Vaughan puts England into rare position of dominance

England 362 & 452-9dec Australia 363 & 91-3

It is a good job for Australia that the Ashes are not a nine-Test series because following England's fightback here at the Sydney Cricket Ground it would take a brave man to bet against Nasser Hussain's side now piping their arch rivals 5-4 on a wet, green pitch in Alice Springs next month. A pleasant thought, but preposterous even if Australia were without the services of their two great bowlers, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, for the remainder of my fictitious series.

For those in the real world however, like Hussain, his squad and the thousands of England supporters who have followed their side through the hard times and the even harder times during the past two months, this was the day they had been waiting for. To watch England dominate the fourth day of the fifth Test so comprehensively appeared to make all the pain feel like a distant memory.

Such was the control the visitors had over their hosts that an England captain was able to declare against Australia for the first time in 21 encounters between the two countries. The last occasion was at Edgbaston in 1997 – a game England won – but Hussain's side had more than enough runs well before he called them in.

However it took the threat of injury to his fast bowler Steve Harmison, who was struck about the body by the Aussie speedster Brett Lee, to make his mind up. Hussain's declaration left Australia needing the improbable target of 452 to win the game. With 276 in 1897-98 being the highest total successfully chased here surely this is a game England cannot lose. By having Australia three down by the close it appears highly unlikely.

To thank for being in such a strong position England once again have the Yorkshire run-machine Michael Vaughan. Starting 2003 just as he left 2002, Vaughan was in superlative form yesterday and it is hard to think that any batsman in the world is currently playing better than the 27 year-old.

Starting the day on 113 not out he was circumspect to begin with. Batting with his captain he would have been fully aware of what was expected of him. England were 217 runs ahead and still some way from notching up the lead they wanted.

With the odd ball going through the top, which made batting at times hazardous, Hussain and Vaughan got themselves in before looking to up the tempo against this weakened Australian attack. For Vaughan such an approach is second nature and this innings was no different to any of those he played last year. Like all good players he put the bad balls away, but when someone starts slapping the odd good ball for four you know, as a bowler, you are in trouble.

It is not just the ever-developing range of strokes he has which stands out, it is his manner at the crease. In any situation Vaughan looks cool, calm and in control. Not only is this a wonderful state to bat in, it is a reassuring sight to your dressing room. If a batsman is playing the opposition bowlers with aplomb those waiting to go in will feel the prospect of entering the fray not to be so arduous.

When he was finally given out for 183 Vaughan was none too happy. This may have been down to the disappointment of once again failing to score a double-century, but was more likely in frustration of the lbw decision. Umpire Russell Tiffin, who has had a shocking match, gave him out when the ball would have travelled over the stumps.

Vaughan was not alone in standing longer at the crease than he should after the umpire raised his finger. Hussain was guilty too, when he fell to the last ball before lunch. However, Hussain's reaction – video replays showed he hit the ball – was more in disgust at the behaviour of the pitch than the decision. He had taken two nasty blows to the body from balls that spat of a length and would have been determined to score a hundred. The desire to be successful with a bat is as strong as ever.

Following the dismissal of this pair, who put on 187 runs for the third wicket, England came to a standstill. Wickets fell at regular intervals until Harmison slogged a career-best unbeaten 20.

Australia's bowlers worked hard, but the number of times Steve Waugh must have wished he had McGrath or Warne to throw the ball to does not bear thinking about. For the world champions this match has been a glimpse of what lies ahead when these two legendary bowlers decide they have had enough.

This does not mean Australia will no longer be a major force. It is just they will be back in the pack, where England are, and having to play in tough, even series rather than the one-sided affairs they have become used to.

McGrath and Warne offer so much. They take wickets cheaply, they give the fielding side the control they want. The pair are a captain's dream and it will be impossible to replace them.

