English cricket team in Australia in 1994–95

English cricket team in Australia in 1994–95

Infobox_Cricket_series_begin
series_name = English cricket team in Australia in 1994-95
team1_

team1_name = England
team2_
| team2_name = Australia
from_date = 25 October, 1994
to_date = 7 February, 1995
team1_captain = Mike Atherton
team2_captain = Mark Taylor (cricketer)|Mark Taylor
Infobox_Cricket_series_tests
no_of_tests = 5
team1_tests_won = 1
team2_tests_won = 3
team1_tests_most_runs = Graham Thorpe
(444)
team2_tests_most_runs = Mark Taylor
(471)
team1_tests_most_wickets = Darren Gough
(20)
team2_tests_most_wickets = Craig McDermott
(32)
player_of_test_series = Craig McDermott

The England cricket team toured Australia in 1994-95 to compete in the Ashes series against their hosts. The series consisted of five Test matches, Australia winning three, England one, and the other match was drawn. Australia retained the Ashes a third consecutive time.

Overview

England's selection for the tour was predictable, with the experienced Mike Gatting being added to the squads that had toured the West Indies and enjoyed success in home series against New Zealand and South Africa. Joey Benjamin and Martin McCague were recalled to the bowling after successful county seasons. Mike Atherton again captained the team, rallying after the summer indiscretions at Lord's though it appeared he was less than happy at the selections that had been made.

The tourists problems began almost immediately on arriving in Australia, as opening batsman Alec Stewart fractured a finger in a practice match and Shaun Udal broke his thumb in the official tour opener at Lilac Hill. This was followed by Devon Malcolm and Benjamin succumbing to chickenpox prior to the First Test. Malcolm's absence was a huge blow to England, whose coach Keith Fletcher had built up as a focal point of the pace attack, comparing the England seamers to the legendary Lillie and Thomson and claiming that the Australians were scared of his pace, while describing Darren Gough as "Yorkshire's fastest since Freddie Trueman". [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994/RSA_IN_ENG/ARTICLES/RSA_ENG_T1_PREVIEW_JOHNSON_21JUL94] comments by Keith Fletcher in report dated 21 October, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 17 May, 2007. ] Lillie and former Aussie skipper Greg Chappell poured scorn on such claims. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/LILLEE_RIDICULES_FLETCHER_AFP_24OCT94] AFP report dated 24 October, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 17 May, 2007. ] Meanwhile, both David Hopps of "The Guardian" and Simon O'Hagan in The Independent identified Graham Thorpe as England's key batsman, and the most likely to counter the leg-spin of Shane Warne. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/CONFIDENT_THORPE_HOPPS_17OCT94] article by David Hopps in The Guardian, dated 17 October, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 17 May, 2007. ] [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/THORPE_KEY_PLAYER_HAGEN_17OCT94] article by Simon O'Hagan in The Independent, dated 17 October, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 17 May, 2007. ]

As England arrived for the series, the Australian side were still in the midst of their tour of Pakistan, their first under new captain Mark Taylor, where they lost a close series 1-0 with batsmen taking most of the plaudits. Michael Bevan, Michael Slater, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh had provided most of the Australian runs, while Warne was the principle bowling threat, picking up 18 wickets in the series. Injuries to Steve Waugh and wicketkeeper Ian Healy stymied their approach somewhat, but they were unlucky to lose the series which effectively turned in Pakistan's favour with a last wicket partnership of 57 between Inzamam ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed that sealed victory for the hosts in the First Test. , [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/AUS_IN_PAK/AUS_PAK_T1_28SEP-02OCT1994.html] Scorecard of 1st Test, Pakistan v Australia, 28 September - 2 October, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 17 May 2007.] Despite their tightly packed itinerary, we were reassured by Peter Fitzsimons that the Aussies would be "up for it" [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/AUS_WARMUP_ASHES_FITZSIMONS_16SEP94] article by Peter Fitzsimons in The Daily Telegraph, dated 16 September, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 17 May, 2007. ] and that Warne would be the prime challenge for the visitors, with Australia's seamers on the decline [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/WARNE_THE_HURDLE_ROEBUCK_23OCT94] article by Peter Roebuck in The Sunday Times on 23 October, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 17 May, 2007. ]

England were also involved in a One-Day International tournament with Zimbabwe, Australia and an Australia 'A' side, which was won by Australia.

Squads

Test Series

First Test (25-29 November)

First Class Matches
batting first

batting first = Australia
first innings score of first team = 426
overs in first innings of first team = 120.2
Highest scorer for first innings of first team = Michael Slater
Highest scorer for first innings of first team initial form = MJ Slater
Highest score for first innings of first team = 176
Highest score for first innings of first team balls faced = 244
Best bowler in first innings of first team = Darren Gough
Best bowler in first innings of first team initial form = D Gough
Best bowler in first innings of first team figures = 32-7-107-4

second innings score of first team = 248/8 (dec.)
overs in second innings of first team = 88
Highest scorer for second innings of first team = Mark Taylor (cricketer)
Highest scorer for second innings of first team initial form = MA Taylor
Highest score for second innings of first team = 58
Highest score for second innings of first team balls faced = 102
Best bowler in second innings of first team = Phil Tufnell
Best bowler in second innings of first team initial form = PCR Tufnell
Best bowler in second innings of first team figures = 38-10-79-4

