Anderson: “Cook more talented than KP”

Shane Warne once said of cricket, “Every time you walk through a gate you never know what it’s going to bring”. It’s part of the joy of cricket. After the washout of day one, the sell out crowd at the SCG were treated to a bit of everything on day two.

On a day when nine wickets fell and 313 Runs were scored, the spectators saw debutant Beer score his first Test runs, and take and lose his first Test wicket. The game has swung both ways today, but has ended perhaps the most even day of the series so far.

Not for the first time in this series, England successfully removed the Australian batsmen, but struggled to get through the tail.

As he did in the Perth Test, no. 8 Mitchell Johnson (53) top scored for Australia. His partnership with Hilfenhaus was worth 76, and between them they scored eight fours and two sixes.

England looked perplexed as to how to get them out. The successful plans employed to dismiss the top and middle order were abandoned, and Strauss seemed to lose control of the situation, setting the fielders well back.

Johnson was eventually bowled by Bresnan going for the drive, the ball hitting the top of off stump. But the damage had been done. When Hilfenhaus fell to Anderson, edging through to Prior, it seemed that momentum would be with Australia coming out onto the field.

However, England made a positive start from the outset in their response, Strauss rocketing to his fourth half century in the series.

England looked well set, until Strauss (60) fell to an Hilfenhaus in swinger that straightened up.

Trott went for his first duck in his 30 Test innings, an inside edge off Johnson taking out the stumps. It was only 5^th time he hasn’t achieved double figures in a Test innings.

After making 2* earlier in the day, the time finally came for Michael Beer to bowl his first ever Test match ball. Today was not his day however. KP showed his intent towards Beer with his first delivery, finding the gap through cover to the boundary.

Just 13 balls later, Beer experienced the giddy high of his first Test wicket. But he quickly came back down to earth with a bump as Cook was called back by KP and Billy Bowden, who suspected a front-foot no ball. His suspicions were correct, and Cook, on 46 at the time, was safe. It was not a moment that debutant Beer will cherish.

It looked like Cook and KP would see out the day, until Pietersen hooked a high bouncer from Johnson, and Beer took the catch at deep backward square.

Michael Clarke has put his stamp on the captaincy for Australia in this game.

In one of several bold captaincy moves from him, he threw the new ball to Johnson, no doubt hoping that his earlier runs would boost his confidence with the ball. Johnson didn’t have the same impact as at the WACA, but is showed a different side to Clarke, who’s resilience as captain was called into question before this Test.

Paul Collingwood may not have saved his Test career, but if this is his last match, he went out with a bang. Earlier in the day, he bowled Mike Hussey with what was potentially his final ball in Test cricket. Having set him up with several wider balls, he got one to swing back in, Hussey getting an inside edge on to the stumps.

With figures of 4-66 in the first innings, and top wicket taker in the series with a tally of 21, seven ahead of the nearest contender, James Anderson has been far and away England’s best bowler. He will no doubt miss out on Man of the Series to run machine Cook, but his success here will be all the sweeter for the skepticism he faced before the tour that he wouldn’t be able to swing the kookaburra ball. His poor tour of Australia four years ago will also heighten this success for him.

“I knew what had been said before I came away but it didn’t bother me,” Anderson said. “I knew where my game was at and the ability that I’ve got. I’m just happy that I’ve made some very meaningful contributions towards the success of the tour so far. Hopefully with ten wickets still to get I can add to my tally.”

Having removed Smith and Siddle with the new ball, Anderson had to watch Australia add another 91 runs before the final wicket fell.

“It is frustrating when that happens,” Anderson continued, “but it does happen quite often in Test cricket, the tail wagging. I wouldn’t call Johnson a tail ender; he’s a very competent batsman. Johnson and Hilfenhaus, with a couple of wickets left, had a free reign to swing the bat. It came off for Hilfenhaus who had his eyes shut for most of his innings.

“If you’d have given us 280 when they chose to bat on that pitch we’d have taken it. We were pretty happy with our couple of days work as bowlers, and we think it’s a total that we can get.

“It’s pretty even stevens, maybe slightly in our favour. We have a crucial morning sessions tomorrow to get through. Hopefully we can get a decent lead.”

