David Edwards2nd Test Shaping Up As The Expected Contest
December 3rd 2006 11:26
Ashes 2nd Test (Adelaide) – Day 3 Review
It seems whilst the first Test in Brisbane seems to show us a glimpse of the past where Australia were the dominant side in Test cricket, Adelaide has brought us back to the present where we see the two best Test sides fight out for the most coveted prize in cricket’s proud history.
Everyone can admit that the first Test was something that we hoped was not going to be a remerging pattern this summer. Whilst most Australian fans would be happy with Australia absolutely lording over the Poms throughout the five Tests and reclaiming the Ashes, many were secretly hoping that we see the battle that occurred over in England last year.
The battle in Lords, the nail-biting ending that occurred in Edgbaston, these are the matches that go down in history as the best fights on the pitch, and many supporters always end up watching the game, knowing that they are watching history unfold.
Adelaide has given us a taste that this could happen over the next three Tests. After the dismal performance that England provided in Brisbane, they have totally reinvented themselves and after three days of play, we have seen a tight battle on the ground.
For the first two days, England were able to complete dominate over the Australia bowling. Whilst their opening batsmen made no real threat, it was Collingwood and Pietersen who kept our attention for the first two days. Scoring 206 and 158 respectively, they were able to keep the bowlers at bay, and as the pitch was more suited to a batsman then a bowler, the ground was theirs.
Whilst England had all the answers over the first two days, in the same respect it seemed that the Australian bowling squad could not buy a clue. Our two most awarded bowlers, McGrath and Warne, could not crack the England code, and went on the grab the disappointing figures of 0-107 and 1-167 over their combined 83 overs. Noted as using ‘negative tactics’ during their spells to try and stop the score flow, Australia could not catch a break throughout the two days, and you could hear the them breath a sigh of relief when England declared in the twilight hours of the 2nd on 6/551.
But the pain did not end their, losing another wicket before stumps with Langer edging to Pietersen. Finishing up the day on 1/28, Australia were indeed on the back foot.
As the day ended, the third day did not start as they had planned. Losing another two wickets within their first 22 overs of the innings, it was up to ‘Mr. Cricket’ Hussey and captain Ponting to stem the tide.
With a century record, and the Test, on the line, Ponting went to work as a man possessed. Notching up his century, and with it the record of being the fourth highest century earning batsman, in 182 balls, he and Hussey were able to throw Australia a lifeline.
Even after the skipper edged out on 142, and likewise Hussey on the ever-close 91, Australia were no longer in the desperate state they were at the start of the day. Closing the day on 5/312, there is still some work in front of them, but at least they can salvage this Test, and with it the Ashes.
And the battle rages on. Until next time, sports minds
Ashes – Second Test (Adelaide) Scorecard Day 3
England First Innings (6/551 dec)
Batter (Out) Runs, Balls, Strike Rate
AJ Strauss (c Martyn, b Clark) 14, 44, 31.81
AN Cook (c Gilchrist, b Clark) 27, 57, 47.36
IR Bell (c & b Lee) 60, 148, 40.54
PD Collingwood (c Gilchrist, b Clark) 206, 392, 52.55
KP Pietersen (run out (Ponting)) 158, 257, 61.47
A Flintoff (not out) 38, 67, 56.71
GO Jones (c Martyn, b Warne) 1, 7, 14.28
AF Giles (not out) 27, 44, 61.36
Bowling
Bowler, Overs, Maidens, Runs, Wickets, Econ (Extras)
B Lee…34, 1, 139, 1, 4.08 (8nb, 1w)
GD McGrath…30, 5, 107, 0, 3.56
SR Clark…34, 6, 75, 3, 2.20
SK Warne…53, 9, 167, 1, 3.15 (1w)
MJ Clarke…17, 2, 53, 0, 3.11
Australia First Innings (5/312 at stumps)
JL Langer (c Pietersen, b Flintoff) 4, 8, 50.00
ML Hayden (c Jones, b Hoggard) 12, 30, 40.00
RT Ponting (c Jones, b Hoggard) 142, 245, 57.95
DR Martyn (c Bell, b Hoggard) 11, 33, 33.33
MEK Hussey (b Hoggard) 91, 212, 42.92
MJ Clarke (not out) 30, 44, 68.18
AC Gilchrist (not out) 13, 17, 76.47
Bowling
MJ Hoggard…27, 2, 76, 4, 2.81
A Flintoff…22, 4, 74, 1, 3.36 (5nb)
SJ Harmison…13, 4, 46, 0, 3.53 (2nb)
JM Anderson…14, 2, 49, 0, 3.50
AF Giles…16, 2, 45, 0, 2.81
KP Pietersen…5, 0, 20, 0, 4.00
Australia trail by 239 runs with 5 wickets remaining in the 1st Innings with two days remaining
It seems whilst the first Test in Brisbane seems to show us a glimpse of the past where Australia were the dominant side in Test cricket, Adelaide has brought us back to the present where we see the two best Test sides fight out for the most coveted prize in cricket’s proud history.
