 Magnificent Warne
 Less than an hour after lunch on the first day of the fifth and final Test at the Oval, Shane Warne has figures of 4 for 41 in 14 overs. What a great bowler this man is, what a true champion! On a flat track on which no other bowler has so far made an impression, after Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss gave England a flying start, the leg spinner comes on to bowl and straightaway makes his mark on this Test. He has dismissed two batsmen, Trescothick and Michael Vaughan when they were in full flight, and two others, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen before they could get their eye in, half by superlative spin and half by superior mental strength. He just willed them out.
Glenn McGrath is back and it is business as usual, with his metronomic precision already making a difference to this Australian attack. Brett Lee has been steaming in, breathing fire. He has already fired the first salvo, knocking Andrew Flintoff on the helmet. Not to be undone, Fiery Fred runs a leg bye as though a spinner gently rapped him on the pads. Battle is really joined!
England have played superlative cricket this series, so I want them to win or draw this Test, thus regaining the Ashes. But what I surely do not want is for Australia to lose the match. At least to make the unconquerable Shane Warne's last Test in England a happy memory for his years in retirement. Not to forget just reward for the raw courage shown by Brett Lee. The magnificent pair don't deserve to lose.
V Ramnarayan
|