Anderson will resume in the morning on 1*, having been sent in to face the final 4.4 overs after Pietersen’s dismissal.

“It was probably not my favourite time of the day,” he conceded. “But I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy my job as night watchman. I know I am doing a really good job for my team if I can get through that evening and protect the batters that are coming in. It’s nice to walk off the field at the end of the day having done my job.

“I see my role tomorrow as batting as long as I possibly can. If I can stick around and create a partnership with Cookie, even if I’m not scoring heavily I’ll still be frustrating them and tiring the bowlers out.”

Even if Anderson can remain at the crease, it will be down to Cook once again to make the big runs.

“He has been fantastic,” Anderson said of the England opener. “Considering people were questioning his spot before the summer, I think it shows exactly that sort of player he is. He’s got huge character, huge talent and there was no doubt in our dressing room that he was going to perform when we came out here.

“He’s got 650 runs in the series. He’s probably more talented than KP. KP finds it so easy to play, he’s so naturally gifted with the shots he’s got. Cookie’s not got that, he relies on the shots that he has got and his mental toughness to get him through. It just shows how talented he is.”

Despite the early similarities with the Perth Test match, this is the most even game so far in the series. As none of the other Test matches in this eventful series have made it anywhere near a close finish, it would complete a great six weeks of cricket.

Openers dig in after Johnson top scores

The England openers saw out 16 overs to tea after finally dismissing the Australian tail enders.

In an innings reminiscent of their first in Perth, the Australian tail continued to wag after lunch. At the WACA, Johnson and co took the team from 189-7 to 268 all out. Johnson and Hilfenhaus came together on 189-8 here, England finally getting them all out for 280.

Mitchell Johnson top scored, as he did in Perth, with 53. His partnership with Hilfenhaus was worth 76, and between them they scored eight fours and two sixes.  And who can forget the performance with the ball that innings in Perth inspired in Johnson?

England looked perplexed as to how to get them out. The successful plans employed to dismiss the top and middle order were abandoned, and Strauss seemed to lose control of the situation, setting the fielders well back.

Johnson was eventually bowled by Bresnan going for the drive, the ball hitting the top of off stump. But the damage had been done. When Hilfenhaus fell to Anderson, edging through to Prior, it seemed that momentum would be with Australia coming out onto the field.

But the England openers were proactive from the off, Cook sitting back and letting his captain take control. Strauss reached tea just one away from what will be his fourth half century in this series.

Australian tail wags after middle order taken out

Like a dog with two dicks, the Australian tail wagged furiously at the end of the morning session on day two.

After removing the middle order, the England bowlers struggled to contain Johnson and Hilfenhaus, who put on 41 between them before lunch.

Having been moved up to number six ahead of Steve Smith, Haddin was had out with a nothing shot, wafting at a ball from Anderson outside off, Prior taking a good catch, high and to his right.

Paul Collingwood may not have saved his Test career, but if he goes, he’ll have gone out with a bang, bowling Mike Hussey with what is potentially his final ball in Test cricket. Having set him up with several wider balls, he got one to swing back in, Hussey getting an inside edge on to the stumps.

Anderson got an early breakthrough with the new ball, Steve Smith playing a shot almost as ugly as he is to edge to Collinwood at third slip. It was good outswing bowling, which Anderson has troubled Smith with throughout the series. Four balls later Anderson took another, Siddle this time edging to Strauss at first slip.

The sudden burst of runs down the order is reminiscent of the first innings in Perth, where Australia went from 189-7 to 268 all out. The 62 runs for Johnson at the WACA gave him the mojo to destroy England with the ball, and it is not out of the question that the same could happen here.

There is plenty in this pitch for the quicks, and whatever total Australia reach, it will be the England innings that will decide how competitive that target is.

Khawaja: “The best thing ever”

The day after you get back from holiday is always a come down isn’t it? After all the excitement, the fun and the thrills, you get…rain. That’s a bit how it felt at the SCG today.

Although England have yet to win this series, after the high of retaining the Ashes in Melbourne, Sydney felt like a bit of a washout even before the rain came in.