batting second



batting second = England
first innings score of second team = 167
overs in first innings of second team = 67.2
Highest scorer for first innings of second team = Mike Atherton
Highest scorer for first innings of second team initial form = MA Atherton
Highest score for first innings of second team = 54
Highest score for first innings of second team balls faced = 168
Best bowler in first innings of second team = Craig McDermott
Best bowler in first innings of second team initial form = CJ McDermott
Best bowler in first innings of second team figures = 19-3-53-6

second innings score of second team = 323
overs in second innings of second team = 137.2
Highest scorer for second innings of second team = Graeme Hick
Highest scorer for second innings of second team initial form = GA Hick
Highest score for second innings of second team = 80
Highest score for second innings of second team balls faced = 227
Best bowler in second innings of second team = Shane Warne
Best bowler in second innings of second team initial form = SK Warne
Best bowler in second innings of second team figures = 50.2-22-71-8

winning team = Australia
win margin = 184 Runs [cite web |url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T1_25-29NOV1994.html |title = 1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane, 25-29 Nov 1994 |publisher = Cricinfo |date = ?|accessdate = 2007-05-18]
stadium = Brisbane Cricket Ground
city = Brisbane
country = Australia
umpire1 = Cyril Mitchley
umpire1 initial form = CJ Mitchley
umpire1 country = South Africa
umpire1 country short form = RSA
umpire2 = Steve Randell
umpire2 initial form = SG Randell
umpire2 country = Australia
umpire2 country short form = Aus
MOTM = Shane Warne
MOTM initial form = SK Warne
MOTM country = Australia
MOTM ctry short form = AUS

The build-up to the First Test was chaotic from the England perspective. The first choice bowling attack was compromised when Devon Malcolm was struck down by chickenpox, which team manager Mike Smith described as "a major loss to the side". Malcolm was replaced by left arm spinner Phil Tufnell, while Angus Fraser was called up to the tour as cover from his club cricket in Sydney. cite web |url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T1_25-29NOV1994_MR|title = 1st Test Reports: Australia v England at Brisbane, 25-29 Nov 1994 |publisher = Cricinfo |date = 1994-12-02|accessdate = 2007-05-18] Mike Gatting was preferred over John Crawley for the final batting spot, despite his indifferent form in the early part of the tour [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/GATTING_UNDER_PRESSURE_ALEXANDER_03NOV94] Article in "The Independent" by James Alexander, 3 November, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 18 May, 2007] and questions over whether he was actually part of captain Mike Atherton's plans. Indeed, the skipper and tour managers had already come under some criticism from Chairman of Selectors Ray Illingworth back in London, which cannot have helped team morale. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/ILLY_RAPS_ATHERTON_AFP_22NOV94] AFP report, 22 November, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 18 May, 2007] [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/ILLY_OUT_OF_LINE_TRELFORD_24OCT94] Article by Donald Trelford in The Daily Telegraph, 24 November, 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 18 May, 2007]

By contrast, the hosts were able to pick from a full strength squad, with Ian Healy recovered from his broken digit. Curator Keith Mitchell promised that the pitch would be conducive to spin, and Australia included both Shane Warne and Tim May to take advantage of the conditions at the expense of seamer Damien Fleming. Coach Bobby Simpson described the pitch as "a great batting strip", and Atherton called it "a belter".

On the first morning, openers Michael Slater and captain Mark Taylor made the most of winning the toss, advancing to 87/0 at lunch untroubled by the England bowlers, with Taylor making a fluent half-century. A terrible mix-up saw both batsmen at one end soon after lunch, and Taylor departed run out for 59. David Boon followed soon after, when he played on to Darren Gough, but this only brought Mark Waugh to the crease, and he and Slater saw through most of the rest of the day at a run a ball, Slater moving to a commanding century (173 balls). His 150 came in just another 51 deliveries, before eventually being dismissed by the part-time seam of Graham Gooch, lifting him to Gatting at mid-off for a superb 176 (25 fours). Michael Bevan was Gough's third wicket of the day shortly before the close, but Waugh and nightwatchman Warne saw the home side safely through to 329/4 at the end of the day.

On the second morning, none of the Australians were able to supply anything more than token support to Waugh who proceeded calmly to his own century (his third against England) off 166 deliveries, and he was the ninth man out for 140 caught by Alec Stewart at short cover off Gough, the only England bowler to look remotely threatening. In their reply, England never looked comfortable against the imposing Craig McDermott, who was motivated by press speculation about his form, insisting that "it was a shock to me...I don't know where it's come from or what it's about, but I have to silence it" and silence it he did, picking up the early wickets of Stewart and Graeme Hick and returning later in the day to trap Gatting in front. At the other end, Atherton was crafting a typically gritty innings, before he became a fifth victim of the inspired McDermott (6-53), edging an attempted hook to Healy for a determined 54 early on the third morning, and the tourists subsided to a meagre total of 167.

Taylor opted not to enforce the follow-on, and he and Slater put on 109 in even time before Gough made the breakthrough, followed by two strikes from Tufnell, including a superb ball to remove Boon, as the England bowlers fought back with heart. Philip DeFreitas also chipped in with a couple of wickets, but Healy (45*) helped the Australians set an unlikely target of 508 for England to chase. Australian hopes of completing the victory inside four days looked promising when Warne struck either side of lunch to dismiss Stewart and Atherton, but Hick (80) and Graham Thorpe (67) gave the travelling fans some hope, adding 152 in four hours together before the close, playing Warne and May with relative ease. Hick was obdurate, and in the latter part of the day extremely restrained, while Thorpe's innings was prettier, but just as vital, playing some sublime cover drives, but not getting himself into any real difficulties.

