MELBOURNE FIVE-FER: DAY ONE

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Flintoff called correctly, but might wish he hadn't.

By Dave Tickner

1. Shane Warne
It would be churlish to start anywhere else. Warne may talk about his great scriptwriter, but surely even the laziest Hollywood hack wouldn't have had the leggie picking up a five-fer that included his 700th Test victim. In Melbourne. On Boxing Day. Against England. In conditions that entirely favoured the seamers. It was fitting that Warne reached the landmark by bamboozling a genuine batsman rather than seeing a tailender slog one straight up in the air. It was equally fitting that, rather than sit back on that success, Warne would go on to destroy an increasingly despondent England, spinning the tourists out for a paltry 159. Unquestionably the greatest spinner in the game whatever Murali's fans may claim, Warne might even have a claim on being the game's greatest player full-stop. He's a genius and Test cricket will be a poorer place without him.

2. The Toss
The classic good toss to lose. Australia would have batted, and would have been just as wrong as England were. The pitch, forecast and overhead conditions all screamed 'bowl first' however much conventional wisdom dictates you bat first. Perhaps Andrew Flintoff just has slightly more faith in his underperforming batsmen than his underperforming bowlers.

3. Andrew Strauss
Only scored 50, but it must be the best half-century of his career, battling away in trying conditions after a lean series the fact his innings contained one four but eight threes shows how sluggish the outfield was, but Strauss kept plugging away before Warne deceived him. It may only be a half-century, but after the decisions he's had in recent weeks Strauss will be grateful for any crumbs of comfort.

4. Rudi Koertzen
Appears to have abandoned the lbw law. When England batted, Paul Collingwood was palpably leg-before ar least once, with a couple more close calls where the decision could very easily have gone the bowler's way. In Australia's reply, Matthew Hayden twice looked to have no prayer after being trapped in front by Matthew Hoggard, but survived both times. It's hard to know why Koertzen's become so reluctant to get his finger out of his pocket, but giving the benefit of no doubt to the batsman is as bad as triggering the batsman incorrectly.

5. Four And Five
Kevin Pietersen, England's best batsman, once again throws his wicket away searching desperately for some runs with the tail after Paul Collingwood has scratched around forever for 28. Is threre anybody now apart from Duncan Fletcher and Pietersen himself who still thinks Collingwood should be batting at number four. It just seems so logical to use the admirable Collingwood as a solid buffer at five between the strokeplay of Pietersen and Flintoff. Australia's best two batsmen? Ponting and Hussey. Where do they bat? Three and Four. Get up the order KP and dominate whole innings. At least learn to bat with the tail if you will insist on batting down at five.