Date-stamped : 10 Jan95 - 22:29 WSC 1994/95 : England v Australia played at the SCG (D/N), Sydney, 10 January 1995 England paid an unconscionable price for their long-delayed thrashing of Australia last night - they may lose Darren Gough for the rest of the tour. The Yorkshire fast bowler was found to have a stress fracture in his left foot and is said to be unlikely to play again this summer. Gough took the new ball for the first time on tour in the World Series match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but never got to bowl it. He landed awkwardly in his first delivery stride and collapsed in excruciating pain, still clutching the ball. Moments later, he was chaired from the ground by Mike Gatting and a physiotherapist. X-rays at a nearby hospital later revealed the fracture in the bottom of his foot. He will be on crutches for at least a week and can scarcely be expected to take any meaningful part in the rest of the tour. It was a cruel fate for a man whose exploits have brought the summer alive, who earlier in the afternoon had lit up the MCG with another spectacular mini-innings, and who was described by England captain Mike Atherton as the "brightest spark to enter the English dressing room in my time". England's wretched luck was not confined to Gough's downfall. Neil Fairbrother wrenched his shoulder when he and wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes collided as the latter held a high catch from Australian captain Mark Taylor. X-rays revealed a dislocation, and he will consult a Sydney specialist today. Fairbrother was replaced on the field by erstwhile Test all- rounder Chris Lewis, who arrived in Melbourne last Saturday to play for sub-district club Seddon. Lewis has now been conscripted by England to journey to Sydney for the balance of the World Series; he becomes the 21st player to appear in England's nominal 16-man squad this summer. If it was not for the latest outbreak of injuries, this might have gone down as the finest week of England's ill-starred tour. In rapid succession, they have given Australia a scare in the third Test, registered their maiden win over Zimbabwe and scored their first one-day win over Australia since the 1992 World Cup. They would have to play poorly - or run out of players - against Australia "A" in the final game in Sydney tomorrow to miss a place in the finals. England yesterday were barely recognisable from the team that performed so abjectly in the early part of the summer, and that was not merely because of the turnover of players. Their victory last night was so comprehensive that the largest crowd of the summer, more than 73,000, watched in virtually a hush. Batting first, England overcame a wobbly start to make 8-225, their first score of more than 200 for the tournament, then dismissed Australia for 188 in the 48th over. Graeme Hick made an elegant 91, and if he was disappointed to miss a century again, at least this week he went his way, driving a catch to long-off in the whirl of the final overs. He compensated in the evening when his mild off-spinners brought the wickets of Mark Waugh, David Boon and Ian Healy, and the man-of- the-match award. Fairbrother made a typically busy 35 and Gough a typically vigorous and unorthodox 45. A patent, full-blooded, left-handed pull for four from off-spinner Gavin Robertson was one of his zanier inventions. Angus Fraser borrowed the still unused ball from Gough, and some of his spirit, and blasted out Michael Slater, Taylor and Steve Waugh in his first four overs. Mark Waugh (41) and Healy (56) mounted enterprising fightbacks, but Australia had already spent too many wickets. Their loathing of batting second in day/night matches has grown into an authentic phobia. Even when England lapsed into their old slapstick, it turned out well. Rhodes and Fairbrother collided head-on as they sought to catch Taylor, but when the dust cleared, Rhodes still had the ball in his gloves. For an encore, he snatched a one-handed catch to send back Steve Waugh in the same over. Australia's commitment, it must be said, was doubtful. With their place in the finals secure, they looked like a team on a day off. They rested Craig McDermott, replacing him with Australia "A" conscript Robertson, who took the field in a shirt with his name scrawled on it with a felt pen. Robertson's first ball was a long-hop that Hick effortlessly dispatched for six over square leg. Robertson dropped Hick from his own bowling, and had an appeal for a catch at the wicket turned down. Taylor made a mess of rotating his bowlers, although he will probably say that he was experimenting. But Glenn McGrath, challenged to re-establish his bone fides as an international bowler, denied England bat on any of the first five balls of the 50th over and finished with 4-25. With Tim May injured, McGrath comes into reckoning for the fourth Test in Adelaide. (Thanks : Greg Baum, Sydney Morning Herald) Contributed by David.Mar (mar@physics.su.oz.au)