With 20 overs to bowl England got the start they wanted but it was mainly down to Tiffin. The Zimbabwean judged Justin Langer lbw to a ball that pitched outside his leg-stump and should not have been given. Judging by the state of the Australian dressing room door, whose window was smashed, Matthew Hayden was not best pleased with his decision either, a reaction that will cost him 20 per cent of his match fee. But he has had his share of fortune this series.

If his side fail to complete their victory today, Hussain's reaction could be worse. The Sydney Harbour Bridge only a short walk away from the England hotel.

VAUGHAN'S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Michael Vaughan scored his seventh hundred in his last 12 Tests in the second innings to put England in control of the final Test against Australia yesterday. His 183 took his tally for the series to 633 runs – the highest aggregate for an England batsman on an Ashes tour since Geoff Boycott scored 657 and John Edrich 648 on the victorious 1970-71 series.

115 v Sri Lanka (first Test, Lord's)
Vaughan entered the summer looking to cement his place at the top of the England line-up after a disappointing winter, in which he managed one half-century. His response was to score 64 in the first innings and then, as England followed on, his second Test century to secure a draw.

100 v India (first Test, Lord's)
Having played a match-winning innings against Sri Lanka in the final Test and averaged 71.25 in the three-match series, Vaughan returned to Lord's full of confidence. He made a first-innings duck, but ensured his name would again be etched on the honours board at HQ with his second century of the summer.

197 v India (second Test, Trent Bridge)
Vaughan kept up his scintillating form where he played the innings of his career that inspired England's mammoth total of 617. He struck 23 boundaries in his 258-ball innings and was caught behind looking to reach his double-century.

195 v India (fourth Test, The Oval)
Vaughan again just missed out on a double-century. After a circumspect start, he rediscovered his timing to put England apparently in charge of a match that was to end in rain-induced draw.

177 v Australia (second Test, Adelaide)
Making the most of a third-umpire reprieve when Justin Langer appeared to have caught him at cover off Andy Bichel, Vaughan ploughed on to another big hundred as England reached 295 for 4 on the first day in a series they already trailed 1-0 after a first-Test mauling at Brisbane.

145 v Australia (fourth Test, Melbourne)
Vaughan rescues a floundering England to force Australia into the rare task of chasing a target in their second innings. His 218-ball innings – which included 19 fours and three sixes – meant he ended 2002 with a total of 1,481 runs from 26 innings.

183 v Australia (fifth Test, Sydney)
Vaughan's 2003 had begun with a duck in the first innings, but he bounced back in superb style with another big hundred. He shared a 189-run partnership with captain Nasser Hussain and hit 27 boundaries and a six in his 278-ball innings.

SCOREBOARD

Fourth day; England won toss

ENGLAND - First Innings 362 (M A Butcher 124, N Hussain 75, A J Stewart 71).

AUSTRALIA - First innings (Friday: 237 for 5)
S R Waugh c Butcher b Hoggard 102
A C Gilchrist c Stewart b Harmison 133
A J Bichel c Crawley b Hoggard 4
B Lee c Stewart b Hoggard 0
J N Gillespie not out 31
S C G MacGill c Hussain b Hoggard 1
Extras (b2, lb6, w2, nb9) 19
Total (375 min, 80.3 overs) 363

Fall (cont): 6-241 (Waugh), 7-267 (Bichel), 8-267 (Lee), 9-349 (Gilchrist).

Bowling: Hoggard 21.3-4-92-4 (nb5) (6-2-23-0, 1-0-11-0, 4-0-19-0, 2-0-12-0, 8-2-24-3, 0.3-0-3-1); Caddick 23-3-121-3 (nb2) (10-3-51-3, 3-0-16-0, 3-0-21-0, 5-0-29-0, 2-0-4-0); Harmison 20-4-70-3 (nb2,w2) (1-1-0-0, 2-1-2-0, 4-0-12-0, 6-2-30-2, 3-0-17-0, 4-0-9-1); Dawson 16-0-72-0 (6-0-21-0, 3-0-12-0, 7-0-39-0).