It was the least eventful start to a match in this series, which only added to the subdued atmosphere. It was good old-fashioned Test cricket in the morning session, the two openers seeing off the new ball, whilst scoring slowly but safely.

The England bowlers put pressure on the batsmen, getting close to the edge, but with no real chances until the final over of the morning.

It seemed that Phil Hughes was taking the opportunity to stake his claim on the opening spot, but he fell to the final ball before lunch, edging Tremlett to Collingwood at third slip, who took a good catch above head height.

Watson will be kicking himself for his dismissal. Having left well alone anything outside off stump all day, he pushed a wide one from Bresnan and edged through to Strauss at slip.

The new Australian Test captain Michael Clarke followed in his predecessors footsteps of not leading from the front with the bat, making a measly four before cutting Bresnan straight to Anderson at gully.

Usman Khawaja, on debut and in for injured Ponting, got off to a flying start. He was off the mark immediately with a couple of runs off Tremlett. He pulled him through midwicket for four off his next ball, and quickly raced to 15 off his first eight balls, before slowing to a steadier pace.
He continued to impress until he fell to some clever captaincy from Strauss. It was another wicket in Swann’s tally of victims in the first over of a spell, and came just before the heavens opened and ended play for the day. Crowding the batsmen with a short leg and silly point, Khawaja sent a top edge sweep to Trott at square leg, who promptly took the catch.

Despite his dismissal, Khuwaja remained positive about his debut.

“ You never want to get out, “ he said. “Especially with last ball of the day, but that’s cricket. All you can do is learn from it.

“I had a ball out there, I was having so much fun, I just wanted to stay out there as long as I could, I didn’t want to come off. It was a good start, and I got all the anxiousness out of my system and I was loving being out in the middle.

“I was most emotional when I got my baggy green in the morning. After that I sort of calmed down a little. I had the whole of lunch to get ready to go in there. I barely thought about batting for the first 20 minutes of lunch, I lay down in the changing room trying to sleep. Ten minutes before I went out I got myself ready. As soon I was out there it just felt tike the best thing ever, I was out there playing for Australia and the crowd was right behind me. It was awesome.”

It is not the first time Khuwaja has been involved in an Ashes Test match at the SCG. Four years ago he was surrounded by the likes McGrath, Gilchrist and Warne, keeping them hydrated as they completed their comprehensive series victory.

“It was pretty surreal; four years ago Australia won 5-0. I was there doing 13^th man all five days, so it was a good Test to be at. I took a lot away from it and it was a lot of fun just being a part of it. I was just putting out drinks, but it is quite a surreal feeling playing in an Ashes Test match in Sydney four years later. I’d totally forgotten about it until yesterday. I still have to pinch myself sometimes.”

Despite his late wicket, Khawaja was confident that this game remains fairly equal.

“It’s hard to tell until the other team bats,” Khawaja said. “I think the game is on an even keel right now. Batting first always puts pressure on the team batting second. England bowled well, but I think if we can get partnerships tomorrow we can do well”

Whichever way the game goes tomorrow, an even Test match and a full five days of play can do this series no harm.

Tremlett makes breakthrough on the brink of lunch

If you are used to watching action movies, an episode of Songs of Praise won’t really cut it for you. After an Ashes series full of eventful first sessions, this was a serious let down for those hoping for more of the same. The SPECTATORS still queuing to get into the SCG at 1030 didn’t miss much.

In fact, it was only with the final ball before lunch that any real excitement hit, when Tremlett finally made the breakthrough and removed Hughes.

Debut Test captain Michael Clarke won the toss for Australia and, perhaps surprisingly on a green pitch, elected to bat.

The morning session was old-fashioned, attritional Test cricket. The openers scored slowly, but crucially they saw off the new ball.  Tremlett, bowling with pace and beating the bat often was the only England bowler to really trouble the batsmen. His wicket with the third ball of his 10^th over – Hughes sparring horribly at one he should have left – was well deserved.

It brings Usman Khawaja, on debut and in for the injured Ponting, to the crease straight after lunch. With Harris missing out due to his ankle stress fracture, there was no decision to make on who would miss out for spinner Michael Beer to finally win his opportunity. England remained unchanged from the team that secured the Ashes in Melbourne.

