Cricket: McDermott a casualty of Border's war of words: Australian captain lays down the law during tourists' victory while the England selectors prepare to chew over the one-day possibilities

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .431 and 40-0 dec

Somerset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151-4 dec and 285

Australia win by 35 runs

AUSTRALIA, who brushed aside Somerset for their fifth win in five tour matches yesterday, seem to have decided the opposition here is so weak the only way they are going to indulge their aggressive instincts is by taking on each other.

The internal unrest began yesterday morning with Allan Border threatening to hand his leading fast bowler, Craig McDermott, a one-way plane ticket in an exchange loaded with expletives. There was also plenty of finger-wagging in a scene resembling Mike Gatting's altercation with Angus Fraser at Lord's a week ago.

Afterwards, Border returned to marshalling an Australian win which was more comfortable than the 35-run margin suggested. The loss of four hours' play to rain on Sunday and the lure of the sponsor's money meant a return to the days of contrived third- day finishes. Somerset declared overnight and, after Australia batted briefly, were set 321 from 84 overs.

Only 77 were required, with Australia's spinners Shane Warne and Tim May both taking four wickets as Somerset crumbled from 187 for 2 to 285 all out. All this after Andy Hayhurst, who made 89, and Mark Lathwell, who failed again in front of Keith Fletcher, took 14 off the first over.

That is where the problems began for McDermott, who had trouble with his run-up, his delivery and ultimately his captain. Having opened at the Town End he was soon demanding a return to the River End from where he bowled so well on Sunday. Walking back to his mark in high dudgeon, he was pursued by Border who, from 20 yards away, called him.

McDermott did not initially appear to hear, but the boundary crowd could and so did a Channel 7 television camera which was able to pick up the subsequent conversation in full unexpurgated glory. Border opened by calling to McDermott: 'Hey, hey, hey, hey] I'm f. . .ing talking to you. Come here, come here, come here, come here.'

McDermott glanced back casually at his captain, who responded: 'Do that again and you will be on the next plane home, son.' McDermott muttered an inaudible reply to which Border reacted: 'What was that? You f. . .ing test me and you'll see.'

The immediate consequence was a change of ends but no improvement in bowling from McDermott, who finished with 72 for 0 off 14 overs with eight no-balls at two runs apiece.

However, at the other end Merv Hughes was in impressive form, finding movement off a good length and dismissing Lathwell as he pushed forward unconvincingly. Hayhurst, who batted soundly in both innings, and Chris Tavare, who took 19 off one McDermott over, gave Somerset a chance but they had a negligible lower order and after both fell to the impressive Warne, who followed up wth a brilliantly agile run-out of Neil Burns, the innings folded.

After the game, Border made his exit via the pavilion's back stairs but McDermott paused to say: 'Can't you have a word with your captain without it being broadcast. This is 1993, not 1893.'

When asked about the dispute between the Queensland team-mates, Bobby Simpson, the Australian coach, said: 'There was some discussion about which end was best but Craig had chosen that end. I didn't even bother to ask what it was about. When they came in they seemed as happy as Harry.'

Middlesex's bore-draw,