Everyone can admit that the first Test was something that we hoped was not going to be a remerging pattern this summer. Whilst most Australian fans would be happy with Australia absolutely lording over the Poms throughout the five Tests and reclaiming the Ashes, many were secretly hoping that we see the battle that occurred over in England last year.
The battle in Lords, the nail-biting ending that occurred in Edgbaston, these are the matches that go down in history as the best fights on the pitch, and many supporters always end up watching the game, knowing that they are watching history unfold.
Adelaide has given us a taste that this could happen over the next three Tests. After the dismal performance that England provided in Brisbane, they have totally reinvented themselves and after three days of play, we have seen a tight battle on the ground.
For the first two days, England were able to complete dominate over the Australia bowling. Whilst their opening batsmen made no real threat, it was Collingwood and Pietersen who kept our attention for the first two days. Scoring 206 and 158 respectively, they were able to keep the bowlers at bay, and as the pitch was more suited to a batsman then a bowler, the ground was theirs.
Whilst England had all the answers over the first two days, in the same respect it seemed that the Australian bowling squad could not buy a clue. Our two most awarded bowlers, McGrath and Warne, could not crack the England code, and went on the grab the disappointing figures of 0-107 and 1-167 over their combined 83 overs. Noted as using ‘negative tactics’ during their spells to try and stop the score flow, Australia could not catch a break throughout the two days, and you could hear the them breath a sigh of relief when England declared in the twilight hours of the 2nd on 6/551.
But the pain did not end their, losing another wicket before stumps with Langer edging to Pietersen. Finishing up the day on 1/28, Australia were indeed on the back foot.
As the day ended, the third day did not start as they had planned. Losing another two wickets within their first 22 overs of the innings, it was up to ‘Mr. Cricket’ Hussey and captain Ponting to stem the tide.
With a century record, and the Test, on the line, Ponting went to work as a man possessed. Notching up his century, and with it the record of being the fourth highest century earning batsman, in 182 balls, he and Hussey were able to throw Australia a lifeline.
Even after the skipper edged out on 142, and likewise Hussey on the ever-close 91, Australia were no longer in the desperate state they were at the start of the day. Closing the day on 5/312, there is still some work in front of them, but at least they can salvage this Test, and with it the Ashes.
And the battle rages on. Until next time, sports minds
Ashes – Second Test (Adelaide) Scorecard Day 3
England First Innings (6/551 dec)
Batter (Out) Runs, Balls, Strike Rate
AJ Strauss (c Martyn, b Clark) 14, 44, 31.81
AN Cook (c Gilchrist, b Clark) 27, 57, 47.36
IR Bell (c & b Lee) 60, 148, 40.54
PD Collingwood (c Gilchrist, b Clark) 206, 392, 52.55
KP Pietersen (run out (Ponting)) 158, 257, 61.47
A Flintoff (not out) 38, 67, 56.71
GO Jones (c Martyn, b Warne) 1, 7, 14.28
AF Giles (not out) 27, 44, 61.36
Bowling
Bowler, Overs, Maidens, Runs, Wickets, Econ (Extras)
B Lee…34, 1, 139, 1, 4.08 (8nb, 1w)
GD McGrath…30, 5, 107, 0, 3.56
SR Clark…34, 6, 75, 3, 2.20
SK Warne…53, 9, 167, 1, 3.15 (1w)
MJ Clarke…17, 2, 53, 0, 3.11
Australia First Innings (5/312 at stumps)
JL Langer (c Pietersen, b Flintoff) 4, 8, 50.00
ML Hayden (c Jones, b Hoggard) 12, 30, 40.00
RT Ponting (c Jones, b Hoggard) 142, 245, 57.95
DR Martyn (c Bell, b Hoggard) 11, 33, 33.33
MEK Hussey (b Hoggard) 91, 212, 42.92
MJ Clarke (not out) 30, 44, 68.18
AC Gilchrist (not out) 13, 17, 76.47
Bowling
MJ Hoggard…27, 2, 76, 4, 2.81
A Flintoff…22, 4, 74, 1, 3.36 (5nb)
SJ Harmison…13, 4, 46, 0, 3.53 (2nb)
JM Anderson…14, 2, 49, 0, 3.50
AF Giles…16, 2, 45, 0, 2.81
KP Pietersen…5, 0, 20, 0, 4.00
Australia trail by 239 runs with 5 wickets remaining in the 1st Innings with two days remaining
| 32 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