England have one hand on the urn

What a difference a toss makes. Able to make the bold decision to bowl first on Boxing Day morning was a decisive moment that will win Strauss and his men the Ashes. Had England batted first on day one, who knows what position this match would be in now. But that is the joy of cricket. And if Australia lose this game, and the Ashes, they can hardly blame the toss. It is a five match contest after all.

England deserve to win this series. They have outplayed Australia more often than not. In a way, they have done Australian cricket a favour. Had Australia won this series, it could have had a detrimental effect, fooling people into thinking that all was well. But clearly it is not. Australia have to accept that their extended period of glory is over, and begin to rebuild a squad for the future with young players who have potential.

England are only four wickets away from retaining the Ashes. Their lead of 415 was the highest ever second innings advantage in an Ashes Test match, and will no doubt prove too much for Australia tomorrow morning, still 246 behind.

Australia made a decent start to their mammoth task after lunch on day three, reaching 52 for none after the first ten overs.  A wicket looked unlikely. That was until Watson decided to lend a hand. For the sixth time in his 26 match Test career, and the second time in this series, the Aussie opener was involved in a run out.

He set off for a non-existent single, Hughes having no choice but to go. Trott collected the ball at cover and threw to Prior at the strikers end, who removed the bails with Hughes still a good foot out of his ground.

In the final session of the day, Bresnan produced a stunning spell to begin an Australian collapse that included losing three for just five runs. Watson (54), Ponting (20) and Hussey (0) all fell to Bresnan’s excellent line and length.

A great ball from Swann found the very edge of Clarke’s bat, and Strauss gladly held on to the catch at second slip.

Steve Smith looked to be in decent form, and whilst it did nothing to assist his team today, it was a nod to the future that he can play under pressure. He didn’t survive the day though dragging on Anderson to fall for 38.

Australia had finally managed to bowl England out just before lunch. Siddle achieved a futile five-for, finishing with 6-75. He really has been the pick of the Australian bowlers, but that hasn’t been too difficult to achieve.

Hilfenhaus more than doubled his wicket tally for the series, cleaning up the tail with the final three wickets. Only Trott remained at the end on 168, still marking his guard as the rest of the players left the field. He now has the second highest average in Test history, 64, just below Don Bradman.

Ryan Harris answered the question of which quick would miss out at the SCG. He left the field before lunch after pulling out of a run up due to a stress fracture to his ankle. The decision has not yet been made as to whether or not he will bat tomorrow.

Nothing short of a miracle, or an act of god on epic proportions can stop Australia losing this Test match tomorrow. And they know it.

“We have just about (accepted that we have lost the Ashes) “, said Watson at the end of play. “It’s very shattering to be in the position we are in now after playing so well in Perth and feeling like we had a big chance of being in the series and winning the Ashes. To be in the position that we are after our poor performance throughout this whole game, it is very shattering.

“We didn’t get the best of the conditions on the first morning,” he continued. “But that’s part and parcel. You’ve got to be able to get through those periods. We weren’t able to do that.”

After another disappointment today for Ricky Ponting, who scored a pained 20 before dragging an inside edge onto his stumps, it looks ever more likely that this could be his last Test at the G. He appears to still have the backing of his team however.

“He’s a very tough man mentally as he’s shown throughout his whole career,” Watson continued. “Everyone is, and always will be, right behind Ricky, he’s been a brilliant leader for us. I’ve been lucky enough to be around when he’s been leading the Australian side. Unfortunately it hasn’t been the perfect time for him on the run side of things, but its not far away. He’s such an amazing player, a few things going his way and he’ll be able to turn it around.”

Tim Bresnan came to Australia as England’s fifth choice fast bowler, but can claim today as his own. Getting the ball to skid, he took three wickets in 18 balls.

“The way that Bresnan bowled today wasn’t unexpected,” Watson said. “He is a high quality player, and a high quality bowler. His spell this afternoon was very highly skilled.”

“I’m ecstatic, I’m over the moon,” Bresnan said. “But we bowled well as a unit, it doesn’t matter who takes the wicket. We’ve done a lot of hard work, hopefully we’ll do the rest tomorrow and wrap up this win.”

