Ashes - England v Australia - 2009

[Notebook]

Its gone quiet up here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/australia/8180358.stm

Well, its not over yet.

 

[Notebook]

1301 - 245-8 Swann frees his arms and slathers Hilfenhaus into the covers, where North is hit right on the wrist. That hurt. Harmison has a nibble at a couple, before gently pushing the last ball before lunch from Hilfenhaus to point. Huge applause from the Headingley crowd, and despite England's dire situation, they can't say they haven't been entertained.

Good last hour, still going to lose though.

N.

 

[tl8]

Good last hour, still going to lose though.

N.

Your bowlers are better than your batsman...

Might need to change the order next time.

 

[Notebook]

Flintoff is a big miss, hope he makes it for the last one.

N.

 

[tblaxland]

Flintoff is a big miss, hope he makes it for the last one.

Your guys did seem to be missing their inspiration this time didn't they? Anyway, having a drawn series heading into the last match keeps it all very interesting.

 

[Notebook]

Crunch time:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8209319.stm

N.

 

[tblaxland]

Crunch time

Indeed. There is a slight chance of rain but the match will be much better if we can keep the weather out of it. The big question on my mind is whether or not Stuart Clark will play. I think he will, and should, but the selectors may be tempted to take a spinner in instead. Lee will be too risky, IMHO, because he can be expensive, especially if England come out swinging (literally).

 

[Notebook]

1030: England captain Andrew Strauss tosses the coin, Ponting calls incorrectly... England have won the toss and will bat first.

Getting a bit overcast now, quite humid, wouldn't be surprised if we get a quick downpour.

N.

 

[tblaxland]

Getting a bit overcast now, quite humid, wouldn't be surprised if we get a quick downpour.

Maybe a drizzle. The stuff coming in from the west looks pretty weak.

Fourth toss that Ponting has lost this series. You can't blame him for that I guess...

 

[Notebook]

Looking out the window, its black clouds, and the temperature has dropped a lot...

Raining now, and there goes a wicket.

N.

 

[tblaxland]

Looking out the window, its black clouds, and the temperature has dropped a lot...

Well, I dare say you have a better view than me, so I won't argue

A good wicket, although Strauss is the more dangerous of the two.

 

[Notebook]

I'm about 10 miles West of the Oval, and its heading their way! Good news is its brighter to the West, and the cloudbase has gone up.

N.

 

[tblaxland]

I'd rule the first day in Australia favour. We need quick wickets in the morning though. The word is that the wicket will not hold up well towards the last day and Australia don't want to be chasing even modest targets in that case. The series is still very much in the balance.

 

[Notebook]

England started well, sort of, but ran out of steam. Shame Flintoff didn't get into it. Hopefully they can pull some more runs today...

N.

---------- Post added at 19:37 ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 ----------

Well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8215028.stm

N.

But with a healthy advantage on a pitch offering such help for the spinners, their assured captain Strauss still at the crease and seven wickets intact, England will feel extremely satisfied with their position with three days still remaining

 

[Notebook]

AUSTRALIA SECOND INNINGS (victory target 546)

1115 - WICKET - Katich lbw b Swann 43 - Aus 86-1 (24 overs)
Swann spears in a quicker ball at Katich, who defends in front of his legs like a French cricketer in the park. But when he offers no stroke to a straight one, there's a huge shout for lbw and he's out!

N.
abc

---------- Post added at 11:21 ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 ----------

1118 - WICKET - Watson lbw b Broad 40 - Aus 90-2 (24.3 overs)
Let the record show that while he got a few boos at Edgbaston, the Oval crowd give Australia captain Ricky Ponting a standing ovation as he strides to the crease. (It may be his last Test in England, after all). Wonderful sportsmanship. Meanwhile, Broad gets more movement off the pitch as Watson miscues but the ball sails down to third man for four. But next ball, he's trapped back on his stumps, it hits his back pad and he's gone too!

Well!

