Crushing margin of victory speaks volumes

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.

Siddle double not enough to stop England

Australia removed both the England openers early on day two, but it wasn’t enough to stop the tourists securing a lead of 128 by lunch.

It goes without saying that Australia needed an early breakthrough. And perhaps the crowd did too, to open up this Test match a little.

Siddle was the man to do it, 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 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 enough movement off the seam for the ball to find the edge of Cook’s bat, and Watson justmanaged 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.

Australia had the opportunity to get themselves even further back into the game, with two more catching opportunities from Siddle; Trott edging a ball that fell just short of Smith in slips, and KP offering a difficult chance to Clarke at mid wicket.

Trott and KP took England to 226-2 at lunch, in front of a much depleted crowd form yesterday. But what a difficult day to follow; yesterday 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!

Strauss: “We won’t get complacent”

It is no surprise that triumph in the Adelaide Test meant so much to the England team; none of the 11 players that secured the victory had ever won a Test match in Australia before.

Five of the top six batsmen (excluding Trott), and swing bowler James Anderson, were in the team that toured here four years ago, but the crushing 5-0 whitewash by Australia in that series means that this is their first taste of victory on these shores.

That the win was in Adelaide will be the icing on the cake for those that experienced the humiliation of the series defeat in 06/07. It was at this ground in the second Test that England racked up a whopping total of 551 in their first innings, only to let Australia back in the game and eventually win it comfortably.

“We need to enjoy this win and savour it,” Strauss said, “because it was a special victory for us. In some ways it exorcised some of the demons from four years ago here.

“The good thing about last time,” he continued, “is that we realised that no matter what sort of position you are in in this game in Adelaide, don’t count your chickens.

“Having batted first and put on a big score we thought we were in a good position to win the game,” he continued, of their infamous loss in 2006.  “Then we thought we were in a good position just to draw it, and then suddenly we had lost it. So this time we realised once we got our noses in front we had to make it pay, we had to keep digging deep right to the end.”

Pietersen, man of the match in this game for his superb first innings total of 228, and the crucial wicket of in-form Clarke with the final ball of day four, remembers only too well the contrast from four years ago.

“The best feeling is walking into the dressing room having won this Test match,” Pietersen said. “Four years ago, it was a very horrible dressing room to walk into, a very quiet dressing room, a very negative dressing room, not as united as the dressing room is at the moment.”

He played down his own contribution to the result. “Individual performance obviously adds to a team victory and the team victory today is incredible,” he said. “It’s the best feeling no matter who takes the wickets or who gets the runs. It’s a victory in Australia. I haven’t had one, and it’s a great feeling.”

However, he stressed that this victory would not be blown out of proportion.

“We’ll celebrate the success because we should do,” said Pietersen. “We’ve worked very hard to achieve it, but we are not going to get complacent because we know as soon as complacency sets in it bites you.

“The good thing English cricket has been doing over the past couple of years is that we haven’t been complacent,” he continued. “We are on our jobs.”

Strauss also called for the supporters not to get too carried away with the result. “It’s a five match series,” he said, “and what you do in the first two only counts for so much. What we’ve shown so far is that the guys are in good form, and we can play out in Australia, which there may have been some question marks about beforehand.

“But as with everything consistency is the key,” Strauss continued. “We need to make sure that we don’t take our foot off the pedal because we know that Australia are going to come back strong, and if we give them any way back into this series they will take it.”

Australia will need to win two of the final three Tests in the series, and prevent England from winning the other, to claim back the urn. Australian captain Ricky Ponting is all too aware of how difficult that will be to achieve now.

“We will have to be at our absolute best to work our way back in to the series,” he said. “We have been outplayed. But it was only a week ago that I was saying the teams are evenly matched. The skills in our team are definitely there.”

There are calls for wholesale changes to be made to the Australian team, and a more aggressive approach taken to selection. But Ponting denied that selection so far had been safe.

“We pick teams to win a Test match,” he said. “There is nothing I would have changed preparation wise or personnel wise.”

But injury to Simon Katich will force a change, and with the need to take 20 wickets at least twice in the final three matches, it is unlikely that the bowling attack that struggled in Adelaide will remain unchanged for Perth.

Cook: I’m at my best under pressure

by Gemma Wright

It may be no coincidence that twice in as many Test matches, Cook and Trott have come together to build a strong partnership. They have much in common. Both batsmen have been on the brink of being dropped from the England team in the last 12 months after a poor run of form. At the time, they were a support for each other. And that relationship has translated onto the pitch.

“We are similar players, we grind out a result,” said Cook. “It wasn’t an ideal start to our day [when Strauss was bowled in the first over of the day], but Trott came in full of confidence, and we were setting each other little targets.”

Trott didn’t make it to his 3^rd century in consecutive Tests against Australia, falling to an excellent catch by Clarke at short mid wicket off the bowling of Harris. But Cook went on to pass 100, and end day two on 136*. So, how does he explain his recent form?