Although unwilling to admit it until that final wicket falls, Bresnan will be part of an historic victory tomorrow that will secure the Ashes for England in Australia for the first time since he was a toddler.

Watson gets a wicket!

England’s 415 lead is the highest ever second innings advantage in an Ashes Test match. It’s a big ask for the home side.

Australia made a decent start to their mammoth task, reaching 52 for none after the first ten overs.  As feared, the pitch looked lifeless for the bowlers, and it was telling that Swann was brought on after nine overs. It was difficult to see where a wicket would come from.

So Watson obliged, gifting England their breakthrough. For the sixth time in his 26 match Test career, and the second time in this series, Watson was involved in a run out.

He set off for a non-existent single, Hughes having no choice but to go. Trott collected the ball at cover and threw to Prior at the strikers end, who removed the bails with Hughes still a good foot out of his ground.

England may only have to take another eight wickets to win this game. Harris, who left the field before lunch after pulling out of a run up, has a stress fracture to his ankle. The decision has not yet been made as to whether or not he will bat.

If the crowd were bored or frustrated with events on the pitch, they had a sideshow in the sky to keep them entertained. A sky writer appeared over the MCG to ask; “Marry me Kerri”. At least, that’s what it looked like before the wind rendered it indecipherable.  Much like Watson’s reasons for running, the answer is as yet unknown.

Australia face massive 415 run deficit

Australia finally managed to bowl England out, with a mere deficit of 415.

Siddle achieved a futile five-for, finishing with 6-75. His first of the morning was Prior, who fell 15 short of a century. He was caught at mid on by Ponting, a rather weak ending to a great innings.

In his first Ashes innings, Bresnan came and went for 4, a feathered edge giving Siddle his home ground Michelle. He really has been the pick of the Australian bowlers, but that hasn’t been too difficult to achieve.

Hilfenhaus more than doubled his wicket tally for the series, cleaning up the tail with the final three wickets. Only Trott remained at the end, still marking his guard as the rest of the players left the field.

Ryan Harris answered the question of which quick would miss out at the SCG, pulling up during his run up and flopping to the ground to remove a boot. He hobbled off the pitch, and looked unlikely to reappear in his teams battle to achieve the impossible.

A career ending day?

Is this the end for two veterans of the great game? There has been talk on both sides of this contest of a senior player coming to the end of their career after an extended poor run of form. And today has done neither player any favours towards changing those opinions.

There were calls for Ricky Ponting to retire after the disastrous Adelaide Test that followed England’s prolific second innings 517 for 1 at Brisbane. His team insist that he is backed100% as captain, but if it weren’t for that title it is likely he would have been dropped on form, particularly considering the team reshuffles after those two Test’s. Excluding his futile 51* on the final day of the drawn first Test, he has totaled 42 in this series at an average of six.

It appeared that the final straw came for him today, with his team 161 behind, and only 2 wickets claimed in the day. Brad Haddin insisted KP got an inside edge on a ball from Harris, but when a review from the Aussies showed no nick on hotspot, Ponting appeared to lose it. In an ugly confrontation with the decision making umpire, Ponting wagged his finger in Aleem Dar’s face in a rant that seemed to go on forever. He didn’t end it there either, KP and Tony Hill both getting an earful from the Aussie captain before play finally resumed.

The Barmy Army wasted no time in letting him know their thoughts on the subject; “sacked in the morning, you’re going to be sacked in the morning”, they sang. Only time will tell how prophetic that could be.

In contrast to Australia, England have remained strong on team selection, with only 13 players making the first team so far in this series. Collingwood has long been part of that team, not only for his batting, but his exceptional fielding, and occasional wicket with the ball. But the poor vein of form he finds himself in with the bat will not go forever unpunished.

Never would he have a better opportunity to show that he can still score runs than coming in after the top four have all made half centuries against an Australia side demoralised by the sight of the Ashes slipping away. But he failed once again, lifting a long hop from Johnson down to Siddle at fine leg for 8. If England win this game, and play Collingwood in what is essentially a dead rubber in Sydney, it will be like a benefit game for him. With Eoin Morgan banging down the door for his spot, he won’t be carried much longer.

