Oval Test, Day 4, Lunch
Sunday, August 26, 2001 Australia's decision to enforce the follow-on was purely down to the weather. Time is going to be lost over the next couple of days, and Australia don't want to be stuck batting when they could be making early breakthroughs and setting up the chance of a reasonable run-chase. If it had been sunny and hot this morning I'm sure they would have chosen to bat.

Steve Waugh's decision to open with Brett Lee was an interesting one. He has been under the microscope of late, and the captain probably wants to give him every chance to click before the series is out. He's highly rated, and is clearly the future of the team, but he still has to perform, especially with players like Miller and Fleming on the sidelines. Some think he's the best swing bowler in the current team, but I don't buy that. He's never been mentioned as a swinger in Australia - I would prefer to see him bowling fast and straight.

As for Michael Atherton, that looks like it for him. The response to his dismissal was unusual - he'd normally just walk back to the dressing room, but he stopped to salute the crowd. It was ironic that Glenn McGrath got him for one last time, but I take my hat off to the guy. He's been a class performer. It could be that he will choose to go on one last tour, but quit before next summer, as he has a good record against India and New Zealand. After that he'll probably make a move into the media.

As for the rest of England's batting, they've done well so far, but they've got to continue to do well. The pressure will come back on as time and desperation set in later in the innings. But Trescothick's looked good and Butcher is playing as solidly as ever.

Ian Healy made a record 395 dismissals in 119 Tests for Australia, and was on the winning side in the last six Ashes series. His comments are appearing on Wisden.com at the end of every session of the Oval Test. He was talking to Andrew Miller.

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