2009 Ashes, 4th Test, Day 1: The Ashes moment of truth

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So we come to it. Crunch time. The moment of truth. The Headingley Test that will decide the Ashes. Well, that is unless Australia win or its a draw or a tie, in which case the Ashes will be decided at the Oval. So there's 25% chance that the Ashes will be decided over the next 5 days.

My prediction? If the ball swings like it did in the first innings at Edgbaston, it'll be an eye gouging, blood letting dog fight that could go either way. If the ball fails to swing like it did in the second innings at Edgbaston, Australia will bat England out of the game. Then the only question will be whether we can take 20 wickets. Hopefully the selectors won't continue to plod along with the same bowling attack as the first 3 Tests. Bring in Clark for Hauritz or Siddle - preferably Hauritz. I'd even bring in Bing but I can't see that happening just yet.

England's chances lie in the reverse swinging hands of James Anderson and Graham Onions. Or as we call him in Australia, Graham Ungyuns. When Anderson swings the ball, he can decimate a batting line-up. When he doesn't move the ball, he looks pretty ordinary. Australians will be hoping for the latter.

UPDATE: Apparently Freddie has been ruled out. One might argue that the fact that England is playing without their two best players, KP and Freddie, might tarnish the result if Australia win the Ashes. From an Australian point of view, let me assure everyone that all Australians are okay with it and won't be knocking back the urn however it comes our way.

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Posted by JC on Fri 7 Aug

64 comments

Looks like you might be getting your eye gouging, blood letting dog fight JC. What's the record for most wickets in the day? Cos if the ball is still swinging hen Australia comes into bat I can see the wickets still tumbling...

Makes you wonder how things would have been in Clark had been in for Siddle from the start! Clark would have loved Lord's I bet.

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Posted by MT on 2009-08-07 22:24:08

Finally, this is how I remember the Ashes being. Hope you're watching JC, and haven't been dragged to the cinema by your other half or anything! Well what a morning. For all the debate about who's on top and whether England deserve to be 1-0 or not, in the last two Tests its only been our bowlers who have produced match winning - or potentially match winning - spells in dismissing the Aussies for below par scores in both of their first innings. Now Australia have managed such a session, and put themselves in a position where they can hardly fail to take 20 wickets. Much will depend on how we bowl now, and which Harmison turns up...

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Posted by Rich on 2009-08-07 22:37:23

I missed sections of England's innings - missed the first few wickets and only settled down to see the last few tailenders fall. Beautiful stuff though.

Very much interested to see whether England can bowl as well as the Aussies and how our batsmen will cope. If we lay a platform this afternoon, England is pretty much gone in this Test.

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Posted by JC on 2009-08-07 23:29:22

Watson hits first two balls of Australia's innings for consecutive boundaries.

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Posted by JC on 2009-08-07 23:34:36

Australia have scored 10% of England's total in the first 4 balls.

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Posted by JC on 2009-08-07 23:35:52

Katich out in Harmison's first over. Hate to see Australian wickets fall but good to see a good battle between bat and ball.

Ponting gets a good hearty boo as he walks to the wicket. Stick it to the crowd, Punter!

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Posted by JC on 2009-08-07 23:41:58

Anderson is getting huge swing, nearly unplayable. More even than first innings Edgbaston.

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Posted by JC on 2009-08-07 23:45:53

Boycs is in good form on ABC radio. "England have lost the Ashes in 30 overs this morning"

Aggers asks him how many runs he's scored at Headingley. "Zillions!"

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Posted by JC on 2009-08-07 23:56:43

Graham Ungyuns first ball pulled for 6 by Ponting. Boycs gets closer and closer to opening a vein with each short ball from the English bowlers.

Australia's 50 comes up in 38 balls.

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Posted by JC on 2009-08-08 00:02:37

Australia are 1 for 69 at tea, 33 runs behind England. It's hard to imagine England batting worse in the first session or bowling worse in the second session. It's like rewinding back 10 years when England were rubbish and Warne and McGrath in their pomp. Savour it while it lasts, boys!

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Posted by JC on 2009-08-08 00:43:39

Australia go past England's total, 9 wickets still in hand. Safe for me to go to bed, I think...

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Posted by JC on 2009-08-08 01:32:31

JC

When Eng won the Ashes in 05, it was in the two tests when Pigeon didn't play. And the Pommies celebrated it well.

So yes Aus will celebrate retaining the urn, no matter that KP didn't play. I don't and never will rate AF high. A hyped up bloke who performs once in a while , is no great player. Maybe it says a lot of the English team's credential that a bloke like AF gets a tag like great :-)

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Posted by tifosiguy on 2009-08-08 04:41:58

Yep, well worth camping out for! It's a throw-back alright - we'll be complaining it was only three days long on Monday!

Clark = wickets, that ain't new baby. Selectors surely embarrassed?

Amazingly, the other Clarke managed to regain full fitness to play the test after 'struggling' with another ailment which was actually throwing sickie. He didn't fancy the training and team stuff between Tests. Definately not captaincy material...

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Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-08-08 07:29:01

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