It was a day full of drama at the MCG. Five of the top seven posted over 50, with only Bell and Collingwood missing out. Jonathan Trott made his second 100 of the series, his third against Australia in just five Tests. His innings wasn’t without controversy, the misery for Punter continuing when Australia thought they had run out Trott on 49. It was very close, but the Australian celebrations on and off the pitch were cut short when inconclusive replays gave the batman the benefit of the doubt. He reached his half-century with his next ball to further compound the Aussie desolation.

His innings looked in doubt on 76 when a ball from Hilfenhaus rapped him on the inside of his knee, and he spent several minutes writhing in pain on the floor. He received treatment, and seemed right enough after struggling with the next few runs.

He was well supported in his innings by Matt Prior, who had his best knock of the series. He will also feel lucky to have made it as far as he did, after a bizarre incident shortly before tea.

Prior nicked one behind off Johnson, and walked instantly, but was stopped by umpire Aleem Dar. Confusion reigned for a few moments, until it became clear that he was checking with third umpire for a no ball. His suspicions were correct, and next man in Bresnan had to retreat form the field for Prior to resume his innings.

Earlier in the day, Siddle was the man to get the breakthrough for Australia, and boy did he need the wickets. Since his match turning 6-for, including a hat trick, on day one at the Gabba, he has taken only one wicket in this series. But he removed both the openers in the first 40 minutes of play, for the addition of just 13 runs.

The weather was finally in the favour of the Australians, although less so for the spectators. Cloud cover assisted Siddle in drawing more bounce out of the pitch, and the resulting movement of the ball did for the opening batsmen, both caught behind the wicket, as all the Aussies were yesterday.

Cook was the first to go, coming forward to Siddle with a defensive prod. There was just enough movement off the seam for the ball to find the edge of Cook’s bat, and Watson just managed to get his hands underneath the ball before it hit the deck.

The ball that did for Strauss lifted off the pitch, and Hussey pulled off a dramatic jumping catch at backward point for the second wicket.

Amidst all the drama of the afternoon session, KP was out plumb lbw to Siddle shortly after reaching his half-century. Collingwood and Bell both fell to short balls from Johnson, both caught in the deep by Siddle.

England end the day with a lead of 346 (Trott 141, Prior 75),  thanks to one of their greatest days of Test cricket yesterday. It was only the second time in Test history that a team bowled out the opposition and took a ten wicket lead on the first day of play. It will be difficult for either side to top a stat like that!

Plenty of action at the ‘G’

There was plenty of drama in the afternoon session at the G, with both sides given things to cheer about.

Brad Haddin gave the Aussies hope, so convinced was he of an inside edge from KP that Ponting decided to review. Hot Spot clearly showed no contact, and the on field decision was proved correct. Ponting however, was not happy. His lengthy rant to Aleem Dar was followed by one to KP, and Tony Hill. It showed real desperation from the Aussie skipper.

The Barmy Army were delighted, and took the opportunity to predict his fate; “sacked in the morning, you’re going to be sacked in the morning’ they sang!

He was appeased a few balls later when KP was out plumb lbw to Siddle. But the misery for Punter continued when Australia thought they had run out Trott on 49. It was very close, but the Australian celebrations on and off the pitch were cut short when inconclusive replays gave Trott the benefit of the doubt. He reached his half-century with his next ball to further compound the Aussie misery.

Two more quick wickets, both involving Siddle, did revive some hope for the hosts. Collingwood, who couldn’t have been given a better opportunity to score some runs than all his team-mates making over 50 against a demoralized Australian side, failed once again, lifting a long hop from Johnson down to Siddle at fine leg for 8.

Bell followed soon after, going for just 1, another wicket for Johnson and another catch for Siddle on the boundary.

7 minutes before tea, Prior nicked on behind, and walked instantly, but was stopped by umpire Aleem Dar. Confusion reigned for a few moments, until it became clear that he was checking with third umpire for a no ball. His suspicions were correct, and next man in Bresnan had to retreat form the field for Prior to resume his innings.

Trott (65) and Prior (12) survived the remaining overs to tea. England have a lead of 206,and with the pitch beginning to show signs of life again, Australia will have to bat their socks of in their second innings to stay in the game.

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