Date-stamped : 05 Aug97 - 11:13 McGrath works on day of rest By David Green at Taunton First day of four: Australia (182-4) trail Somerset (284) by 102 runs AN attractive 71 from Keith Parsons and quality bowling by Shane Warne, five for 57, and later from Andrew Caddick, were the features of an eventful day`s play which was relished by a near capaci- ty crowd. Australia, who were captained by former Somerset favourite Steve Waugh, made a late change when Ricky Ponting went down with flu. He was replaced by Glenn McGrath, who was not ex- pected to do a great deal of bowling. In the event, Mike Kasprowicz, who shared the new ball with Brendon Julian, struggled for control in his opening four-over spell, in which he conceded 51 runs, so McGrath was called on early to stem the tide. During this period of uncharacteristic profligacy, Parsons, selected to open for the first time in a first-class game, got a flying start, his strokes through mid-off and past cover off the back foot being particularly impressive. With Julian also not particularly accurate, scoring was hec- tic, despite the passivitiy of Piran Holloway. The 50 came up in seven overs with Parsons`s individual half- century following three overs later, made off only 39 balls, including nine fours. It was McGrath who made the breakthrough by having Holloway caught behind. He showed that the pitch offered some pace and bounce when the ball was put in the right place and several bats- men lost their wickets attempting to hook. After Simon Ecclestone had fallen lbw, half forward to Warne, Kasprowicz had Parsons caught at short leg off one he dug in. Thereafter the Australians got on top and only Rob Turner`s determined 58 held Somerset`s innings together. Warne bowled Marcus Trescothick, who offered no stroke, and turned one to find Mark Lathwell`s edge. When Graham Rose mis- hooked Somerset were 167 for six having been 95 without loss but Turner, aided by Steve Herzberg, ensured respectability. When Australia batted Caddick soon had Michael Slater top-edg- ing to the wicketkeeper and shortly afterwards bowled Greg Blewett, who had started imperiously, via an edge. Caddick then bowled Justin Langer, also via the inside edge, but Andre Van Troost and Steffan Jones were heavily punished, the Waugh twins putting on 60 together in 10 overs before a Rose outswinger found Mark`s outside edge. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Australians curtailed by Caddick Peter Roebuck at Taunton Second day of four: Somerset v Australians A COMBINATION of Andrew Caddick`s angular pace, stubborn bat- ting and rain arriving from Exmoor around lunchtime and hanging around like some uninvited guest throughout the afternoon frus- trated the Australians as they pursued victory in two days. Until the rain arrived this match had raged like a forest fire, a fire begun by Keith Parsons, cutting and driving in the opening hour and sustained by various Australian tail-enders as they pun- ished some erratic bowling from Andre van Troost. Bowling with unemotional efficiency, Caddick troubled every batsman and removed a fraught Michael Bevan as this match resumed un- der heavy skies. Steve Waugh might have followed immediately had Parsons taken a sitter at second slip. The erring fieldsman badly broke the little finger in his left hand in the attempt and he will not play again this season. For once Waugh did not put salt upon Somerset`s wound. Unable to subdue a snorter from Caddick, he gave a simple catch to gully whereupon he gave a superb pitch a puzzled stare and stomped off in his own unemotional way to leave the Australians rock- ing at 211 for six. Waugh would have enjoyed scoring a century on his old hunting ground, one he graced with several thrilling innings nine years ago. Had Somerset held their catches hereabouts a lead might have been secured. Instead their cordon proved fallible, Mark Lath- well missing a flier at gully to reprieve Ian Healy whereupon Pi- ran Holloway muffed a more routine affair at slip in the ear- ly minutes of Brendon Julian`s swashbuckling contribution. Spared, the seventh-wicket pair played with considerable gus- to, Julian seizing with particular relish upon the tempting off- breaks of his fellow West Australian Steve Herzberg, thrice despatching him over the leg boundary. His blows re- called the songs of Status Quo, each one different and yet strangely fa- miliar. Somerset might have fallen apart under this assault, instead they struck back under Simon Ecclestone`s competent leadership. Ec- clestone is a cricketer of uncompromising belligerence and the team seemed to respond to him. Of course it`s easier for an occasional cap- tain, for he has no