MELBOURNE, 14 October 2003 — Andy Bichel clinched victory by an innings and 175 runs for Australia by taking the final Zimbabwe wicket before lunch on the fifth day of the first Test in Perth yesterday.

Zimbabwe, aided by a 74-minute rain delay on Sunday, had reached 272 for nine at the close of the fourth day.

Captain Heath Streak and tailender Ray Price further frustrated Australia with a 74-run partnership for the last wicket yesterday. Spinner Price, playing in his 13th Test, made a career-best 36 before he was caught by a diving Steve Waugh at mid-off from the bowling of Bichel as Zimbabwe were finally bowled out for 321 in the second innings.

Streak, who batted for four and a half hours and hit his ninth half-century, was unbeaten on 71 including 10 fours.

Zimbabwe were skittled out for 239 in their first innings in reply to Australia’s huge 735 for six, led by Matthew Hayden’s world record 380.

The second match in the two-Test series is in Sydney starting on Friday.

Seamer Bichel (four for 63) and part-time spinner Darren Lehmann (three for 61) captured seven wickets between them while express paceman Brett Lee took one for 96 from 35 overs.

The fiery Lee will need to lift his performance in Sydney in the absence of Glenn McGrath, who had ankle surgery last week, and Jason Gillespie, who injured a side muscle during the first Test.

Australia captain Waugh enforced the follow-on but had to use eight bowlers after half of his frontline attack broke down with injuries. Price survived a caught and bowled appeal by Lehmann in the 10th over yesterday and Streak was bowled by Lee in the next over, but the fast bowler held his head in his hands in despair as he was called for a no-ball.

Zimbabwe clung to faint hopes of a draw by batting through the first 15 overs before an 18-minute rain delay. But the hard-working Bichel was mobbed by teammates after making the breakthrough in the 23rd over of the day.

Australia Name Uncapped

Duo in Second Test Squad

In Melbourne, Australia named uncapped pacemen Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken and recalled Brad Hogg and Simon Katich yesterday in a squad of 14 for Friday’s second Test against Zimbabwe in Sydney.

Fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who broke down in the first Test in Perth with a side strain, was ruled out of the match in Sydney. Leg spinner Stuart MacGill, who hurt his calf muscle in Perth, and batsman Darren Lehmann, who has a heel complaint, were named in the squad subject to fitness checks. Australia’s bowling stocks have been tested by an ankle injury to paceman Glenn McGrath, who had surgery last week and was ruled out of the two-Test series against Zimbabwe. Left-arm spinner Hogg, 32, has played three Tests, including the second match of the West Indies series in April. He took 13 wickets during Australia’s successful World Cup campaign in southern Africa earlier this year.

Williams, 28, is a bowler of raw pace and has played seven One-Day Internationals. The Western Australian was 12th man for the first Test. Bracken, 26, is a tall left-armer from New South Wales with 11 one-day caps.