UNITED KINGDOM: AUSTRALIA'S CICKET TEAM CELEBRATE THEIR ASHES SERIES VICTORY OVER ENGLAND DESPITE THE LOSS OF THEIR CAPTAIN STEVE WAUGH

Record ID: 338349

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: AUSTRALIA'S CICKET TEAM CELEBRATE THEIR ASHES SERIES VICTORY OVER ENGLAND DESPITE THE LOSS OF THEIR CAPTAIN STEVE WAUGH
  • Date: 4th August 2001
  • Summary: NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND, UK (AUGUST 4, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. EXTERIOR OF TRENT BRIDGE CRICKET GROUND 2. AUSTRALIAN CRICKET VICE-CAPTAIN ADAM GILCHRIST AT NEWS CONFERENCE 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GILCHRIST TALKING ABOUT WINNING ASHES SERIES 4. REPORTER 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GILCHRIST TALKING ABOUT REST OF ASHES SERIES
  • Embargoed: 19th August 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVABO96PKMNSF8P2I7CIUNFE9AT5
  • Story Text: Australia cricket captain Steve Waugh missed one of the
    highlights of his career as his team mates celebrated winning
    the Ashes series against England for a record seventh
    successive time. Waugh was in hospital, awaiting a scan on an
    injured calf, as vice-captain Adam Gilchrist stood in for him
    after the tourists beat England by seven wickets at Trent
    Bridge to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series.


    It's a shame that Steve can't be here," Gilchrist said
    in Nottingham on Saturday (August 4).

    "I have mixed emotions today," he told a news conference.

    "I'm sure he'll accept the Ashes at some later date. He
    deserves everything that comes his way."
    Waugh injured his calf as he set off for a single from his
    first ball as Australia headed for victory inside three days
    after being set 158 to win.

    Gilchrist was not able to speak to Waugh before he left
    for hospital but saw him leave by car, with Australia still
    needing 40 to win.

    An emotional Gilchrist added: "Before the match, Steve had
    said no one else in the squad knew what it was like to lose an
    Ashes series and he wanted to keep it that way."
    Waugh had been in the side that lost the 1986/87 series in
    Australia before their winning sequence began in 1989.

    "It's a terrific feeling," Gilchrist said after Saturday's
    victory. "It was a bit shorter than we expected but it was a
    real team effort.

    "All the test matches this year have been closer than the
    results suggested. England put us under pressure in the other
    tests and probably more so in this test."
    England captain Michael Atherton said his side had lost
    the game on Friday evening when they had thrown away a good
    position.

    "The crucial period was last night," he said. "We were on
    100-odd for two but we lost a few wickets which probably
    tilted the game in Australia's favour.

    "I can't fault the team's attitude, we just weren't quite
    good enough."
    England lost their last eight wickets for 47 runs in their
    second innings.

    Stand-in captain Michael Atherton believes England's
    latest Ashes series defeat has to be looked at in isolation.

    After England had lost by seven wickets to the Australians
    on Saturday with two days to spare in the third test at Trent
    Bridge, Atherton tried to remain upbeat.

    "English cricket has shown some positive signs over the
    past 18 months, and in a way I think this series has to be
    taken in isolation," he said.

    "When you've seen the England team playing against other
    teams over the past 18 months they have been highly
    competitive. But we haven't played good enough cricket in
    these three games and Australia have.

    "I think it's obvious over the period I've played that
    Australia have had the upper hand over us. They have had a
    succession of very good teams over the last 10 years and have
    beaten us comprehensively."
    Atherton, who led the side here and in the second test
    after Nasser Hussain broke a finger in the first match of the
    series, is ready to continue his England career, at least
    until the end of the Ashes.

    "I will continue to play cricket until the end of the
    season and then make a decision about my future," he said
    after his 113th test since 1989.

    Reflecting on the key moments at Trent Bridge, he said
    Friday evening's session had been crucial.

    "We were 115 for two (110 ahead), with Australia batting
    last, and that was a position of some strength," he said. "But
    we had a bad last hour in which Shane Wane took four wickets
    and that period probably tilted the game Australia's way.

    "We bowled and fielded well and got ourselves into the
    game but Australia on the second morning probably got a few
    more than we would have liked.

    "Then in the second innings myself and (Marcus)
    Trescothick and myself and (Mark) Ramprakash were going well
    but when those partnerships were broken we started to lose
    wickets."

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