Ashes 2nd Test Day 5: Australia steal stunning win as England collapse
If you're in England, you're probably just waking up and horror struck at the news that England were dismissed for 129 which Australia chased down with 6 wickets and 3 overs to spare. I watched the entire day's play and I can scarcely believe what happened. I said after Day 2 it was a bad day to be an Aussie supporter. Today was as good as it comes.
There was a slim hope that Australia might run through the English batting order but if the previous four days were anything to go by, I wasn't optimistic. But a combination of reverse swing, relentless leg spin, a few dodgy umpire decisions and some appallingly bad shot selection had England losing 9 wickets while scoring only 70 runs over the first 2 sessions. Warnie was back to his best - bowling for 4 straight hours right up to tea.
The wicket procession began with an unlucky decision for Strauss, padding it to short leg. The umpire gave it out although he didn't hit the ball. But Warne's mojo, deserted in the previous 3 innings, suddenly wove its spell on the English batsmen. Ian Bell ran himself out when he baulked on a regulation quick single. That brought Pietersen in. This was a similar situation to the Oval where Australia were looking to finish off the innings and chase a small total. On that day, Pietersen hit a landmark 158 that saved the match and won England the Ashes. This time, he played an ill-advised sweep shot that went round his legs, spun sharply and grazed the outside edge of the off-stump. Pietersen, bowled Warne, 2. The 1st innings was quickly forgotten.
Flintoff appeared dazed as he wafted at a few outside off from Lee. Admittedly, Lee was getting sharp reverse swing. But Flintoff played a limp shot wide outside off to nick it to Gilchrist - it was such a lame shot, Damien Martyn might sue him for copyright infringement. Geraint Jones played a similar shot, slashing at a ball from Lee that was so wide, he couldn't control it and it flew to Hayden who take a great reflex catch.
Warne bowled a sharp turner to have Giles edging to first slip. The next dismissal was pure Warne as he threw a well flighted googly well outside off stump. Hoggard's eyes lit up and he went for a big booming drive, only managing to inside edge it onto his stumps. McGrath took a leaf out of Dennis Lillee's book and bowled 6 out-swingers in his first over of the day (including a wide) followed by an inswinger that Harmison padded up to. Harmie was unlucky in that the ball was going over the stumps but it was still a great piece of bowling from the old timer.
Meanwhile, an aghast Collingwood watched from the other end as the English innings implode. With one wicket to go and time running out, Anderson came in and just for something different, batted sensibly with solid technique. Their partnership lasted 30 minutes and time was running out for Australia. If the two had lasted to tea and beyond, you'd have thought England would've saved the Test. Instead, McGrath trapped Anderson LBW just before tea.
Australia came out needing 168 runs off 36 overs. It was one of those situations where 4 results are possible - victory, defeat, draw or a tie. Australia's first over was exhilirating (or stomach sinking if you're English) as Langer slogged Hoggard's second ball through mid-wicket and took 10 off the over. The boundaries flowed but then so did the wickets. Langer and Hayden fell to aggressive shots and interestingly, Ponting demoted Martyn, promoting Hussey to #4. It was a good ploy - Hussey bats well anywhere and they put on another solid partnership.
It would've been fitting if Punter had gone on to hit the winning runs but he drove to cover off Flintoff, out for 49. It meant his Test average fell to 59.99 - not quite the Don's 99.94 but still impressive. In came Martyn who fell to Flintoff, backing away and cutting to point. It was another soft dismissal - at least the other batsmen fell to orthodox strokes. I'm still hoping for a fit Watson to replace Martyn although Australia's win will probably result in an unchanged XI in Perth.
In the end, it was Mr Cricket, Mr Dependable and Mr Fixit all wrapped into one - Mike Hussey - who belted a quickfire 61 and demonstrated why he's the number one ODI batsmen in the world. He was surprisingly pumped throughout the innings - air punching whenever he hit a boundary and nearly dislocating his shoulder when he hit the winning runs. Admittedly, it is a huge win. England had the game by the short and curlies after day 2 and their total of 551 is the largest ever first innings total of a losing side. To dominate the match for 2 and a half days only to lose is a devastating blow. I'm tempted to pity them but I steel my heart and remember Edbaston and the Oval. Now England have to win 2 of the last 3 Tests (while not letting Australia win any more matches). The momentum is completely with Australia, all the bowlers are now in good form as are most of their batsmen (a notable exception being Martyn, of course).