Half an hour into the final day though, Warne finally turned the tide back in favour of the Australians and effectively sealed the victory. Thorpe pushed forward to a fuller delivery and missed it, then Hick was unluckily caught off the back of his bat after the ball ricocheted off his arm. Gooch added 30 with Gatting and another 30 with wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes, but both managed to nick the new ball to Healy's safe hands off McDermott's bowling. Warne cleaned up the tail to finish with match figures of 11-108 and pick up the man-of-the-match award, and the game was over before tea on the final day, England mustering 323.

At the post-match press conference, losing captain Atherton said that "It's a devastating defeat for me. I stressed before the Test the importance of not losing the first game... It can set the tone for the series", but emphasised his team's stomach for a fight, noting their recovery in the West Indies, saying: "...we came back towards the end of the tour and won in Bridgetown. I hope we come back quicker this time."

*Ian Healy's nine wicketkeeping dismissals equalled the Australian record in a Test match.

econd Test (24-29 December)

First Class Matches
batting first

batting first = Australia
first innings score of first team = 279
overs in first innings of first team = 107.3
Highest scorer for first innings of first team = Steve Waugh
Highest scorer for first innings of first team initial form = SR Waugh
Highest score for first innings of first team = 94*
Highest score for first innings of first team balls faced = 191
Best bowler in first innings of first team = Darren Gough
Best bowler in first innings of first team initial form = D Gough
Best bowler in first innings of first team figures = 26-9-60-4

second innings score of first team = 320/7 (dec.)
overs in second innings of first team = 124
Highest scorer for second innings of first team = David Boon
Highest scorer for second innings of first team initial form = DC Boon
Highest score for second innings of first team = 131
Highest score for second innings of first team balls faced = 277
Best bowler in second innings of first team = Darren Gough
Best bowler in second innings of first team initial form = D Gough
Best bowler in second innings of first team figures = 25-6-59-3

batting second



batting second = England
first innings score of second team = 212
overs in first innings of second team = 83.4
Highest scorer for first innings of second team = Graham Thorpe
Highest scorer for first innings of second team initial form = GP Thorpe
Highest score for first innings of second team = 51
Highest score for first innings of second team balls faced = 116
Best bowler in first innings of second team = Shane Warne
Best bowler in first innings of second team initial form = SK Warne
Best bowler in first innings of second team figures = 27.4-8-64-6

second innings score of second team = 92
overs in second innings of second team = 42.5
Highest scorer for second innings of second team = Mike Atherton
Highest scorer for second innings of second team initial form = MA Atherton
Highest score for second innings of second team = 25
Highest score for second innings of second team balls faced = 43
Best bowler in second innings of second team = Craig McDermott
Best bowler in second innings of second team initial form = CJ McDermott
Best bowler in second innings of second team figures = 16.5-5-42-5

winning team = Australia
win margin = 295 Runs [cite web |url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T2_24-29DEC1994.html|title = 2nd Test: Australia v England at Melbourne, 24-29 Dec 1994 |publisher = Cricinfo |date = ?|accessdate = 2007-05-18]
stadium = Melbourne Cricket Ground
city = Melbourne
country = Australia
umpire1 = Steve Bucknor
umpire1 initial form = SA Bucknor
umpire1 country = West Indies cricket team
umpire1 country short form = WIN
umpire2 = Steve Randell
umpire2 initial form = SG Randell
umpire2 country = Australia
umpire2 country short form = Aus
MOTM = Craig McDermott
MOTM initial form = CJ McDermott
MOTM country = Australia
MOTM ctry short form = AUS

Between the first two Tests, England conspired to lose two of their three World Series Cup matches, and lost two fifty over matches against the Australian Cricket Academy, but also won a four-day match against Queensland with Gatting scoring a double-hundred to secure his Test place. The break also saw Dennis Lillie commenting critically about the state of the pitches, concerned that they were deliberately being produced to favour spin. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/NO_PITCH_DOCTORING_AFP_16DEC94] AFP report of 16 December 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 18 May 2007.]

Australia made one change to their dominant Brisbane line-up, bringing Fleming in for Glenn McGrath, while England's only change saw the recovered Devon Malcolm replacing the erratic Martin McCague. Atherton won the toss and elected to field, but despite picking up the wickets of Slater (run out) and Taylor, the England bowlers generally bowled far too short and wide, and did not make best use of the damp conditions. Boon and Mark Waugh added 52 before Tufnell struck, and Bevan followed soon after, popping a Gough delivery up to the skipper at gully to leave the hosts 100/4. The Waughs added another 71, but Mark (71) was picked up by DeFreitas, and Healy and Warne were dismissed quickly by Tufnell and Gough (4-60) respectively to leave the Australians 220/7 by the close.

Steve Waugh (94*) continued his good work the next morning, adding another 59 with the tail, but were a little disappointed not to post a bigger total. The England innings got off to an inauspicious start with Stewart forced to retired hurt after he received a blow to the hand from McDermott. Atherton (44) was again the early linchpin, adding 30 with Hick and another 79 with Thorpe (51), before the former got a contentious caught behind decision from Steve Randell, Atherton was dubiously adjudged leg before to Warne, and Thorpe was given out caught at silly point off the same bowler. The traditional England collapse set in, going from 119/1 to 151/6 in short order, and then from 185/6 to 212 all out, with McDermott (3-72) and Warne (6-64) again the tormentors.

