Really is going swimmingly for England. Only worry I have is will the England bowling attack be as lethal as it was in the first innings? With this pitch they'll have to be!

in the decade or so i've been watching the australian cricket team this is the worst i have ever seen them. at the moment being no.5 in the world flatters us.

Shocking blow for England in losing Broad. Can they win this test? With no Broad the other bowlers will have to work hard!

pretty bad blow for aus too. hussey gone early in the day.

It's all over bar the shouting!

Did somebody say "batting collapse"?:rolleyes:

Holy shit! I go away for half an hour and they've almost lost! One wicket to go!

England WIN and take the lead in the series!!! MEGA victory. Would have expected more from Australia.

 

Was that Australia we just beat, or Bangladesh?:rolleyes:

 

Was that Australia we just beat, or Bangladesh?:rolleyes:

 

Ouch!

England thrash Australia in second Ashes Test

 

Jesse Hogan in Adelaide

 

December 7, 2010 - 12:16PM

England's James Anderson celebrates catching Mike Hussey. Photo: AP

 

Australia's Ashes hopes are in tatters after their last-day capitulation at the Adelaide Oval allowed England to take a crucial 1-0 series lead.

Resuming at 4-238, the hosts lasted only 20 overs before falling at 11.27am for 304, with Peter Siddle the last man out, giving off-spinner Graeme Swann a five-wicket haul.

The result, a loss by an innings and 71 runs, is Australia's first innings loss to England since the Boxing Day Test of 1986.

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Click for more photos Second Test, day four

 

Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey leave the field after bad light and rain halted play. Photo: Getty Images

 

 

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Australia must now win at least two of the last three Tests of the series to win back the Ashes.

Furthermore, if England win any of the last three Tests it would be impossible for Australia to win back the urn, as a drawn series would go in favour of the holder: England.

Australia will have to do so without stoic opener Simon Katich. Scans confirmed the Achilles injury that was conspicuously hampering him for the past two days is serious enough to rule him out of at least next week's Test in Perth - and probably the rest of the series too.

"Achilles tendinopathy can be a complex injury and, based on Simon's current symptoms and results of a scan undertaken last night, it is unlikely that he will be available to play any further part in this Vodafone Ashes Series," Cricket Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.

"I believe that with a thorough rehabilitation program Simon will be able to return to cricket some time in the new year."

Katich's injury will almost certainly mean a recall for left-handed NSW opener Phillip Hughes.

England's day started poorly, with wicketkeeper Matt Prior dropping a sharp chance from Mike Hussey when the Australian was on 50, but everything after that was decisively in the tourists' favour.

In the third over of the second new ball Hussey, so composed and resilient for the series so far, aimed a rash pull shot to Steve Finn and succeeded only in getting a top edge. When the ball eventually dropped into the hands of Jimmy Anderson at mid-on, the roar from the travelling supporters was extraordinary.

Marcus North and Brad Haddin put on a partnership of 25 before Anderson strengthened his status as the most impressive bowler of the series by delivering an outswinger that caught right-handed Haddin's outside edge, through to Prior.

From the very next delivery Ryan Harris elected not to play a shot to Anderson and was struck on the pads, and was rightly given out leg-before by umpire Marais Erasmus. His challenge to the decision, as in the first innings, failed. It left the Queenslander with the unwanted honour of notching a king pair in his first Test in Australia - a golden duck in each innings.

Australia almost immediately lost their last recognised batsman, North, meaning they had lost three wickets in the space of four deliveries.

The under-fire left hander, on 22, lunged forward trying to defend against Swann. The leg-before appeal was rejected by umpire Erasmus but England's challenge revealed the ball had, as claimed by Swann, struck North's pad before he hit it. It meant Australia had plummeted to 8-286.

The only reason Australia had to smile throughout the period was when No.10 batsman Siddle blocked Swann and the ball rolled back onto his stumps - but did not dislodge any of the bails.

Xavier Doherty's wretched match, which could prompt his axing for next week's match in Perth, continued when he was bowled between bat and pad by Swann, giving the England off-spinner his fourth wicket of the innings.

The last pair of Siddle and Doug Bollinger lasted four overs before Swann bowled Siddle to seal his personal milestone and England's richly deserved victory.

the series is all but over. australia MUST win the 2 of the next 3 tests to win back the Ashes. which means taking 40 wickets. at the moment we seem to be taking one per day.......

You might as well bring Warney back again!:rolleyes:

Kevin Pietersen: We'll have the Ashes by Christmas

 

 

Kevin Pietersen: We'll have the Ashes by Christmas

 

Kevin Pietersen today claimed England would secure the Ashes before Christmas if they repeat the stunning performance that sealed victory over Australia in Adelaide today and banished the demons of four years ago.

