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NormDraw Looms As Clarke Saves Australia’s Skin
December 4th 2006 11:29
“And whilst we say may God save the Queen, as no one may save the Australian batsmen from Hoggard.” – unknown, December 2006
Ashes 2nd Test (Adelaide) – Day 4 Review
As the fourth day looms to a close, and the prediction of the second Test finishing up as a draw, the heroes at the end of the day came out of the sometimes struggling Michael Clarke, and the English start Matthew Hoggard.
As Australia opened the day on 5/312, and batsmen Gilchrist and Clarke made no attempt at hiding their mission, to get Australia back into a fighting position. Grabbing 38 in by the first drinks break, Gilchrist especially made his time at the pitch worthwhile, grabbing 50 runs in 70 balls.
His score would have increased a lot more, as he was getting into the right mind with the willow in his hand. However, a long shot to deep midwicket intended for the boundary did not find his mark, and instead wound up in Bell’s hand, out for 64.
With his partner at the pitch back in the pavilion, it was time for Clarke to finally put a stop to his selection rumours. Amassing a total of 124 with partners Warne and Lee in tow, Clarke made clear that his talent with the blade was not out of his grasp just yet.
After Gilchrist left, there was a long wait between drinks for England to claim another scalp with Warne (43). However when they dismissed the spin king, it rattled the Australians, and it took the Poms a mere 12 overs to finish off the innings.
Whilst the entire English bowling squad was in top form on what is basically considered a batsman pitch, the focus was all on Hoggard, and his increasingly growing number of wickets. With Hayden, Ponting, Martyn, Hussey all under his belt already, Clarke and Stuart Clark (0) both fell within his spell, and Hoggard was able to walk away with 7/109, by far the best figures for any of the bowlers so far in Adelaide.
As England padded up once more, the common whisper was how this was going to end. Whilst the common thought is that the game will end up in a unsatisfying draw, there is the thought that Australia might be able to create a miracle and draw away with the win.
If they are able to limit England to less than 150 runs in ten wickets, and they are able to come out in the final session all guns blazing, anything could happen. With Cook already gone, in similar fashion to his first attempt at bat, Australia seems to be on their way. However, with only one day remaining of play, it might be a too little, too late left to salvage this Test.
Until next time, sports minds.
Ashes – Second Test (Adelaide) Scorecard Day 4
Australia First Innings (513 all out)
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 (c Giles, b Hoggard) 124, 224, 55.35
AC Gilchrist (c Bell, b Giles) 64, 79, 81.01
SK Warne (lbw b Hoggard) 43, 108, 39.81
B Lee (not out) 7, 33, 21.21
SR Clark (b Hoggard) 0, 7, 0.00
GD McGrath (c Jones, b Anderson) 1, 21, 4.76
Bowling
MJ Hoggard…42, 6, 109, 7, 2.59
A Flintoff…26, 5, 82, 1, 3.15 (5 nb)
SJ Harmison…25, 5, 96, 0, 3.84 (2nb, 1w)
JM Anderson…21.3, 3, 85, 1, 3.95
AF Giles…42, 7, 103, 1, 2.45
KP Pietersen…9, 0, 32, 0, 3.55
England Second Innings (1/59 at stumps)
AJ Strauss (not out) 31, 50, 62.00
AN Cook (c Gilchrist, b Clark) 9, 35, 25.71
IR Bell (not out) 18, 29, 62.06
Bowling
B Lee…5, 1, 13, 0, 2.60
GD McGrath…4, 1, 12, 0, 3.00
SK Warne…5, 1, 20, 0, 4.00
SR Clark…5, 2, 13, 1, 2.60
England lead by 97 runs with nine wickets and one day remaining.
Ashes 2nd Test (Adelaide) – Day 4 Review
As the fourth day looms to a close, and the prediction of the second Test finishing up as a draw, the heroes at the end of the day came out of the sometimes struggling Michael Clarke, and the English start Matthew Hoggard.
As Australia opened the day on 5/312, and batsmen Gilchrist and Clarke made no attempt at hiding their mission, to get Australia back into a fighting position. Grabbing 38 in by the first drinks break, Gilchrist especially made his time at the pitch worthwhile, grabbing 50 runs in 70 balls.
His score would have increased a lot more, as he was getting into the right mind with the willow in his hand. However, a long shot to deep midwicket intended for the boundary did not find his mark, and instead wound up in Bell’s hand, out for 64.
With his partner at the pitch back in the pavilion, it was time for Clarke to finally put a stop to his selection rumours. Amassing a total of 124 with partners Warne and Lee in tow, Clarke made clear that his talent with the blade was not out of his grasp just yet.
After Gilchrist left, there was a long wait between drinks for England to claim another scalp with Warne (43). However when they dismissed the spin king, it rattled the Australians, and it took the Poms a mere 12 overs to finish off the innings.
Whilst the entire English bowling squad was in top form on what is basically considered a batsman pitch, the focus was all on Hoggard, and his increasingly growing number of wickets. With Hayden, Ponting, Martyn, Hussey all under his belt already, Clarke and Stuart Clark (0) both fell within his spell, and Hoggard was able to walk away with 7/109, by far the best figures for any of the bowlers so far in Adelaide.
As England padded up once more, the common whisper was how this was going to end. Whilst the common thought is that the game will end up in a unsatisfying draw, there is the thought that Australia might be able to create a miracle and draw away with the win.
If they are able to limit England to less than 150 runs in ten wickets, and they are able to come out in the final session all guns blazing, anything could happen. With Cook already gone, in similar fashion to his first attempt at bat, Australia seems to be on their way. However, with only one day remaining of play, it might be a too little, too late left to salvage this Test.
Until next time, sports minds.
Ashes – Second Test (Adelaide) Scorecard Day 4
Australia First Innings (513 all out)
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 (c Giles, b Hoggard) 124, 224, 55.35
AC Gilchrist (c Bell, b Giles) 64, 79, 81.01
SK Warne (lbw b Hoggard) 43, 108, 39.81
B Lee (not out) 7, 33, 21.21
SR Clark (b Hoggard) 0, 7, 0.00
GD McGrath (c Jones, b Anderson) 1, 21, 4.76
Bowling
MJ Hoggard…42, 6, 109, 7, 2.59
A Flintoff…26, 5, 82, 1, 3.15 (5 nb)
SJ Harmison…25, 5, 96, 0, 3.84 (2nb, 1w)
JM Anderson…21.3, 3, 85, 1, 3.95
AF Giles…42, 7, 103, 1, 2.45
KP Pietersen…9, 0, 32, 0, 3.55
England Second Innings (1/59 at stumps)
AJ Strauss (not out) 31, 50, 62.00
AN Cook (c Gilchrist, b Clark) 9, 35, 25.71
IR Bell (not out) 18, 29, 62.06
Bowling
B Lee…5, 1, 13, 0, 2.60
GD McGrath…4, 1, 12, 0, 3.00
SK Warne…5, 1, 20, 0, 4.00
SR Clark…5, 2, 13, 1, 2.60
England lead by 97 runs with nine wickets and one day remaining.
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