The second innings saw a solid start from the Australian openers, followed up by Mark Waugh, but the main thrust of the innings came from the pugnacious Boon, who added 112 with Bevan on the third morning in his total of 131 that spanned over six hours. Once these two were parted though, the run rate dropped, and Taylor declared the innings on 320/7, leaving England 388 to win in four sessions of play. McDermott picked up his 250th Test wicket when Thorpe became the third England wicket to fall in the first of those sessions, having already seen Fleming dispose of Gooch and Hick, and Atherton also fell before the close on the fourth day.

The final day saw little resistance from England. McDermott had Gatting and Rhodes both caught in the slips before Warne, utilised from the start of the day, became the third Australian to take an Ashes hat-trick, ripping out DeFreitas (lbw), Gough (caught behind) and Malcolm (caught at short leg). McDermott completed the rout when Tufnell edged to give Healy his fifth catch of the innings, leaving the tourists all out for a dismal 92 in less than two sessions.

Warne played down his achievement, commenting that "I was just trying to tie up an end and I got a bit lucky", while his skipper noted that "Shane is like the West Indian bowlers - when he gets on top he gets all over you". Atherton was unhappy at the post-match press conference. "I don't like to see us lie down and die," he said, referring to his decision to have Alec Stewart bat in the second innings despite a broken finger, but he admitted that "we got walloped in the first two Tests... We've got some good players [but] we're not playing especially well at the moment." The Sydney Morning Herald was less charitable towards England's performances to date, with Patrick Smith claiming that "Wisden" should count England wickets as just a half", and deploring Atherton's lack of aggression in the field. He also derided Gooch, Gatting and Hick, and picked out the way that the visitors' batsmen got themselves out so readily. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T2_24-29DEC1994_MR] Various reports of the match and aftermath dated 25-29 December 1994, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 13 June 2007.]

Third Test (1-5 January 1995)

First Class Matches
batting first

batting first = England
first innings score of first team = 309
overs in first innings of first team = 119.2
Highest scorer for first innings of first team = Mike Atherton
Highest scorer for first innings of first team initial form = M.A. Atherton
Highest score for first innings of first team = 88
Highest score for first innings of first team balls faced = 267
Best bowler in first innings of first team = Craig McDermott
Best bowler in first innings of first team initial form = C.J. McDermott
Best bowler in first innings of first team figures = 30-7-101-5

second innings score of first team = 255/2d
overs in second innings of first team = 72
Highest scorer for second innings of first team = Graeme Hick
Highest scorer for second innings of first team initial form = G.A. Hick
Highest score for second innings of first team = 98*
Highest score for second innings of first team balls faced = 166
Best bowler in second innings of first team = Damien Fleming
Best bowler in second innings of first team initial form = D.W. Fleming
Best bowler in second innings of first team figures = 20-3-66-2

batting second

batting second = Australia
first innings score of second team = 116
overs in first innings of second team = 42.5
Highest scorer for first innings of second team = Mark Taylor (cricketer)
Highest scorer for first innings of second team initial form = M.A. Taylor
Highest score for first innings of second team = 49
Highest score for first innings of second team balls faced = 131
Best bowler in first innings of second team = Darren Gough
Best bowler in first innings of second team initial form = D. Gough
Best bowler in first innings of second team figures = 18.5-4-49-6

second innings score of second team = 344/7
overs in second innings of second team = 121.4
Highest scorer for second innings of second team = Mark Taylor (cricketer)
Highest scorer for second innings of second team initial form = M.A. Taylor
Highest score for second innings of second team = 113
Highest score for second innings of second team balls faced = 248
Best bowler in second innings of second team = Angus Fraser
Best bowler in second innings of second team initial form = A.R.C. Fraser
Best bowler in second innings of second team figures = 25-3-73-5

other result= true
result = Match Drawn [cite web |url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T3_01-05JAN1995.html |title = 3rd Test: Australia v England at Sydney, 1-5 January 1995 |publisher = Cricinfo |date = ?|accessdate = 2007-06-13]
stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground
city = Sydney
country = Australia
umpire1 = Steve Bucknor
umpire1 initial form = S.A. Bucknor
umpire1 country = West Indies
umpire1 country short form = WI
umpire2 = Darrell Hair
umpire2 initial form = D.B. Hair
umpire2 country = Australia
umpire2 country short form = Aus
MOTM = Darren Gough
MOTM initial form = D. Gough
MOTM country = England
MOTM ctry short form = Eng

After his heroics in the first two tests, Shane Warne's future was the subject of considerable speculation in the media. A Reuters report suggested that he was troubled by chronic shoulder troubles, but that if he could overcome them he would be the mainstay of Australia's bowling attack for a long time. The England skipper added to the Australian eulogies, describing Warne as "easily the best bowler on either side", though Pakistan's Saleem Malik was less effusive, noting that "I didn't have any trouble picking out his variations". [cite web |url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/REUTERS_ON_WARNE_30DEC94 |title = Warne shoulders main burden for Australia|publisher = Reuters|date = 1994-12-30|accessdate = 2007-09-19]

For the Third Test, the home side were unchanged, while England replaced the injured Stewart with John Crawley and Gooch moved back to the top of the order. On the bowling front, DeFreitas was dropped again, making way for Angus Fraser. England won the toss and elected to bat, and McDermott and Fleming once again made early inroads into the top order, reducing England to 20/3 in the first hour. Stubborn resistance from Atherton (88) and Crawley (72) brought the England fans out of their shells and starting to cheer, as they added 174 for the fourth wicket. The end of the first day was Australia's though - four wickets fell as the seamers made their presence felt just before the close, leaving the tourists at 198/7 and with two new batsmen at the crease to ward off the new ball. It was these unlikely heroes that extended England's innings the next morning though - Gough rattled up a quick half-century and Malcolm 29 from 18 balls while Fraser battled away at the other end for a dogged 27 and ended up being last man dismissed as the visitors batted into the afternoon session. McDermott's 5-101 was gutsy, his 30 overs being bowled between visits to the dressing room to alleviate a bout of gastroenteritis.

