The Australian newspapers were – understandably – delighted with the second day at Brisbane, and it was Glenn McGrath who attracted the most column inches. Written off by many, he bounced back with two wickets in the final hour to leave England on the ropes.
In the Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Roebuck reckoned McGrath's wickets were down to England as much as his own bowling.
Almost as much as his batsmen, McGrath was helped by the profligacy of his opponents. His opening overs had been undistinguished. Probably he was trying too hard to make things happen, searching for swing and cut, anything to take a reassuring wicket.
McGrath's contest with Steve Harmison was bound to be pivotal to the outcome. Suffice it to say that the local has prevailed by a country mile. Where the Englishman has hesitated, the veteran has attacked. Where the younger man has been inhibited, the old-stager has cut loose. Great sportsmen know a thing or two about the forces at work on a field.
And bad news for those who were quick to label McGrath and his colleagues “old men”. The Herald called in people who know about such matters. Damian Farrow, who holds a doctorate in motor expertise and works on skills acquisition at the Australian Institute of Sport, told the paper;
Middle age to me is probably 10 years older than the Australian cricket team From my point of view, from the skills side, there's not really any reason to suggest they will decline to a point where they can't do what they've got to do - make runs and take wickets.
In The Australian, Peter Lalor enjoyed some good old-fashioned gloating.
Did the earth move for you too? Australian cricket could have leant back on its elbow last night and had a languid cigarette.
Wandering to the ground this morning England fans muttered and moaned and talked in frustrated terms. If one were to extend the sexual metaphor beyond decency one might suggest they’d been struck by projectile dysfunction when the big moment arrived.
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