October 12, 2003	Sunday	Sha'aban 15, 1424

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PERTH, Oct 11: Zimbabwe, still trailing by 409 runs, will look to Mark Vermeulen to stick to his task and make Australia bat again after Steve Waugh enforced the follow-on in the first Test at the the WACA on Saturday.

The tourists crumbled in their reply to Australia’s daunting first-innings total of 735 for six declared, losing their last six wickets for 40 runs to be all out for 239 at tea on the third day.

They were 87 for two in their second innings at the close of play with Vermeulen unbeaten on 50.

Australia’s weakened bowling provided a glimmer of hope for Zimbabwe, after leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and paceman Jason Gillespie left the field with injuries.

MacGill, who has been enjoying his time in the spotlight while Shane Warne serves a 12-month doping ban, took two for 54 and 0 for 10 before breaking down with a calf muscle complaint.

Gillespie, who was on top of the Zimbabwe batsmen with figures of three for 52 and two for six, bowled just three overs in the second innings before succumbing to a side strain.

Brett Lee and Gillespie took three wickets each in the first innings and Gillespie removed openers Dion Ebrahim and Trevor Gripper cheaply as Zimbabwe stumbled to 11 for two in their second innings.

Vermeulen frustrated the world champions, batting for almost two hours and hitting nine boundaries, adding 76 for the third wicket with Stuart Carlisle who was not out 26.

Gripper’s 53 and Craig Wishart’s 46 were the highlights of Zimbabwe’s first innings.

Occasional bowlers Damien Martyn and Darren Lehmann, who combined for 13.2 overs on Saturday, may be called upon to do heavier stints later in the match.

The pitch, on which Matthew Hayden completed a world record 380 for Australia on Friday, has little in it for bowlers.

“At this stage, it’s unlikely, I guess, that they’ll take any further part here,” Australia coach John Buchanan told reporters of his team’s injured duo.

“Then once the diagnostics have been done and everyone does the assessment, obviously, we’ll know more about the following Test match.”

Australia host Zimbabwe in Sydney for the second Test on Friday and are already without leading paceman Glenn McGrath who had ankle surgery this week.

Hard-working seamer Andy Bichel and Lee are Australia’s remaining two frontline bowlers for the first Test with two days of play remaining.

“With Brett and Bich, they’re going to shoulder a lot of the responsibility so it obviously means they’re going to bowl in short bursts,” Buchanan said.

“There’s 50 overs to a new ball so we want them ready for that stage as well if required.”