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Warne releases his demons

August 06, 2005 09:33 IST
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Shane Warne's dismissal of Andrew Strauss in the final over of the second day of the second Ashes Test will have released a few demons in the England dressing room, according to Justin Langer.

England, 1-0 down in the five-match series, ended the day well placed on 25 for one in their second innings, 124 ahead overall after bowling Australia out for 308 at Edgbaston.

But Warne, brought on for the final over of the day, turned his second delivery prodigiously out of the rough across the left-handed Strauss to bowl him leg stump.

"Hopefully it will have put seeds of doubt in their minds, not just for this match but for the series," Langer told a news conference.

"The more Shane Warne demons we can get in England's dressing room the better. Warne will play a huge role tomorrow."

The delivery turned several feet and compared in its shock value with his first ever ball in Ashes cricket in 1993.

That ball at Old Trafford, dubbed "The Ball of the Century", turned from outside leg to clip the top of Mike Gatting's off stump.

Gatting had looked so amazed that Graham Gooch, at the non-striker's end, suggested it looked like someone had stolen his lunch. Strauss, who failed to get fully forward, looked as incredulous on Friday.

England's finger spinner Ashley Giles also began to find significant turn on Friday, even if it was not in the Australian leg spinner's league.

Warne's dismissal of Strauss extended his world record tally of Test wickets to 594. It was also his 100th in England. No other bowler in history has taken 100 wickets in one foreign country.

Langer, who made 82 on Friday, added that the rough could only get worse.

"Warne is a master of that style of bowling.

"I don't think the target will be as big as they (England) would like.

"Whatever the total, we will back ourselves to get it. I think England are probably just in front at the moment.

"But it would be a sensational test win from here (for Australia) -- that's a great motivation for us."

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Source: REUTERS
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