“I don’t think I’m doing anything differently,” he said. “I am just being rewarded for putting in the hard yards. But it is important to remember that there is plenty of hard work to come.

“I have never faced Doug [Bollinger] or Harris before. They were excellent batting conditions today, it was a very good wicket and we made the most of what our bowlers did yesterday. It was tough for their bowlers today. We just need to get through the first half hour tomorrow and see off the new ball. We are in a strong position, but we have to focus on tomorrow and get a big score.”

Cook has spent all but one hour of this series on the pitch, and that small respite came early on in the first Test match; on day one at the Gabba. That amount of cricket in this kind of heat would surely take its toll on a player, both physically and mentally.

“The art of batting is about concentrating for long periods of time,” Cook said. “I am better now mentally than when I am not scoring, but I was pretty tired at tea. We’ve toured some hot places, but today was up there with one of the hottest days I have ever played cricket in. It was quite hard physically after last week [at the Gabba], but it is a testament to our fitness that we can do it. Luckily I don’t sweat much; I only had one pair of gloves all day, not like KP who changed them every other over!

“It was good for Kev to finally get out there,” he continued. “He said he had his pads on for 11 hours waiting to go out to bat! He is a bit more of an explosive player than me; he takes the attack to the bowlers.”

Cook had little to say on the early dismissal of his captain, who fell with the 3^rd ball of the morning, leaving a straight one from Bollinger. “There are two types of leave, a good one and a bad one,” said Cook. “And a he picked a bad one.”

With regards the call for him to be dropped after a poor run of form, he said: “it’s always disappointing when that happens, but I deserved it.  It’s about how you deal with it, I responded at the Oval when I really needed that innings. That really meant something to me. And I did the same over here when the team really needed it.”

Unsurprisingly, the Australian team were less buoyant in the dressing room after play. “We are not at our perky best in there,” said keeper Brad Haddin. “But life goes on and we need to get good rest tonight and come back strong tomorrow.

“Today was a tough day, England are in a good position in the game. Test cricket is not meant to be easy, we need to make sure that we stay strong and hungry to win, that we are up for the contest. Cook is playing very well, and he played well at the Gabba. Everything is going England’s way.”

Early wickets for England in Adelaide

Gemma Wright at Adelaide

Lunch day 1

As predicted by Spin, losing the toss this morning may have given England their best chance of winning this game. Again, as predicted by Spin, Anderson took early wickets, three coming with his first seven balls. In fact, the Australians had lost two wickets before scoring a run.

With the fourth ball of the first over, Watson tapped the ball to mid-wicket, where Trott collected and got a direct hit at the striker’s end, running out Katich for a diamond duck; he was yet to face a ball. Australia were 0-1. Ponting up next, he edged his first ball to slips, and Swann duly took the catch to send the captain straight back.

With the first ball of his next over, Anderson got Clarke in much the same way, Swann again with the catch at second slip. This was the kind of rewards Jimmy should have been reaping from his exceptional spell on the third morning at the Gabba last week.

England had the Aussies 2 for 3. With a score like that, the Australian score system is even more confusing; is it 3 for 2, or 2 for3?

England used their first review in the 5th over, with the Aussies on 11-3. Anderson was convinced he had Watson lbw, but replays showed the ball going over, and umpire Tony Hill’s decision was upheld. Anderson had another chance with his next ball, when he put down a difficult chance to take Hussey caught and bowled.

After the dream start for England, this Adelaide pitch reverted to type, and Hussey and Watson patiently batted out the rest of the session, taking the Aussies to 94-3 at lunch, with Finn proving expensive for England.

However, this was still England’s session. Dismissing and humiliating the captain for 0, and taking those crucial early wickets, was exactly what was required with the new ball. England will have a lot of hard work now to take the remaining wickets, but they should be satisfied with their early performance.

England the lose toss but could win the game

Gemma Wright at Adelaide

What a glorious day at the Adelaide Oval. Australia have won the toss and, of course, elected to bat. It might seem like bad news for England, but actually this could give them their best chance of winning:

-       If England get early wickets, they could quite quickly be into the Aussie tail, which has been weakened by the exclusion of Johnson. He might have failed dismally in the first Test, but he is dangerous when the bat when he gets going. Harris isn’t totally inept with the bat, but the rest of the Australian bowling attack are unlikely to trouble the scorers too much.

-       If Anderson is to get the ball to swing at all, these first couple of hours would be the most likely time it will happen. So it is not out of the realms of possibility that England could do some damage with this new ball.

-       Facing Doherty on day five on this pitch is unlikely to fill the England batsmen with too much dread. He hasn’t yet shown the ‘X’ factor.

- In six of the last eight Tests at Adelaide dating back to 2000, the team batting first has gone on to lose the match

Point is, it’s not all bad. Losing the toss for England may help get a result.

