Wisden
First match

Australia v England


At Sydney, December 13, 2002 (day/night). Australia won by seven wickets.

For the third time, Australia succeeded in doing what no one else has achieved: scoring more than 250 to win under the Sydney lights. On a wearing pitch, they made it with ease. Hayden marshalled a frantic opening assault, depositing Caddick over long-on for six as he and Gilchrist crashed 101 inside 14 overs. He went on to a 92-ball 98, and Australia sauntered home. England's openers had begun almost as briskly, but there was no sign of panic from Australia: when Lee found Trescothick's edge at 101 for nought in the 17th over, Warne was still at slip to snaffle the chance. Knight defied a 7-2 field to score heavily through the off side and, despite cramp, he limped past three figures, finding support from Hussain, who hit a lone four plus one six in his fifty. But Lehmann, turning the ball out of the rough, took three wickets and kept England within Hayden's reach.

Man of the Match: M. L. Hayden. Attendance: 35,873.

© John Wisden & Co