Gatting enjoys swansong enabling injury-ravaged England to seal win

England's 106-run win at Adelaide in January 1995, achieved despite only 11 fit players and five fit batsmen, represented a remarkable performance by the under-strength tourists.

England were 2-0 down and had lost the Ashes by the time the fourth Test at Adelaide came around.

Thumping defeats at Brisbane and Melbourne had been followed by a better English display in a drawn game at Sydney, but few gave Atherton's men much chance of getting on the score sheet in South Australia.

Not only were Mark Taylor's team significantly stronger, with players such as Shane Warne and the Waugh twins in their ranks, but England were down to the bare bones in terms of personnel.

Alec Stewart and Shaun Udal suffered broken fingers before a tour game was played, while Stewart broke his index finger three times on the trip all told.

In addition, Devon Malcolm missed the first Test with chicken pox, Joey Benjamin was diagnosed with shingles, while Yorkshire's Craig White (side strain) and Darren Gough (fractured foot) had to fly home along with Graeme Hick (prolapsed disc).

So severe were England's injury problems they had to call up six replacements – Angus Fraser, Chris Lewis, Jack Russell, Mark Ramprakash, Mark Ilott and Neil Fairbrother.

Even David Roberts, the England physio, was called on to do some emergency fielding during a match in Bendigo – only to break a finger himself.

Ravaged by injuries, the series began disastrously as England lost the first Test in Brisbane by 184 runs.

Michael Slater (176) and Mark Waugh (140) underpinned Australia's first innings total of 426, England replying with 167 as Craig McDermott took 6-53.

After Australia followed up with 248-8 declared, England were dismissed for 323 as Warne took 8-71, his best Test figures.

England lost a low-scoring second Test in Melbourne by 295 runs after being bundled out for 92 in their second innings.

And although they had the better of the third Test at Sydney, where Atherton famously declared with Hick unbeaten on 98, they were unable to force the win that would have kept their Ashes dream alive going to Adelaide.

England's victory there was made possible firstly by splendid contributions from Atherton and Mike Gatting.

The captain made 80 after winning the toss, while Gatting registered his first Test hundred for eight years to help his team to a first innings total of 353.

Atherton admitted he had serious reservations about Gatting being chosen for the tour.

In his autobiography he wrote: "I had nothing against Gatting, except that I felt his time was past . . . In my diary, against Gatting's name, I had this entry: 'Too old, liability in the field, recent Test record not good, another left-hander needed to counter Warne.'

But Atherton was quick to pay tribute to the determined way the former England captain knuckled down to score 117 in a few minutes short of seven hours.

Gatting, who spent 31 minutes on 99, dealt with everything the Australian bowlers could throw at him.

"Regardless of whether or not Gatting should have been on the tour, it was a brave performance from him," wrote Atherton.

"He had endured a poor trot in the first three Tests, and before he went out to bat in Adelaide he sat motionless in his seat for an age, with his eyes closed, completely calm.

"He was composing his performance in his mind – his penultimate one as an England player."

Atherton also admitted doubts about his squad's athleticism. He felt it essential to have a mobile fielding unit in Australia due to the size of grounds and the sapping conditions.

He actually conceded his team were "a laughing stock" in the field and recalled one match when they were the butt of the locals' humour.

"Before the game the public address announcer, no doubt tittering at our geriatric fielding drills, decided that the only fitting musical accompaniment to the practice was the theme tune to 'The Muppet Show'.

"By the end of the match Kermit the Frog would have done a better job as captain, for my head was spinning with the need to hide at least six players in the field.

"Mike Gatting ended up at short extra-cover, but Australia's young bucks were still able to saunter to a single."

After Gatting inspired England to a competitive total at Adelaide, Greg Blewett became the 16th Australian to score a hundred on Test debut with an unbeaten 102 that helped the home side reply with 419.

Blewett was one of two Australians making his debut – the other being leg-spinner Peter McIntyre – and he defied an England attack diligently spearheaded by Fraser and Malcolm.

Propelled by an explosive 88 from Phil DeFreitas, England made 328 second time around as Australia were left to score 263 to win from 67 overs.

The value of DeFrietas's knock could not be understated.

"Orthodox but aggressive, without a single ugly stroke, he scored 68 of England's 108 in 18.5 overs on the final morning," noted Wisden.

"In all DeFreitas batted exactly two hours, hitting two sixes and nine fours off 95 balls."

Australia were quickly in disarray at 23-4, and Malcolm and Lewis both claimed four wickets as they were bundled out for 156 with just 35 balls of the match remaining.

England's victory restored a semblance of pride during a difficult tour, but normal service was resumed in the final Test at Perth, which Australia won by 329 runs to take the series 3-1.

Atherton felt the win in Adelaide was a triumph for coach Keith Fletcher, who endured some torrid criticism throughout the trip.

"Most of all, I felt pleased for Keith Fletcher," declared Atherton. "During a state game in Toowoomba a fortnight after the First Test, The Sun had printed our hotel fax number and encouraged its readers to send their thoughts to Fletcher.

"That week Fletcher was vilified more than any other England official or player that I can recall.

"I worried for him, but he kept his cool and his dignity. 'Don't fwet, Michael,' he said. 'I'm stwonger than all of them.'"