Progress: Third day: 250: 252 min, 54.4 overs. 300: 313 min, 65.5 overs. Lunch: 336-8 (Gilchrist 127, Gillespie 11) 77 overs. 350: 366 min, 78.5 overs. New ball taken after 80 overs at 360-9. Innings closed: 1.57pm.

Waugh 50: 81 min, 61 balls, 10 fours. 100: 180 min, 130 balls, 18 fours.

Gilchrist 50: 81 min, 55 balls, 9 fours. 100: 146 min, 94 balls, 14 fours.

ENGLAND - Second innings
M E Trescothick b Lee 22
M P Vaughan lbw b Bichel 183
M A Butcher c Hayden b MacGill 34
N Hussain c Gilchrist b Lee 72
R W T Key c Hayden b Lee 14
J P Crawley lbw b Gillespie 8
A J Stewart not out 38
R K J Dawson c and b Bichel 12
A R Caddick c Langer b MacGill 8
M J Hoggard b MacGill 0
S J Harmison not out 20
Extras (b9, lb20, w2, nb10) 41
Total (for 9 dec, 545 min, 125.3 overs) 452

Fall: 1-37 (Trescothick), 2-124 (Butcher), 3-313 (Hussain), 4-344 (Key), 5-345 (Vaughan), 6-356 (Crawley), 7-378 (Dawson), 8-407 (Caddick), 9-409 (Hoggard).

Bowling: Gillespie 18.3-4-70-1 (2-0-15-0, 3-0-20-0, 3-2-1-0, 8-2-28-0, 2.3-0-6-1); Lee 31.3-5-132-3 (nb5, w1) (5-0-15-1, 4-1-25-0, 7-2-19-0, 9-2-35-2, 6.3-0-38-0); MacGill 41-8-120-3 (23-2-76-1, 6-2-20-0, 6-4-5-0, 6-0-19-2); Bichel 25.3-3-82-2 (nb5, w1) (10-0-32-0, 10-2-37-1, 5.3-1-13-1); Martyn 3-1-14-0; Waugh 6-2-5-0 (one spell each).

Progress: Third day: 50: 53 min, 10.2 overs. Tea: 92-1 (Vaughan 47, Butcher 19) 21 overs. 100: 97 min, 21.3 overs. 150: 166 min, 37.3 overs. 200: 214 min, 49.3 overs. Close: 218-2 (Vaughan 113, Hussain 34) 58 overs. Fourth day: 250: 295 min, 69 overs. New ball taken after 82 overs at 299-2. 300: 360 min, 83.5 overs. Lunch: 313-3 (Vaughan 166) 85.5 overs. 350: 425 min, 97.1 overs. Tea: 386-7 (Stewart 10, Dawson 1) 113 overs. 400: 506 min, 115.5 overs. 450: 544 min, 125.1 overs. Declaration at 4.57pm.

Vaughan 50: 96 min, 65 balls, 7 fours, 1 six. 100: 201 min, 146 balls, 14 fours, 1 six. 150: 342 min, 236 balls, 23 fours, 1 six.

Hussain 50: 173 min, 123 balls, 6 fours.

AUSTRALIA - Second Innings
J L Langer lbw b Caddick 3
M J Hayden lbw b Hoggard 2
A J Bichel not out 49
R T Ponting lbw b Caddick 11
D R Martyn not out 19
Extras (lb4, w2, nb1) 7
Total (for 3, 95 min, 20 overs) 91

Fall: 1-5 (Langer), 2-5 (Hayden), 3-25 (Ponting).

To bat: S R Waugh, M L Love, A C Gilchrist, B Lee, J N Gillespie, S C G MacGill.

Bowling: Hoggard 5-0-17-1 (nb1); Caddick 9-0-55-2; Harmison 5-1-13-0 (w2); Dawson 1-0-2-0 (one spell each).

Progress: Fourth day: 50: 50 min, 10 overs.

Umpires: D L Orchard (SA) and R B Tiffin (Zim).