---------- Post added at 14:38 ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 ----------

SECOND INNINGS (victory target 546)

1435 - WICKET - Ponting run out (Flintoff) 66 - Aus 217-3 (64 overs)
Harmy bangs in a bouncer down the leg side, and it's a no-ball to boot. As is the next ball. Ponting pushes a two through cover point, they run two and at the last minute decide they've got time to sprint back for a third. Then, Hussey pushes for a quick single to mid-on, Flintoff's assassin throw breaks the stumps and PONTING IS RUN OUT! Not even by a substitute fielder this time!

N..

---------- Post added at 14:44 ---------- Previous post was at 14:38 ----------

1441 - WICKET - Clarke run out (Strauss) 0 - Aus 220-4 (64.5 overs)
Swann begins a new over to Hussey, but it seems everyone in the ground and on the field is still in a state of shock. A three brings new batsman Michael Clarke on strike - but what will Hussey's state of mind be like after running out his captain?! Then, Clarke prods forward, Strauss gathers the ball and tries to throw the stumps down as Clarke leaps back. Billy B signals for the third umpire, it takes several replays but it appears his bat is not behind the line when the bails come off. The line itself belongs to the fielding side, so surely that's out? Yes it is!

---------- Post added at 15:17 ---------- Previous post was at 14:44 ----------

1514 - WICKET - North st Prior b Swann 10 - Aus 236-5
After a single from Hussey, North tries to slog-sweep, doesn't ground his back leg and is smartly stumped!

 

[tblaxland]

It looks like its all over bar the shouting (or the bad singing from the Barmy Army, as the case may be). I doubt Australia can even last the day

 

[Notebook]

They have another 1/2 hour till tea, Australia still picking up runs. Wouldn't put it past England to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory...

N.

 

[tblaxland]

Wouldn't put it past England to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory...

Lol, that sounds like: "but the glass is one-eighth empty!" Even though Australia only need a draw to retain the Ashes, I think your pessimism is unfounded.

 

[Notebook]

AUSTRALIA SECOND INNINGS (victory target 546)

1712 - WICKET - Haddin c Strauss b Swann 34 - Aus 327-6 (94.4 overs)
Graeme Swann, still in his sunglasses, continues from the Vauxhall End as Hussey dabs a single, but then Haddin tries to go aerial over the legside boundary and is well caught by Cap'n Strauss at deep-ish mid-wicket!

---------- Post added at 17:21 ---------- Previous post was at 17:14 ----------

1719 - WICKET - Johnson c Collingwood b Harmison 0 - Aus 327-7 (96 overs)
Given that Harmison may never have to face Johnson's bowling again (considering his record on the last four tours, will England ever take him on tour again? I doubt it. And he's been dropped from the ODI squad), he may feel he has nothing to lose by firing in some "chin music" at the new man. And he does. Johnson, one of Australia's many left-handers, pokes one to second slip and finally Colly holds on to one!

---------- Post added at 17:39 ---------- Previous post was at 17:21 ----------

1735 - WICKET - Siddle c Flintoff b Harmison 10 - Aus 343-8 (99.4 overs)
Harmison tests Siddle with a bouncer, then he gets a leading edge to short cover and Flintoff takes the catch! Start the car!

---------- Post added at 17:41 ---------- Previous post was at 17:39 ----------

1737 - WICKET - Clark c Cook b Harmison 0 - Aus 343-9 (99.5 overs)
Harmison bear-hugs his mate Flintoff for holding on to that catch as Stuart Clark strides to the wicket. He pops his first ball to short leg, England are one wicket from regaining the Ashes!

---------- Post added at 17:52 ---------- Previous post was at 17:41 ----------

1749 - WICKET - Hussey c Cook b Swann 121 - Aus (102.2 overs) -
ENGLAND REGAIN THE ASHES

They finally did it, remarkable! Good series.

N.

 

[tblaxland]

Congratulations to England! One way or another, it was a compelling series to follow.

The salt in Australia's wounds is that we now slip to 4th in the ICC world rankings. We also risk the same fate in the ODI rankings unless we pull our socks up in the forthcoming pyjama-cricket matches. Browsing the news this morning, it is not Ponting's blood that is being called for, but that of the National Selection Panel.