Justin Langer defied
searing heat and his own impetuosity to carve out his
first Test century on home soil and put Australia in
the driving seat on the first day of the third Ashes
Test against England here on Friday.
The left-hander did
not give a chance as he notched up 108 not out in
more than five hours at the crease as Australia
ground to a potentially match-winning first innings
266-4.
Langer's knock came
four Tests after he hoisted his maiden Test hundred,
a first innings 116 at Peshawar in October during the
Pakistan tour.
As he completed his
century, the Western Australia player leapt in the
air jubilantly, knowing he had justified his place as
regular fixture in cricket's strongest batting line-
up.
While langer was the
hero, his team mate Mark Waugh was jeered by the
crowd. Waugh looked ill at ease in 35 minutes for
seven runs. Australia were in minor difficulties at
156-3, but Langer and Steve Waugh (59) tipped the
balance strongly the home team's way in the final
session. They completed a 108-run partnership in just
over two hours before Steve Waugh fell to speedster
Darren Gough before stumps.
Mark Taylor, leading
Australia for the 48th time in Tests, won a crucial
toss and decided to bat. England plugged away
manfully in torrid conditions, and it was only in the
last hour they had their first casualty.
Fast bowler Dean
Headley was forced off the ground with an agonising
cramp, being replaced in the field by Ben Hollioake.
But England were let down yet again by their
atrocious fielding. Two more catches went down early
in the day, taking to 12 the total of missed chances
in the series.
Taylor had yet to open
his account when Hick, at second slip, failed to
grasp a low chance off paceman Darren Gough in the
third over. Slater also had a life -missed at
backward point by Mark Ramprakash off fast bowler
Headley when the right-hander had reached 17.
This time the miss was
not costly. Headley trapped Slater without addition
in the same over as relieved skipper Alec Stewart
snapped up the chance behind the wicket.
Taylor, though, made
the opposition pay dearly, as much in time as runs.
He kept vigil for almost three more hours, making a
valuable 59 which carried him past 1000 Test runs in
the calendar year.
He and Langer guided
Australia to 140-1 before off-spinner Peter Such
secured a double blow to revive the tourist's hopes.
Taylor was neatly caught at slip by Nasser Hussain
and only 14 runs later such caught and bowled a
tentative Mark Waugh.
Courtesy
: The Times of India
