Headingley Test, Day 5, Lunch
Monday, August 20, 2001

Australia are still favourites to win. The first hour after lunch will tell the story of the game. Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie will be back, and they bowled really well first thing this morning. Australia will be setting targets – two wickets in the first hour, another one before tea – and looking to work their way through the England order.

England have batted very well, but they were helped by Brett Lee and Shane Warne, who didn't bowl a great length, which meant the pressure came off. Warne hasn't got a great record at Headingley – only two wickets in three Tests now – because the pitch doesn't really dust up and loosen up here. This means the ball comes through pretty true, and he can't get as much spin as he usually does, even on the fifth day.

Adam Gilchrist has got a real battle on his hands, that's for sure. He can call himself a real captain now! He hasn't done anything glaringly wrong, and he hasn't done anything that marks him out as a genius either. He was hampered by the bowling in the second hour – Warne was bowling too full, with too many half-volleys – but I expect them to turn that round this afternoon. And if Australia bowl tight, the runs will dry up, which would end England's chances of winning.

Gilchrist is keeping wicket well, too – there was one that looked like a stumping chance but it wasn't, it was just byes. He may have been unlucky there, because I thought the ball flicked the batsman's pad on the way through.

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 will appear on Wisden.com at the end of every session for the rest of the series. He was talking to Steven Lynch

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