Just as surprising as the win was the Australians' reaction afterwards. The hugs and celebration were akin to winning the Ashes themselves (Wendy's bemused comment was "get a room, boys"). It made Gilchrist's over the top celebrations when we won in India look catatonic in comparison. If I were James Sutherland awarding the Ashes at the end of the series, I'd fear for my life. You thought Damien Martyn's shove of Pawar over the Champion's Trophy was bad - wait till you see the mass body tackle as the entire squad dive for the urn.
| Posted by JC on Tue 5 Dec |  15 comments |
"Aussie Dave" sums it all up better than I ever could.
http://www.sportal.com.au/cricket.asp?i=news&id=92029
Stuart Clark's brilliant bowling first thing in partnership
with Warnie set it all up but the Pommie attitude was abysmal.
Surely they knew that getting runs on the board, and a decent lead, was paramount?
A truly famous victory. Lee bowled very well and may have saved his career.
Hope our boys celebrate long and hard into the night!!
Interesting to see the cameraman panning in on Flintoff as defeat became inevitable. Looked a heart-broken, defeated man.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2006-12-05 21:10:39
http://www.sportal.com.au/cricket.asp?i=news&id=92029
Stuart Clark's brilliant bowling first thing in partnership
with Warnie set it all up but the Pommie attitude was abysmal.
Surely they knew that getting runs on the board, and a decent lead, was paramount?
A truly famous victory. Lee bowled very well and may have saved his career.
Hope our boys celebrate long and hard into the night!!
Interesting to see the cameraman panning in on Flintoff as defeat became inevitable. Looked a heart-broken, defeated man.
Posted by Dan Tas on 2006-12-05 21:10:39
ahh lady luck smiles :~), England go into 3rd test bruised and tattered.. All out attack is what Punter needs to go in for and no defensive attitude as shown so far (exception final day of 2nd test ). Now is the time to hammer that final nail :~)
Posted by Unsui on 2006-12-05 22:04:43
Posted by Unsui on 2006-12-05 22:04:43
No real need for us to nail anything much. The English seem to to be quite capable of doing it for themselves. I hope Duncan Fletcher sticks to his guns, shows everyone just just how right he is, and selects Giles and Anderson for Perth (and Melbourne and Sydney). Don't be swayed Duncan!
Posted by Sven on 2006-12-05 22:39:22
Posted by Sven on 2006-12-05 22:39:22
Just spent half hour or so reading various opinions about today's "debacle" from an English perspective. There are calls for someone's blood to be spilled over this shock defeat, most notably Fletcher's for his selection of Giles. Disharmony is in the air and five-zip threatens!
You little beauty!!!
Posted by Dan Tas on 2006-12-05 22:41:31
You little beauty!!!
Posted by Dan Tas on 2006-12-05 22:41:31
It was an brillant game. One of the best days of cricket I have seen.
Hussey was brillant, I loved the debate on the Channel Nine Commentary as to whether his hits through the gaps in slips were deliberate or not. (going by Hussey face I would say deliberate).
At the end of day 4 I had a feeling the Australian team had a good chance of winning, (even took advantage of the 8.5 odds).
I agree Martyn just has to go. Either bring in Watson, or Mac Gill, their batting can't be anyworse.
Posted by Andrew on 2006-12-05 22:56:29
Hussey was brillant, I loved the debate on the Channel Nine Commentary as to whether his hits through the gaps in slips were deliberate or not. (going by Hussey face I would say deliberate).
At the end of day 4 I had a feeling the Australian team had a good chance of winning, (even took advantage of the 8.5 odds).
I agree Martyn just has to go. Either bring in Watson, or Mac Gill, their batting can't be anyworse.
Posted by Andrew on 2006-12-05 22:56:29
Truly fantastic day of cricket. I can't say I agree with all the calls for Martyn's blood although he is testing even my patience and I am a card-carrying member of his fan club. He has incredible ability and an amazing style. Hopefully his arrogance and stupidity won't lead to the end of his career. Surely the real Pommie skipper will come back into the side now injury or not.
Posted by TA on 2006-12-05 23:17:39
Posted by TA on 2006-12-05 23:17:39
Andrew, I don't think you can replace Martyn with MacGill - MacGill and Watson come as a package deal which means one of the seamers would have to go. Neither Brett Lee nor Stuart Clark will be dropped so I'd be surprised if MacGill played even in Sydney although it's a long way to go till then.
