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Champagne Moments

The Ashes debut of Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne.

JONATHAN AGNEW: And now at last, the moment we’ve been waiting for, Shane Warne coming on. Taking off his floppy hat to reveal a shock of blond hair. He has an earring in one ear as well … certainly a member of the new generation of international cricketers, with a modern-style haircut.

TREVOR BAILEY: He hasn’t got a ponytail, though.

JA: He hasn’t got a ponytail but he does have one of these new shaved jobs. Two or three razor round the back and rather more hair on top. Anyway, here he comes now, he’s going to bowl from the far end, which is the end where Peter Such did such damage during Australia’s innings. 6 for 67 he took. I just wonder, Trevor. There must be a little pressure on young Warne’s shoulders because he must know that his team are expecting him to come on and take a few wickets here, or at least turn the ball.

TB: Well, if he doesn’t turn the ball then England will have a very good time indeed …

JA: Just rehearsing one or two deliveries there to Brendon Julian at mid-on. There’s a slip and a short extra cover, a ring of three on the off side, three on the leg and a deep backward square leg. And here he goes, Shane Warne, off only two or three paces, he bowls and Gatting is taken on the pad – he’s bowled! Well, Gatting is still standing there – he can’t believe it. But that must have turned a very long way. We haven’t got a view of this but it took his off stump. Gatting can’t believe it. That is Shane Warne’s first delivery in a Test match in England, he’s comprehensively bowled Mike Gatting … that must have turned an awful long way. Mike Gatting is still walking off, shaking his head, he just can’t believe it at all. He’s bowled for four and England are 80 for 2. Warne, as you’d expect, is being surrounded by Australia’s fieldsmen. They’re all clapping him on the back but we can see the replay now. It’s tossed up and pitches round and about … outside the leg stump and it absolutely … [laughs] that turns feet.

TB: That was a jaffa!

JA: It’s taken the top of off stump.

TB: That was an absolutely beautiful delivery.

JA: He’s got a huge smile on his face and who can blame him? That ball pitched outside the leg stump, Gatting played it with a perfectly straight bat … That’s unplayable, and that I’m sure will send a shock wave right through the England dressing room.

TB: That was a glorious ball. To me, that was the champagne moment.

England v Australia, Old Trafford, June 1993

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JONATHAN AGNEW: Umpire Mitchley has given him out lbw! Cork has taken a hat-trick in the first over of the day! He’s mobbed by his team-mates and he’s flung to the ground and Hooper departs now. What a start. There’s a standing ovation from this near-full house for Dominic Cork, and that must surely put a seal on this match. Carl Hooper, leg before, first ball. Umpire Mitchley thought about it for a moment or two, but like Junior Murray he seemed to get right across in front of his stumps and there’s an elated-looking Dominic Cork mopping his brow, a hug and a kiss from Angus Fraser, the big fast bowler, who came over and shook him by the hand. It’s the end of Dominic Cork’s first over and he is wandering around; he doesn’t know where to go at the moment. He’s absolutely on cloud nine.

England v West Indies, Old Trafford, July 1995