July 30, 2009 – When Australia made change to their playing XI after the toss

Steve Bernard, the Australian team manager went to the England dressing room minutes before the start of the first day’s play.

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Graham Manou
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Australian wicketkeeper Graham Manou. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Australia, who won the Ashes at home by whitewashing the English team in 2006/07, toured England in 2009 for the 5-match away Ashes series. The Ricky Ponting-led side were denied a win in the first Test in Cardiff as the last pair of Monty Panesar and James Anderson batted out 11.3 overs. England bounced back in the 2nd Test at the Lord’s with a 115-run win which was their first victory against Australia at this venue since 1934.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first after a six-hour delayed start in the crucial 3rd Test match at the Edgbaston in Birmingham. As the toss was getting done, Brad Haddin, the Australian keeper, kept wickets for the pacers. One of the deliveries went on to hit his left ring finger. By the time he was accessed, the toss was done and the team sheets with his name were exchanged and the England team were preparing to take the field. It was revealed that his finger got fractured and can’t take part in the Test.

A first in Test history:

Steve Bernard, the Australian team manager went to the England dressing room minutes before the start of the first day’s play to request for the replacement. He approached England team director Andy Flower and Captain Andrew Strauss for replacing Haddin with Graham Manou and got it approved.

The match referee Jeff Crowe also approved the replacement as Manou became the 411th Test cricketer of Australia. Thus, this became the first and only instance in Test cricket where changes made to the playing XI after the toss. However, Manou had to wait till 2nd day to get his baggy green ceremony done.

The Haddin injury reminded the Aussies of the Glenn McGrath who was injured during the 2005 Ashes ahead of the toss in the Test match at Edgbaston only. McGrath suffered an ankle injury and was replaced by Michael Kasprowicz, who fought along with Brett Lee in the game that his team lost by mere two runs. McGrath caught up an ankle sprain ahead of the game when he tried to tackle a rugby-ball tossed by Brad Haddin only.

Graham Manou
Graham Manou of Australia receives his Baggy Green cap on his test debut. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

A pale draw:

The Australian top three of Shane Watson, Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting scored 62, 46 and 38 respectively but James Anderson’s 5-wicket haul and Graham Onions’ 4-fer bundled the visitors for just 263. Graham Manou scored only eight runs on his debut innings but took three catches including the one of Andrew Strauss, who helped him to gain a Test cap. The hosts made 376 in their first innings and took a 113-run lead. The game was frequently interrupted by rain and crawled towards a draw.

Australians were reduced to 161/4 in the 2nd innings before Michael Clarke and Marcus North put on 185 runs for the 5th wicket. North got out scoring 96 while Clarke scored an unbeaten 103. Manou scored an unbeaten 13 before the game ended in a draw with Australia scoring 375/5 in their 2nd innings. Brad Haddin returned for the 4th Test as Manou’s Test career lasted one match. Aussies levelled the series with an innings win in the Leeds Test but went down in the final Test at The Oval to lose the Ashes.

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