CRICKET

The former Australian Test star watched Gallian bat his way into the record books yesterday with a marathon 312 in over eleven hours, the highest ever score at Old Trafford and the longest innings in championship history.

And Jones said: "It was his character which impressed me most. Technically he was so solid that I tried a million things to shake him up.

"I chipped at him a bit for leaving Australia and also made sure that he went into tea sitting on 298. When I got my 300 a couple of years ago, I was sitting on 298 at tea and a million things can go through your mind.

"But nothing seemed to faze him. He was in so much control. It was one of the best controlled innings I've ever seen."

Gallian's knock, only the tenth championship treble century since the war and the first since Brian Lara's 501 two years ago, beat the previous Old Trafford record of 311 set by Bobby Simpson in the 1964 Ashes series.

Gallian came into contact with Simpson in his spell at the Australian Cricket Academy and Jones also knew plenty about him because of his Aussie background.

"He fielded for Australia in a one day match when I was playing," added the Victorian. "I think he's one of us.

"But I hope this 300 helps get him what he wants, and that's to play for England. He's committed here now and committed to the country. Whether he's good enough I don't know, he's got to back this up now with more big scores. That's the sign of a good player.

"But he is getting better and better."

Gallian put his success down to a new fitness programme. "In the West Indies during the winter David Lloyd took me to one side and talked to me about my fitness," revealed the 25-year-old.

"He said that was essential to turn centuries into really big scores. I took it to heart and worked really hard on my fitness."

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