralitharan go back without the record, fell to the bowler for the second time for 31. That was the bowler’s 703rd Test wicket 133 for 2.

At the fall of Ponting’s wicket the two century makers in Brisbane, Jacques and Hussey joined forces and endeavoured to take their side to safer waters. Jacques who was bit uncertain early in his innings, got his batting going and with some twinkle toed footwork, he pierced the field with some lovely strokes. He straight drove beautifully and cut and hooked with great confidence.

Jacques reached his second Test ton in as many matches and his 37th first class when he pushed a delivery from Mahroof to mid wicket and scampered two. It was another century he richly deserved. He celebrated it in style. Jacques 114 and Hussey 21 went to tea with a 41 run stand to show 194 for 2.

After tea they continued in their merry way, milking the bowling. Cuts, pulls and straight drives saw the partnership mounting with the bowlers helpless and only the clever spin of Muralitharan threatening.

Jacques completed his best ever Test score and after reaching 150, went for a lofted on drive and dollied a catch to Fernando at mid on off Sanath Jayauriya who was bowling a steady spell. Jacques’ knock had 18 fours off 235 balls in 325 minutes.285 for 3.

Bellrive Oval, Hobart, Friday

AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS

P. Jacques c Fernando b Jayasuriya 		150       
M. Hayden c Jayawardena b Fernando 		 17 
R. Ponting c M. Jayawardena b Muralitharan 	 31         
M. Hussey not out 				101     
M. Clarke not out 				  8
EXTRAS 						 22
TOTAL for 3 wkts 				329
FALL: 48, 133, 285
BOPWLING: L. Malinga 22-4-97-0, M. Mahroof 23-4-82-0, 
D. Fernando 13-2-65-1, M. Muralitharan 25-3-62-1, S. Jayasuriya 7-1-18-1.