Sydney Test, Day 2
Friday, January 3, 2003

That was a fantastic day – the crowd appreciated every moment and with Steve Waugh turning on his best performance of the series, the atmosphere was almost like a one-day game.

It was an innings of dominance – Stephen's strike-rate was in the mid-70s, as compared with a career average in the 40s. He proved that if he wanted to stay on, he could, but if he had played the way he has over the last 12 months, then he might not have been able to come through.

However, I still don't think he should stay. I've never called for Stephen's head either – only he knows what he's got left – but the road ahead is not easy, especially if he intends to retire in Australia. But he seems to me the type of guy who doesn't want a fuss. If he ends up retiring overseas, or on a downer, it won't worry him. But today was a real day out, and he's got more work ahead of him tomorrow. Retirement is far from his mind at the moment.

He came in with Australia in some trouble at 56 for 3, which set the scene beautifully. It could, of course, have finished his career as well – such is the knife-edge he's sitting on – but he had the skills and ability to cope. He certainly sprinted out to bat, with Caddick on fire and the top-order helpless in dealing with what he was dishing out.

I had an inkling that it wasn't going to last, and so it proved. Caddick doesn't sustain his pressure long enough – and doesn't create it often enough either – but there was plenty of heat for a time. His first wicket was a bit lucky, but batsmen only miss slow full tosses when they are in difficulties.

Even though Caddick and Harmison were so successful on the last morning at Melbourne, I wasn't surprised that Matthew Hoggard was given the new ball. It was a good move, as he is the only natural swing bowler in the side and, as Lee demonstrated, there's plenty of movement with the new ball at Sydney. He's picked up quite a bit of pace, with a new, punchier, run-up, but he also needs to sustain his spells.

As for Alec Stewart – his innings started the whole day's entertainment. He added 51 to his overnight 20, and scored 60 runs in boundaries. John Crawley did a great job while they were together, but for my money, he didn't pick the pace up enough afterwards. Without a lot more effort, England could have reached the high-300s.

England are still on top, but all that can change very quickly. This pair of Waugh and Adam Gilchrist have kept up a phenomenal strike-rate, but if England can bottle them up and get an early wicket, they will be well and truly on top. In reality, though, I expect England will be happy if they can dismiss Australia for something close to their own score. Batting last on this track will not be easy.

Today was a fairytale for Steve Waugh, but his true ambition is still the whitewash. It's not going to be easy from here. Everything has gone against them – they've lost the toss, the best batting conditions, early wickets, and Warne and McGrath. But Waugh is always at his most dangerous in a fight.

But they will be going for it, and England at last have cottoned on. Australia won't mind losing if it gives them a chance of victory, as they proved at Melbourne in pursuit of a small total. England must set them at least 200 to chase. On the flip side, if England lose from here, with all those things in their favour, it's going to hurt and heads must roll. They need to get a draw at worse, otherwise the selectors and English public will have some great ammunition.

Ian Healy, who kept wicket for Australia in six winning Ashes series, will be providing his Expert View at the end of each day's play in the Tests. He was talking to Andrew Miller.

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