Jaques makes trouble for Sri Lanka

November 8, 2007

Australia 3 for 242 (Jaques 100, Ponting 56, Muralitharan 2-67) v Sri Lanka
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Phil Jaques has transferred his domestic form to the Test arena (file photo) © Getty Images

After ten months of speculation over who would fill Australia's three vacant Test positions, Phil Jaques hinted that at least one of those spots is in safe hands. Jaques celebrated his first match as a full-time member of the side with a century as Australia fought off Muttiah Muralitharan's wiles to reach 3 for 242 at stumps.

Michael Hussey was on 28 and Michael Clarke had reached 5 at the close, leaving Sri Lanka to regret their decision to send Australia in on a Gabba pitch tinged with green. At least the predicted showers stayed away for most of the day - 75 minutes were lost in the morning - and allowed Jaques to overcome his nervy start to settle into the opener's role with an even 100.

Although the bigger holes after Australia's Ashes triumph were left by Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath - Mitchell Johnson and Stuart MacGill will have their chance to prove their worth - the loss of Justin Langer could have been debilitating for the top order. But Jaques showed superb mental strength to register his first Test hundred before a slip in that concentration let Muralitharan end his stay.

He never looked comfortable against Muralitharan, staying in his crease and defending, sometimes playing and missing, and edging two slick chances to fumbling slips fieldsmen. When Jaques finally decided to advance Muralitharan made him look foolish, slowing his pace and pulling his length back, spinning it past the lunging Jaques who was easily stumped while sprawled well out of his crease.
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