Australia's reply never got off the ground. Initially curtailed on the second afternoon when rain brought an abrupt end to proceedings, the top order had no answer to the accuracy and ferocity of Gough and Malcolm, and slipped to 39/5 with only Taylor (49) holding out. Bevan and Healy both fell to Fraser's metronomic consistency and Gough returned to mop up the tail, and picked up Taylor and Fleming in consecutive deliveries to end the innings and return figures of 6-49. The hosts' 116 was just sufficient to avoid the follow-on, and for once the Australian bowlers found England tough to dismiss. Atherton's second half-century of the match (67) added 104 with Hick, and Thorpe helped add a further 97, but controversy arose when the England skipper called for the declaration on 255/2 with Hick stuck on 98. Keith Fletcher defended the captain's decision, insisting that the Worcestershire batsman was well aware that a declaration was imminent and he had been given the word: "Graeme was told the declarationwas coming very soon," Fletcher told the press conference that evening. "He knew. The game has to come before the individual. The context of the match must come first." Hick himself had no comment to make on the matter, but he was clearly amazed at the decision.

Australia were left to chase 449 for the victory and made a superb start, reaching 139 by the close of the fourth day without losing a wicket, and went on to 208 before Fraser had Slater (103, 10 fours) caught by the ever-unlikely Tufnell. An hour later, after a rain-lengthened lunch break, Malcolm uprooted Taylor's off stump for 113 and the intent to chase was quelled. Boon batted for an hour and three-quarters for 17, but after his dismissal Fraser (5-73) made the most of the damp conditions, delivering a series of seaming deliveries to the Australian middle order that saw Bevan, both Waugh brothers and Healy returned to the pavilion, Rhodes taking three catches. The fading light saw Hick, Tufnell and Gooch bowling at this critical time instead of Gough and Malcolm, with Warne and May batting out the last hour to save the draw, and the sense of farce continued when Malcolm spilled a catch from Warne off what appeared to be the final delivery of the match and the players walked off thinking the game was over, only to realise by the time they got to the pitch edge that there was still time for one more over.

Atherton commented in resigned fashion that "the umpires should know the rules" but admitted that "we would not have won the game". He also called for the introduction of instant replay, after a run out situation earlier in the innings had gone against the tourists, "the technology should be used," he said. "It's a fail-safe method". The England skipper also praised Gough's Man-of-the-match performance. Meanwhile Taylor was relieved to escape with a draw and retain the Ashes. "After being bowled out for 116, it's a relief to draw the Test. It'll probably turn to jubilation in an hour's time." [cite web |url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T3_01-05JAN1995_MR |title = Match reports on 3rd Test |publisher = Phil Wilkins, Peter Roebuck, Sydney Morning Herald |date = 1995-01-05|accessdate = 2007-09-19]

Fourth Test (26-30 January)

First Class Matches
batting first

batting first = England
first innings score of first team = 353
overs in first innings of first team = 141.3
Highest scorer for first innings of first team = Mike Gatting
Highest scorer for first innings of first team initial form = M.W. Gatting
Highest score for first innings of first team = 117
Highest score for first innings of first team balls faced = 286
Best bowler in first innings of first team = Craig McDermott
Best bowler in first innings of first team initial form = C.J. McDermott
Best bowler in first innings of first team figures = 41-15-66-3

second innings score of first team = 328
overs in second innings of first team = 94.5
Highest scorer for second innings of first team = Philip DeFreitas
Highest scorer for second innings of first team initial form = P.A.J. DeFreitas
Highest score for second innings of first team = 88
Highest score for second innings of first team balls faced = 95
Best bowler in second innings of first team = Mark Waugh
Best bowler in second innings of first team initial form = M.E. Waugh
Best bowler in second innings of first team figures = 14-4-40-5

batting second

batting second = Australia
first innings score of second team = 419
overs in first innings of second team = 121.5
Highest scorer for first innings of second team = Greg Blewett
Highest scorer for first innings of second team initial form = G.S. Blewett
Highest score for first innings of second team = 102*
Highest score for first innings of second team balls faced = 180
Best bowler in first innings of second team = Devon Malcolm
Best bowler in first innings of second team initial form = D.E. Malcolm
Best bowler in first innings of second team figures = 26-5-78-3

second innings score of second team = 156
overs in second innings of second team = 61.1
Highest scorer for second innings of second team = Ian Healy
Highest scorer for second innings of second team initial form = I.A. Healy
Highest score for second innings of second team = 51*
Highest score for second innings of second team balls faced = 136
Best bowler in second innings of second team = Chris Lewis (cricketer)
Best bowler in second innings of second team initial form = C.C. Lewis
Best bowler in second innings of second team figures = 13-4-24-4

other result= true
result = England won by 106 runs [cite web |url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T4_26-30JAN1995.html |title = 4th Test: Australia v England at Adelaide, 26-30 January 1995 |publisher = Cricinfo |accessdate = 2007-09-20]
stadium = Adelaide Oval
city = Adelaide
country = Australia
umpire1 = Peter Parker (umpire)
umpire1 initial form = P.D. Parker
umpire1 country = Australia
umpire1 country short form = Aus
umpire2 = Srinivas Venkataraghavan
umpire2 initial form = S. Venkataraghavan
umpire2 country = India
umpire2 country short form = Ind
MOTM = Philip DeFreitas
MOTM initial form = P.A.J. DeFreitas
MOTM country = England
MOTM ctry short form = Eng