TA, I highly doubt Vaughan will play the series, certainly not Perth. But this loss does increase the odds of fast-tracking him back into the side. But surely now Fletcher will show a more positive approach and select Panesar.
Posted by JC on 2006-12-05 23:28:04
TA, I highly doubt Vaughan will play the series, certainly not Perth. But this loss does increase the odds of fast-tracking him back into the side. But surely now Fletcher will show a more positive approach and select Panesar.
Posted by JC on 2006-12-05 23:28:04
I'm trying to feel guilty for leaving work early today to watch that brilliant ending.....
Nope, still not feeling it! :)
5-0 here we come!
Posted by Timbo on 2006-12-05 23:37:35
Nope, still not feeling it! :)
5-0 here we come!
Posted by Timbo on 2006-12-05 23:37:35
I should feel guilty for watching the entire day's play. Fortunately as a cartoonist, I can move my light table in front of the TV, turn on ABC radio which broadcasts several seconds ahead of the digital TV coverage, then look up from my drawing whenever the commentators raise their voices. Don't miss a thing and still get heaps of work done. Win win!
I still stand by my 3-1 prediction though. 5-nil would be great, very satisfying to scar all those young Englishmen but I think they're a better team than 5-nil.
Posted by JC on 2006-12-06 00:11:23
I still stand by my 3-1 prediction though. 5-nil would be great, very satisfying to scar all those young Englishmen but I think they're a better team than 5-nil.
Posted by JC on 2006-12-06 00:11:23
John. Yes you deserved it. And deserved it good and proper. This is truly a hammer blow to English hearts. But I really think that hte responsibilty for defeat lies in the hands of us and our incompetent batting; not you.
If we'd have scored one run an over more we would have been basically safe.
If we'd not given 8 of our wickets away we would have been safe.
Ultimately this was not the greatest comeback ever seen, but the greatest capitulation ever seen.
Now our only hope is you get too cocky, Fletch, Giles and Harmison go. And we see a complete turn around in the England team.
The Collective have put up a statement which may interest your comrades at http://ashes-countdown.blogspot.com - we're deciding whether to back you in the rest of the series.
Posted by The Collective in shock on 2006-12-06 01:43:38
If we'd have scored one run an over more we would have been basically safe.
If we'd not given 8 of our wickets away we would have been safe.
Ultimately this was not the greatest comeback ever seen, but the greatest capitulation ever seen.
Now our only hope is you get too cocky, Fletch, Giles and Harmison go. And we see a complete turn around in the England team.
The Collective have put up a statement which may interest your comrades at http://ashes-countdown.blogspot.com - we're deciding whether to back you in the rest of the series.
Posted by The Collective in shock on 2006-12-06 01:43:38
Well done OZ, from a true blue Pom, but full of admiration
Posted by michael poushkine on 2006-12-06 02:15:09
Posted by michael poushkine on 2006-12-06 02:15:09
To the collective, I think there's plenty of blame and credit to go around. England played negative but Australia bowled really really well and when England did try positive strokes, they inevitably got out. Warne shored up one end and the three quicks all troubled the batsmen at the other end so there was no respite for England.
As for changing sides, no way! You made your bed, now you have to lie in it. >:-)
Posted by JC on 2006-12-06 08:29:16
As for changing sides, no way! You made your bed, now you have to lie in it. >:-)
Posted by JC on 2006-12-06 08:29:16
By the way was it just me or did Collingwood not protect the lower order? He was often running on the 2-3 ball of an over, taking the easy single on offer to get off strike?
I remember Hussey last year in his stands with the lower order, would only take singles on the fifth or sixth balls and only run on 2s.
It seemed to me Collingwood was more concerned about himself than protecting the lower order.
Posted by Andrew on 2006-12-06 10:35:37
I remember Hussey last year in his stands with the lower order, would only take singles on the fifth or sixth balls and only run on 2s.
It seemed to me Collingwood was more concerned about himself than protecting the lower order.
Posted by Andrew on 2006-12-06 10:35:37
I thought that was strange too. He'd take singles on the first ball of the over leaving the tail to face the full brunt of Warnie or Lee at full flight. It was only when Anderson came in that he tweaked that maybe he should be taking most of the strike.
Not a good day for England.
Posted by JC on 2006-12-06 11:15:11
Not a good day for England.
Posted by JC on 2006-12-06 11:15:11
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