enemies and has not felt himself carrying his club upon his shoulders. Somerset`s se- nior players are bedevilled by injury and results continue to prove elusive. The county may soon be obliged to consider some- thing fresh. Much to his delight, Steffan Jones broke the partnership as Healy clipped to square leg. It was the Welshman`s first wicket in this company. He had previously been mauled but, as a distin- guished rugby player, he is well used to that. Now came van Troost`s first victim as Australia`s snow-capped leg spinner hooked optimistically. Though he has had more coaches than an Indian goods train, van Troost`s arms and legs continue to work independently. He will spend this winter in Perth, under Dermot Reeve`s eye. From 317 for six Australia subsided to 323 all out as Julian edged Jones and Glenn McGrath planted himself in front of his stumps against the flailing Dutchman. Having secured a lead of 39 runs, and with Parsons unable to bat, Australia anticipated a quick kill. In- stead they were frustrated first by steady rain and, after 80 min- utes, by some determined batting from Som- erset`s emergency opening pair. Eventually Holloway hooked to fine leg, repeating a stroke that has brought down numerous batsmen on this firm pitch. No sooner had Somerset`s acting captain arrived at the crease than timid showers returned. Amid the umbrellas and sawdust piles of another rotten sum- mer`s day, attention turned to the never-ending debate about English cricket and its product, this England cricket team. Ap- parently notions of counties fighting for their place in the top drawer have been shelved. Really they`ve been spoiled. A strong lead must be given by the coun- ties, an example of the energy and selflessness needed if strength is to return, or else others will not fall into line. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Somerset act on abuse By David Green at Taunton WITH rain washing out yesterday`s play, incidents that took place on Saturday, particularly when Shane Warne was verbally abused by sections of the crowd and two spectators were ejected, were being re-examined at the County Ground. Warne would make no comment but Australia`s acting cap- tain Steve Waugh condemned the guilty parties, saying that while "sledging" among players was part of the game, personal abuse of players by spectators was not. Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson felt things had got slightly out of proportion. "Anyone would think we had a major riot here. Our stewards stopped the obscene chanting and po- lice were only called in case someone needed throwing out," he said. "I understand why the Australians were upset but I think we should also remember the stick that our players regu- larly take from Australian crowds." Certainly no current tourist has yet been confronted with a live pig on which his name has been painted, as Mike Gatting was in Brisbane in 1994. Anderson agreed with Waugh that the presence of raucous elements among the crowd must be disturbing for the genuine cricket lover. "Unfortunately," said Anderson, "these days at any big sporting event there is a handful of people whose purpose is to get com- pletely plastered and then to make a nuisance of themselves and it is not easy to cope with." Yesterday Somerset had planned to search all non-mem- bers and to limit the amount of alcohol taken into the ground to one bottle of wine between two people or two cans of beer per per- son. These restrictions will apply to Sunday`s game against Gloucestershire. On the field on Saturday, Andrew Caddick took two more wickets to give him figures of five for 54 as Australia were dismissed for 323. Then Simon Ecclestone, with an aggressive 47, shared in a second-wicket stand of 85 with Rob Turner, who again batted defiantly to make an unbeaten 65. Somerset reached 147 for three in their second innings to lead by 108 runs. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) The match at Taunton was abandoned at midday yesterday, rain having prevented any play since the second evening on Saturday. Waugh complimented Somerset on their competitive approach to the game. "Too often counties field second teams in these games, but Somerset picked their strongest available side and battled hard," he said. Quizzed about the selection of the Hollioake brothers, Adam and Ben, in England`s 13 for the fifth Test at Trent Bridge, Waugh said: "I think it is a positive move. "It reminds me of what the Australian selectors did 10 years ago when they picked youngsters in Ian Healy, Bruce Reid and my- self out of the blue and backed us up. It worked pretty well for us." Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)