David Edwards
NormCook Gives England A Breath of Hope, As Australia Waits In The Wings
December 17th 2006 12:43
Ashes 3rd Test (Perth) Day 4 Review
England have staged a defiant second innings defence, in effort to hold Australia’s dominance of the series to one more Test, but lost two vital wickets in the final stages of the day to give Australia just five wickets left to reclaim the Ashes.
Cook was the frontrunner with Bell all day as he gave the Barmy Army, scoring second wicket 170 to ensure that England was able to slowly slide up into a respectable position.
Earning 116, alongside Bell’s 87, England were able to establish control in the field, and despite the efforts of the major Australian bowlers with McGrath and Warne, they were able to establish order in a chaos-driven Test match for almost the full three days.
However, it would seem that the wheels came off the wagon in the dying overs of the day, as McGrath was able to claim the scalps of Cook, and his replacement Hoggard, in his second last over to swing the influence Australia’s way yet again.
For the entire day it was a solid performance from the English batsmen, as Cook and Bell were able to establish their place from the opening over. It would seem that they were clam, collected, and above all, aware of the importance of playing the right shot to ensure that England had a small glimmer of hope in drawing up the Test.
Australia, on the other hand, were consistent, but unable to grab that all important wicket’s of Cook they desperately needed for nearly the entire day. As Warne and McGrath were the most seen figures at either end, Ponting was certainly placing experience before youth today.
It was a double edge sword, as whilst both bowlers were able to ensure that runs were indeed earned and not provided, they were unable to break through the barrier of Cook until the third last over of the day. Whilst they were able to remove Bell before his century, and potential centurion Collingwood for just 5 runs, it was always Cook that they had their sights for.
As Cook was solid, consistent, and above all patient enough to wait for his shot, McGrath was able to slide one through Cook to Gilchrist. But his best bowl came two balls later, as a clean ball into the Hoggard’s wickets gave Australia the final burst of momentum that they need entering the final day.
For here on in it will be hard to estimate. Has England got enough strength, and above all ability, to stretch their last wickets to stumps in the final day? Or will they fold as we have seen over the last three Tests, and essentially hand Australia the trophy they have worked so hard to reclaim?
Only time will tell
Until next time, sports minds.
Australia Innings 224 all out and 5/527 dec.
England 1st Innings 215 all out
England 2nd Innings (5/265 at stumps)
AJ Strauss (lbw b Lee) 0, 4, 0.00
AN Cook (c Gilchrist, b McGrath) 116, 290, 40.00
IR Bell (c Langer, b Warne) 87, 163, 53.37
PD Collingwood (c Gilchrist, b Clark) 5, 36, 13.88
KP Pietersen (not out) 37, 80, 46.25
MJ Hoggard (b McGrath) 0, 2, 0.00
A Flintoff (not out) 2, 6, 33.33
Extras 18
Bowling
B Lee…19, 3, 49, 1, 2.57 (1nb)
GD McGrath…20, 5, 50, 2, 2.50 (4nb, 1w)
SR Clark…17, 5, 31, 1, 1.82
SK Warne…31, 4, 100, 1, 3.22
A Symonds…9, 1, 28, 0, 3.11 (1w)
England require another 292 runs with 5 wickets remaining, and one day left of play
England have staged a defiant second innings defence, in effort to hold Australia’s dominance of the series to one more Test, but lost two vital wickets in the final stages of the day to give Australia just five wickets left to reclaim the Ashes.
Cook was the frontrunner with Bell all day as he gave the Barmy Army, scoring second wicket 170 to ensure that England was able to slowly slide up into a respectable position.
Earning 116, alongside Bell’s 87, England were able to establish control in the field, and despite the efforts of the major Australian bowlers with McGrath and Warne, they were able to establish order in a chaos-driven Test match for almost the full three days.
However, it would seem that the wheels came off the wagon in the dying overs of the day, as McGrath was able to claim the scalps of Cook, and his replacement Hoggard, in his second last over to swing the influence Australia’s way yet again.
For the entire day it was a solid performance from the English batsmen, as Cook and Bell were able to establish their place from the opening over. It would seem that they were clam, collected, and above all, aware of the importance of playing the right shot to ensure that England had a small glimmer of hope in drawing up the Test.
Australia, on the other hand, were consistent, but unable to grab that all important wicket’s of Cook they desperately needed for nearly the entire day. As Warne and McGrath were the most seen figures at either end, Ponting was certainly placing experience before youth today.
It was a double edge sword, as whilst both bowlers were able to ensure that runs were indeed earned and not provided, they were unable to break through the barrier of Cook until the third last over of the day. Whilst they were able to remove Bell before his century, and potential centurion Collingwood for just 5 runs, it was always Cook that they had their sights for.
As Cook was solid, consistent, and above all patient enough to wait for his shot, McGrath was able to slide one through Cook to Gilchrist. But his best bowl came two balls later, as a clean ball into the Hoggard’s wickets gave Australia the final burst of momentum that they need entering the final day.
For here on in it will be hard to estimate. Has England got enough strength, and above all ability, to stretch their last wickets to stumps in the final day? Or will they fold as we have seen over the last three Tests, and essentially hand Australia the trophy they have worked so hard to reclaim?
Only time will tell
Until next time, sports minds.
Australia Innings 224 all out and 5/527 dec.
England 1st Innings 215 all out
England 2nd Innings (5/265 at stumps)
AJ Strauss (lbw b Lee) 0, 4, 0.00
AN Cook (c Gilchrist, b McGrath) 116, 290, 40.00
IR Bell (c Langer, b Warne) 87, 163, 53.37
PD Collingwood (c Gilchrist, b Clark) 5, 36, 13.88
KP Pietersen (not out) 37, 80, 46.25
MJ Hoggard (b McGrath) 0, 2, 0.00
A Flintoff (not out) 2, 6, 33.33
Extras 18
Bowling
B Lee…19, 3, 49, 1, 2.57 (1nb)
GD McGrath…20, 5, 50, 2, 2.50 (4nb, 1w)
SR Clark…17, 5, 31, 1, 1.82
SK Warne…31, 4, 100, 1, 3.22
A Symonds…9, 1, 28, 0, 3.11 (1w)
England require another 292 runs with 5 wickets remaining, and one day left of play
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