Australians put Ireland on back foot

Two breaks because of rain, adding up to some 50 minutes, meant that weather-wise in this dismal summer it was par for the course at Rathmines yesterday, where Ireland, fortified by the presence of Steve Waugh, faced the might of Australia A.

And the signs were that the national team is likely to need his expertise, for by close of play Ireland's tally was 94 for 4, with Waugh not out on 22, in reply to Australia's first innings haul of 309 for six wickets declared, leaving the tourists ahead at the end of the first day by a mere 215 runs.

Word had it that Ireland's skipper, Angus Dunlop, would have elected to bat had he won the toss. Well, you never know, of course; still, the fact that he, along with Kyle McCallan, Jason Molins and Stephen Smyth, had all taken showers before stumps indicated that batting first would hardly have given Ireland any advantage.

In the event, Michael Hussey and Matthew Hayden gave Australia A a fine platform, putting on 115 for the first wicket. Matt Dwyer, the fifth bowler to be used, broke the partnership, trapping Hayden leg before, and went on to take four for 57 off 12 overs.

Hussey was his side's top scorer, with an impressive unbeaten 125, scored off 196 balls with 18 fours.

Hayden came next with 68 (72 balls, 10 fours, one six), followed by Campbell on 53 (75 balls, 8 fours), and mention must be made of Martyn's sprightly 26, which included five boundaries.

McCallan was the only other Ireland bowler to take a wicket, that of Dene Hills, while Paul Mooney conceded only 27 off eight overs. Waugh, surprisingly perhaps, was given six overs and didn't give much away, either.

When Ireland batted, Jason Gillespie inflicted an early blow, having McCallan caught in slips with just 11 runs on the board. But Jas on Molins and Stephen Smyth seemed unperturbed by this early calamity. Molins clouted Gillespie for one massive six, boundaries came aplenty, and the 50 came up in only the seventh over.

The purple patch couldn't last but full marks for elan. Julian broke the partnership when Smyth edged a ball to Campbell and Adam Dale then removed Molins, who scored a lively 33, and Dunlop.

As something approaching a mid-winter night set in, Steve Waugh was defying his country men, aided by the staunch night watchman Paul Mooney. Play resumes at 11.30 this morning, with Ireland well positioned to make an astonishing recovery.

Backs to the wall, and facing a daunting challenge, in other words.