Amidst the failure to qualify for the final of the One-day series and a drawn match with Victoria that saw Hick continue his good form with a century but little other joy, the press had plenty to discuss. The Daily Mirror latched onto Gooch's poor form and suggested that he might miss out on the final two Tests and end his career in anti-climax [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/END_FOR_GOOCH_PRICE_10JAN95] "Atherton signals end to Graham Gooch Test career", article by Colin Price in the Daily Mirror, 10 January, 1995, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 21 September, 2007] while John Woodcock criticised the declaration at Sydney that denied Hick his century and the growing friction between the Captain and Chairman of Selectors. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/ATHERTON_ON_SELECTORS_WOODCOCK_10JAN95] "Age-old ways give lead for blunt Atherton", article by John Woodcock in The Times, 10 January 1995, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 21 September, 2007]

As it turned out, England were forced into two changes but Gooch retained his place: the emerging hero Gough was already back in England and was replaced by DeFreitas, while Hick failed to recover from a back spasm that plagued him during his innings against the Victorians and Chris Lewis, playing club cricket in the area, came in for him. The hosts also made two changes, with leg-spinner Peter McIntyre replacing May, who had been unsuccessful in the first three tests but was also recovering from a hamstring pull suffered in the One-dayers [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/REIFFEL_FOR_WI_WILKINS_19JAN95] "Seam skills could swing it for Reiffel", article by Phil Wilkins in the Sydney Morning Herald, 19 January, 1995, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 21 September, 2007] and Greg Blewett also making his Test debut in place of Michael Bevan.

The tourists won the toss and made the most of good batting conditions. A rain-shortened first day saw England reach 196/2, with the skipper making 80, Gooch 47, and Gatting 50 not out by the close. Fleming picked up the two wickets to fall with subtle swing but strained a hamstring early on the second day and left McDermott to shoulder the burden of seam bowling duties. Gatting went on to make 117 (14 fours), but after a 75-run stand with Crawley found no-one else to stay at the crease and England collapsed from 286-3 to 353 all out with McDermott and the spinners running through the middle and lower order. In reply, Slater and Taylor made their third century opening stand of the series,, and although their work was partly undone by the efforts of Lewis and DeFreitas on day three Blewett and Healy (74) appeared to take the game away from the visitors with a stand of 164. Blewett proceeded to his century the next morning (102*, 12 fours), but once Healy was caught behind off Malcolm the tail collapsed and the first innings lead was restricted to 66 runs.

Australia's attack was weakened further with McDermott struggling through stomach cramps, but with Mark Waugh taking command of the situation and bowling a superb line and length, England struggled. Thorpe (83) and Crawley (71) added 71 for the fourth wicket, but it was Crawley's partnership with DeFreitas that set the game up for an exciting finish. DeFreitas's 88 from 95 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes), including 22 off one McDermott over, finally gave the tourists some belief that they could win the game, and the 89 runs these two added set the Australians a target of 263 for victory in 67 overs.

After safely making it to the lunch interval, the home side slipped to 23/4 in five overs, Malcolm bowling aggressively in a spell of 3-13. Mark Waugh and Blewett contrived to hold out for another hour, before Lewis (4-24) and Tufnell came to the party. Healy (51*) did his level best to marshal the tail, batting for two and a quarter hours and with Fleming, batting until well into the final hour, but Lewis eventually trapped the latter leg-before, bowling leg-cutters with great elan, and Malcolm (4-39) finished the job off by picking up McIntyre as well to round off a superb England victory that had seemed unlikely after the first innings.

Post-match, Atherton was effusive about man-of-the-match DeFreitas: "Daffy grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck", the England captain acknowledged. The man himself was pleased but less excited. "They bowled it short, I saw it and hit it. That's about it, really," he simplified. Aussie skipper Mark Taylor admitted that " [t] hey've played better than us since Christmas" and acknowledged his concern about their form, especially that of his key spin weapon. "Warney is feeling a bit flat. He knows he's not bowling that well." [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T4_26-30JAN1995_MR] Various reports from Reuters, Sydney Morning Herald, AFP, The Guardian, electronic Telegraph etc, dated 26-31 January, 1995, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 21 September, 2007.]

