Injury concerns for Australia as Zimbabwe stare at defeat

Close Australia 735 for 6 dec lead Zimbabwe 239 and 87 for 2 (Vermeulen 50, Carlisle 26*, Gillespie 2-6) by 409 runs
Scorecard

Australia's march to victory over Zimbabwe wasn't derailed, but it was moved onto a siding during the last session of the third day when both Jason Gillespie and Stuart MacGill went off the field - and later to hospital for scans - with injuries. It was a situation Mark Vermeulen and Stuart Carlisle turned to their advantage as Zimbabwe went to stumps on 87 for 2 in the follow-on, still 409 runs behind Australia.

Vermeulen, playing his fifth Test, scored his second half-century, off 79 balls, in an innings where he accumulated runs against the lesser bowling of Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn. Carlisle was 26 not out at stumps.

MacGill left the field after bowling four balls of his fourth over in the second innings, feeling a twinge behind his right knee. He had taken 2 for 54 in the first innings. With the 12th man Brad Williams already on the field, for Gillespie who had a slight side strain, Tim Neilsen, the Australian assistant coach and former South Australia wicketkeeper, took MacGill's place.

After the heady events of the second day, when Matthew Hayden scaled Test-match batting's highest peak, there was a much more realistic atmosphere about the play as the Zimbabweans struggled to extend the game beyond four days. Until Gillespie and MacGill left the field, that hope appeared misplaced.

Zimbabwe's hopes of a solid performance in their first innings were undone early in the day when Trevor Gripper was hit on the ear by Brett Lee. Two balls later, he was unable to keep down a sharp, rising ball which took the splice of and flew to Darren Lehmann at gully. Gripper had just posted his half-century.

Vermeulen had shaped promisingly, but fell to a splendid legspinner's delivery from MacGill which spun across him, took the edge of the bat and was clasped at first slip by Matthew Hayden. It was a copy of the dismissal a little earlier of Carlisle. There was some resistance from the batsman of Zimbabwe's tour so far, Craig Wishart. He played some lovely shots straight and square on the off, especially against MacGill, but was undone by one of the better balls of the day from Andy Bichel. It moved a fraction to the off from the pitch and Wishart, attempting to play it off the back foot with his bat away from his body, edged through to Adam Gilchrist. He left for 46, and Zimbabwe were 199 for 5.

Once Gillespie removed Tatenda Taibu, trapping him leg-before for 15, the end came quickly. Brett Lee seized the chance to scythe through the lower order, dismissing Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut off successive fast, swinging deliveries, while Gillespie bowled Sean Ervine to end the innings at 239.

The Australians were not at their most penetrative. Lee rarely bowled at his most express, and Gillespie was clearly affected by his injury. They were, however, consistently accurate and never under any pressure. Waugh was able to do without Lee's pace to break up partnerships, which meant that when the final breakthrough came, Lee was still warmed up and able to start afresh in the second innings, which Zimbabwe started 496 runs adrift.

It was Gillespie who made the initial breakthrough in the follow-on, dismissing Trevor Gripper with the first ball he faced - a poor defensive shot that went off the edge to Gilchrist. Dion Ebrahim made just 4 before playing Gillespie onto his stumps, leaving Zimbabwe 11 for 2. The Australian bowling was left enfeebled by the departure of both Gillespie and MacGill, enabling Vermeulen and Carlisle to add 76 without being parted, and take the fight to another day. But how long they extend that defiance is another matter altogether.