MELBOURNE, Dec 26: Shane Warne -- acclaimed by an Ashes record crowd -- created Test history by becoming the first bowler to claim 700 wickets as dispirited England collapsed on the opening day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday. The master leg-spinner, playing in his penultimate Test match ahead of his farewell Sydney Test next week after announcing his retirement, captured 5-39 off 17.2 overs -- his 37th five-wicket Test haul -- as England succumbed for 159 after winning the toss.
Australia reached stumps at 48 for two in reply off 11 overs with Matthew Hayden 17 not out and Ricky Ponting yet to score after Justin Langer (27) and nightwatchman Brett Lee (0) were both caught behind off successive Andrew Flintoff deliveries.
It was a case of the bigger the stage the bigger the performance as Warne bowled Andrew Strauss for his 700th wicket just before tea and went on to claim four more scalps to take his career tally to 704 in his 144th Test.
Warne produced his Boxing Day theatrics before an Ashes record crowd of 89,155, just shy of the world record single day's Test attendance of 90,800 for the second day of the fifth Test against the West Indies at the MCG in 1961. Warne received a sustained standing ovation when he was introduced into the bowling attack in the 41st over late in the middle session.
Thirty minutes later Warne claimed his 700th scalp.—AFP