Fifth Test (3-7 February)

First Class Matches
batting first

batting first = Australia
first innings score of first team = 402
overs in first innings of first team = 135.5
Highest scorer for first innings of first team = Michael Slater
Highest scorer for first innings of first team initial form = MJ Slater
Highest score for first innings of first team = 124
Highest score for first innings of first team balls faced = 231
Best bowler in first innings of first team = Chris Lewis (cricketer)
Best bowler in first innings of first team initial form = CC Lewis
Best bowler in first innings of first team figures = 31.5-8-73-3

second innings score of first team = 345/8 (dec.)
overs in second innings of first team = 90.3
Highest scorer for second innings of first team = Greg Blewett
Highest scorer for second innings of first team initial form = GS Blewett
Highest score for second innings of first team = 115
Highest score for second innings of first team balls faced = 158
Best bowler in second innings of first team = Chris Lewis (cricketer)
Best bowler in second innings of first team initial form = CC Lewis
Best bowler in second innings of first team figures = 16-1-71-2

batting second



batting second = England
first innings score of second team = 295
overs in first innings of second team = 96.3
Highest scorer for first innings of second team = Graham Thorpe
Highest scorer for first innings of second team initial form = GP Thorpe
Highest score for first innings of second team = 123
Highest score for first innings of second team balls faced = 218
Best bowler in first innings of second team = Jo Angel
Best bowler in first innings of second team initial form = J Angel
Best bowler in first innings of second team figures = 22.3-7-65-3

second innings score of second team = 123
overs in second innings of second team = 41
Highest scorer for second innings of second team = Mark Ramprakash
Highest scorer for second innings of second team initial form = MR Ramprakash
Highest score for second innings of second team = 42
Highest score for second innings of second team balls faced = 57
Best bowler in second innings of second team = Craig McDermott
Best bowler in second innings of second team initial form = CJ McDermott
Best bowler in second innings of second team figures = 15-4-38-6

winning team = Australia
win margin = 329Runs [cite web |url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T5_03-07FEB1995.html|title = 5th Test: Australia v England at Perth, 3-7 Feb 1995 |publisher = Cricinfo |date = ?|accessdate = 2007-12-27]
stadium = WACA Ground
city = Perth, Western Australia
country = Australia
umpire1 = KE Liebenberg
umpire1 initial form = KE Liebenberg
umpire1 country = South Africa
umpire1 country short form = SA
umpire2 = Steve Randell
umpire2 initial form = SG Randell
umpire2 country = Australia
umpire2 country short form = Aus
MOTM = Steve Waugh
MOTM initial form = SR Waugh
MOTM country = Australia
MOTM ctry short form = AUS

Despite their success fielding five specialist bowlers at Adelaide, England brought in Mark Ramprakash from the England A tour of India to replace spinner Tufnell. The biggest concern in Atherton's mind was the aggressiveness of his fast bowlers - Devon Malcolm had been warned by the Match Referee to tone it down after directing Mark Waugh towards the pavilion in the Sydney Test - and the skipper was keen to see that it didn't stifle their effectiveness. Australia's selection was less straightforward, with some analysts predicting that Warne had either been overbowled or had an injury that was affecting his performance and would be left out of the side. cite web |url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ENG_AUS_T5_03-07FEB1995_MR|title = 5th Test Reports: Australia v England at Perth, 3-7 Jan 1995 |publisher = Cricinfo |date = 1995-02-07|accessdate = 2008-01-25] Skipper Mark Taylor rubbished these reports though, claiming that his leg spinner simply "had a niggle", and "wasn't bowling well", but that it had "nothing to do with injuries" and that it was "all to do with his action", which was now remedied.

In the end, Australia made two changes to the bowling attack, neither of which involved Warne: Jo Angel, the burly Western Australia seamer, came in for what would be his fourth and final Test appearance, and Glenn McGrath was recalled after missing the last three matches. The players to miss out were Fleming and McIntyre, leaving the Australians with a four man attack completed by Warne and McDermott.

Taylor won the toss and elected to bat on a typically hard and dry WACA surface. Slater played and missed at Malcolm early in his innings, but went on to make the most of being dropped three times by the inept England fielders. Although Taylor and Boon departed in the first session, Slater and Mark Waugh (88) added 183 for the third wicket. Slater's 124, his third of the series, set up a dominant position for the hosts. "I had my luck, but it was not my fault they were dropping the catches" he remarked on the first evening. Steve Waugh was the other main contributor to Australia's total of 402, but was left stranded on 99 not out after a mix up with brother Mark, running for McDermott who was feeling a back strain.

In reply, England looked positive in patches, but succumbed to a characteristic weakness of losing wickets in bunches. Atherton and Gatting both went in the opening overs to McGrath, but Thorpe and Gooch (37) added 72 before the latter and Crawley departed in quick succession to Mark Waugh. Ramprakash helped see England safely through to the close, but after a stylish 72 was the third of four very quick wickets in the afternoon session that saw the tourists slump to 295 all out despite Thorpe's 123 (218 balls, 19 fours).

Australia set about their second innings with gusto, Slater blazing 45 from 55 deliveries before departing to Fraser and Angel, nightwatchman on the third evening, was comically run out by his captain, but although England might have sensed a glimmer of hope when they reduce the home side to 123/5, Blewett and Steve Waugh extinguished any hope of levelling the series with a partnership of 203 at almost a run a minute. Blewett's 115 (158 balls, 19 fours) pleased the batsman who argued that "I enjoyed this more [than my first Test century] ... I'm rapt because we were in a bit of trouble when I came in." England's bowlers were once again unlucky - Malcolm, DeFreitas and Fraser performed admirably - but they were let down by their catchers who grassed a total of eleven chances in the match, and by the time that Taylor declared at 345/8, leaving England 104 overs to score 453, demoralisation was well set.