Record breaking England save the first Test

by Gemma Wright

Oh how fickle a species the cricket fan is! Five days ago, England fans were confident of their teams chances in this series. Two days ago, England fans had resigned themselves to another humiliating England defeat down under.  Just 24 hours later, they quickly forgot that blip, as Strauss, Cook and Trott dug in to bring life back into this first Test match.

The Australian fans, so vocal during the Hussey/Haddin stand, were nowhere to be seen on this final day at the Gabba. As Botham said, ‘it’s fancy dress day, and the Australians have come as plastic chairs!’

If they stayed away to avoid witnessing any further England resurgence, then they made the right choice. Cook and Trott picked up where they left off on day four, scoring plenty of runs and breaking plenty of records.

There are literally too many to mention them all (surely they have broken another record for the amount of records broken in one Test match?!) but here are a selection of the records that the England batsmen broke whilst reaching 517-1 declared shortly before tea.

- Englands highest total ever in an Ashes Test at the Gabba

- Cook:Highest individual total at the Gabba, beating  previous record holder Sir Don Bradman

- Cook and Trott: highest partnership for England in Australia

- Cook and Trott: highest partnership for any team at the Gabba, including Australia (beating the record established by Haddin and Hussey just two days before!)

Cook also beat his best Test score, and then best first class score on his way to 235 unbeaten, and became only the fourth England batsman to score a double hundred against Australia in Australia (the last being Collingwood in Adelaide in 2006).

Trott’s 135 not out meant that this was only the second time that England’s top 3 have scored centuries in the same innings, the other being in1924 v South Africa at Lord’s, and raised his Test average to 59.

After the glut of runs and records broken, Strauss called time on the batting practice, and put Australia in with a target of 297 to win, and 41 overs in which to do it.

Tired and demoralized, Australia got off to bad start when Katich edged Broad to Strauss in the slips. In came Ponting, the man England really wanted to have a go at. However, after quickly racing to 50, both captains agreed that a draw was inevitable, and called time on the game, Australia finishing their second innings on 107-1.

With only 4 days until the start of the next Test match, England will undoubtedly be the happier of the two teams. Australia have serious selection issues to ponder, having bowled 152 overs and taken only one wicket in England’s second innings. With the next Test on the flat track of Adelaide, Ponting and co will want their best spinner in the team. Question is, who is that? New boy Doherty hasn’t taken the opportunity to make his mark in this game, and North failed with bat, putting his place in the side into question. Strike bowler Johnson will be lucky to remain in the side after a dismal performance all round.

It is not all plain sailing for England however. Let’s not forget that two days ago they were facing defeat after struggling to break the partnership between Hussey and Haddin. There have also been errors in the field in this game, including fumbled drops by two of the safest pairs of hands in the team, Anderson and Collingwood. It would have had little bearing on the outcome of the final session today, but Collingwood dropped a regulation slip catch, with Watson on 17, and Australia 36-1.

However, England should be jubilant as they leave the Gabba carefully stepping over all the broken records scattered around the ground.

England openers ensure it’s game on at the Gabba

by Gemma Wright

It’s a Christmas miracle! The first Test match is a contest again, thanks to centuries from Strauss and Cook. It is the first time since 1938 that both England openers have reached double figures in an Ashes Test. And it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Starting day four still 202 runs behind Australia, the batsmen didn’t wait to see off the new ball. Instead, they batted with just the right amount of caution and flare, scoring steadily from the off, and reducing the deficit to 86.

Australia were offered a lifeline when Strauss was on 70, but desperately out of form Mitchell Johnson dropped the opportunity to catch the captain and break the partnership that saw England into the lead. Out for an 18 ball duck in the first innings, and without a wicket to his name so far in this match, perhaps his ‘bad luck’ is down to superstition. There is every chance that terrible tash has cracked a mirror.

The record-breaking stand, including best opening partnership by any touring team at the Gabba, finally came to an end in the afternoon session. Shortly after an emotional celebration of his century, no doubt part relief after his duck in the first innings, Strauss was beaten in flight by North, and stumped by Haddin for 110.

It could have signaled a collapse for England, as Australia have seen many times before, but Trott simply took over where the captain left off, the run rate barely dipping at all. Cook spent a nervous tea break on 98, but didn’t wait long back on the pitch to get the runs needed to take get his second century against Australia, his 14^th in Test cricket.

A couple of difficult chances were put down by Australia, but other than that the England top order looked comfortable at the crease, taking their team to a lead of 88 when bad light once again ended play early.

Superb performances by the openers have given England a real chance to save this Test match. Australia’s bowling looked ordinary, and it will be a big worry to the captain that his experienced strike bowler Johnson is having a shocker. Part time bowler North took the only wicket of the day, and, with the next Test on the flat track of Adelaide, there may be some difficult selection decisions for Ponting and co.

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