McDermott and McGrath drove the nail into England's coffin, ripping through the upper order with relative ease in their opening spells to leave the visitors 27/6. Ramprakash and Rhodes riposted gamely with a partnership of 68 for the seventh wicket, the former looking ever more assured until seduced into a lazy cut to gully by Mark Waugh's change of pace ending the resistance as England stumbled to 123 all out, McDermott raising his series tally to 32 wickets.

Atherton conceded after the match that the Australians had been the better team, and accepted blame for the series defeat, noting that "...a captain stands and falls by results...I have not captained as well as I did in the West Indies." Meanwhile, his counterpart in the Australian side enthused about the back-up bowlers supporting Warne and McDermott, noting that "I was very happy with McGrath's good pace and line. He'll trouble [the West Indian] players."

eries Summary

England

The 3-1 result was a fair reflection of an Ashes series that was dominated by the Australians but still had elements of hope for the future for the tourists, even if they were often buried beneath abject failures. Thorpe and Atherton led the way for England's batsmen, each scoring more than 400 runs in the series, but the rest of the top order struggled, with only Hick (in six innings) and Ramprakash (in two) also averaging over 40. Gooch and Gatting both retired from International cricket at the end of the tour, and it was generally felt by commentators that it was a tour too far for both of them, as they failed regularly with the bat (they scored one fifty and one century between them in 19 innings and averaged a combined 22.47) and contributed heavily towards England's malaise in the field.

Of the bowlers, Gough was the star, picking up 20 wickets at 21.25, and was well backed up by Lewis (11 at 22.64) and Fraser (14 at 27.79), but otherwise the figures were badly affected by the dropped catches. McCague hardly bowled after his failure in the first Test, and Joey Benjamin didn't figure at all, making something of a mockery of the initial selection.

The captain pressed the need to look at England's younger players for selection and acknowledged that the fielding had been a particular problem, but ultimately conceded that his team had been beaten by a better side. He wasn't backed by the selectors, however, with Fred Titmus arguing that " [a] youth policy should be the preserve of the England A team" and noting that "we would not have seen the best of Jack Hobbs, Tom Graveney and Jim Laker" if they had been rejected because of their age. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/TITMUS_ON_OLDER_PLAYERS_HUGHES_08FEB95] "Fred Titmus believes older players still have a role for England", article by Matt Hughes, Daily Mirror, 21 February, 1995, accessed from cricinfo.com on 30 January, 2008 ] Others backed Atherton though: In his later book, "The Botham Report", Ian Botham criticised the failure to select Angus Fraser from the start, who Chairman of Selectors Ray Illingworth described "just wasn't the man for the job" and who "never looked up to it", noting that England's performances took a turn for the better once the Middlesex seamer was finally called up for the Third Test. [pages 98-103, "The Botham Report", Ian Botham with Peter Hayter, Collins Willow, 1997.] ; similarly, Devon Malcolm recalled in his autobiography that "Goochie and Gatt shouldn't have been picked for that tour; they had declined at the highest level" and that Atherton "gave the appearance of being fed up of being lumbered with a group of players who wouldn't have all been his preferred choices. Getting sniped at by Illingworth from afar didn't help either." [ pages 123-125, "You Guys Are History", Devon Malcolm with Pat Murphy, Collins Willow, 1998]

Australian legend Rod Marsh blamed England coach Keith Fletcher for the poor performances and for a negative attitude towards the series, criticising the coach's press conference comments in Adelaide. "A team must always, always, play to win and even if you think that way you should never say it," he told radio listeners. "'The best we can do is an honourable draw' - what a load of codswallop. If anyone is wondering why England have had such a hard time in Australia, there lies the answer". [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/MARSH_CRITICISES_FLETCHER_REUTER_29JAN95] "March criticises England approach", Reuter Library report from 29 January 1995, accessed from Cricinfo.com on 30 January, 2008 ] , but Fletcher refused to quit, citing a string of injuries and illnesses that had hampered the tour as the main cause of the team's lack of success and defending the inclusion of Gooch and Gatting, noting that " [h] indsight is a brilliant thing, but there was not one person who would have left Graham at home at the start of the tour." [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1994-95/ENG_IN_AUS/ARTICLES/FLETCHER_TO_STAY_09FEB95] , "Fletcher to stay", article from the Electronic Telegraph, 10 February, 1995, accessed from Cricinfo.com, 30 January, 2008.]

Australia

By contrast, Australia were quietly happy with the series result, although in looking forward to their forthcoming tour of the West Indies, captain Mark Taylor was keen that his side got tougher. "We can't let a Test slip away as happened in Adelaide. Do that against the West Indies and we could not win," he insisted, noting that " [u] nlike England, they would not have dropped nine or ten chances in a Test."

Michael Slater topped the run charts for the home side, compiling three centuries and 623 runs in the series at an impressive 62.30. The captain and Mark Waugh also scored more than 400 runs and seven batsmen averaged more than 35. They were led by Greg Blewett, who Taylor described as "the find of the summer".

McDermott (32 wickets at 21.09) and Warne (27 at 20.33) shouldered the burden of the bowling, racking up 489 overs between them, and although the main support bowlers were less effective with only Fleming consistent enough to merit note, Mark Waugh also chipped in with eight wickets including a career best 5-40 in a losing cause at Adelaide, but Angel, McGrath, McIntyre and May were disappointing.

Notes

References

* "Playfair Cricket Annual"
* "Wisden Cricketers Almanack"


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