 

England lead 1-0 in with only three Tests remaining, meaning the urn will be retained if they triumph in the Third Test in Perth, which begins on 16 December. Australia were finished off ruthlessly at the Adelaide Oval, England sealing their 100th Ashes Test win, and their biggest in Australia since 1966, by an innings and 71 runs. It was a complete contrast from 2006, when England contrived to lose the Test despite scoring 551 for six declared in the first innings and were whitewashed 5-0 in the series.

 

“If we go to Perth, play good cricket and do not get complacent, then we will keep the Ashes,” said Pietersen, who was named man of the match for his Test-best 227 in England’s only innings. “We have to keep doing the right things.

 

“What a sad place the dressing room in Adelaide was four years ago. It was horrible to walk back in there. It was quiet, negative and not as united as today.

 

“It’s an amazing feeling to go 1-0 up in an Ashes series after being so bad here four years ago. Our bowlers were superb and then the batsmen filled their boots on days two and three.”

 

The tourists’ joy was dampened by the news that Stuart Broad will miss the rest of the tour with a torn abdominal muscle sustained yesterday. Broad is due to fly to Melbourne at midnight with the rest of the squad and he is likely to begin his rehabilitation programme there before returning to England at the end of the week. Chris Tremlett, Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan will compete for his spot.

 

Andrew Strauss is on the brink of becoming the first England captain since Mike Gatting in 1986-87 to lead a successful Ashes campaign, but this was his first Test win as an England player in Australia - as it was for every other member of his team.

 

Strauss’ thoughts will now turn to Melbourne, where England face Victoria in a three-day tour match starting on Friday. Bresnan, Shahzad and Tremlett will all play at the MCG, while Jimmy Anderson was due to fly back to England today to attend the birth of his second child. The plan is for him to rejoin the squad in Perth on Monday.

 

“It was a special victory for us and it exorcised some of the demons from four years ago,” said Strauss. “It’s important we don’t let Australia back in the series now.

 

“Stuart Broad is distraught and we are devastated for him, but the show moves on. In Melbourne, we will see which of the three bowlers looks the most potent and the most suited for Perth.”

 

Australia have injury worries of their own, with Simon Katich’s torn Achilles ruling him out for the rest of the series. Phil Hughes should replace him at the top of the order and, with Ponting due to meet chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch earlier today, Marcus North, Xavier Doherty and Doug Bollinger all face the axe.

 

Captain Ricky Ponting said: “England out-batted, out-bowled and out-fielded us for the entire game. They are dealing better with the pressure than we are and we have to change that.

 

“I have to make some runs as well. To make nine in two innings on that wicket is nowhere near good enough for me.”

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/kevin-pietersen-well-have-the-ashes-by-christmas-2153568.html

Only realised this morning that if England win the next test then they get to keep the Ashes! Australia have got to improve 10 fold if they are to win them. It's rare to see England looking the more confident and cocky of the two but to be honest I've never seen England so comfortable in an Ashes series so far.

Only realised this morning that if England win the next test then they get to keep the Ashes! Australia have got to improve 10 fold if they are to win them. It's rare to see England looking the more confident and cocky of the two but to be honest I've never seen England so comfortable in an Ashes series so far.

 

I also can't believe how quickly the Aussies have disintegrated from being the best side in the world to a bunch of also-rans.:stunned:

By Shane Warne 11:30PM GMT 07 Dec 2010 Comment

 

 

These are uncharted waters for Australia. This is the first time England have beaten them by an innings in Australia for 24 years. That is a long, long time and England have a hell of a reason to celebrate and be excited.

 

It seems like it is a real role reversal. Both sides have been pretty even for some time, but now England look like the better team and they have proved they are not scared of Australia.

 

This performance here proves that all the talk before the Ashes was not a phoney war. They are a team of 11 believers and they are playing with confidence and passion. They believe they have got what it takes to beat Australia in Australia.

 

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This is crunch time for my old team. They are 1-0 down and have to make some hard decisions about all parts of their game - their bowling, their batting and their plans.

They have to crack the question of how are we going to beat England, but they have little time to find the formula.

It will be very hard for Australia to win the series even if they draw in Perth. If England win at the Waca they will be unstoppable, and could win three or four nil, which would be an unbelievable result.

But do not look too far ahead if you are an England fan, because I know Australia will fight. They showed guts and fight in the second innings at Adelaide, and let’s just see what happens. The next few days will be an interesting time to see what Australia decide to do.

They need to work out a way of getting 20 wickets and they need to find a leader of the attack. Who is that? No one springs to mind at the moment, but making inroads into that top order is crucial and something that has been absent from this current side.

Spin-bowling options are difficult. Xavier Doherty has not had an ideal situation to come in and play two Test matches. He has been behind the eight ball every time so it is very hard if they say, “Sorry, you are out mate”. He was obviously a Ricky Ponting selection. He wanted him in, but given the situation of the series, Australia may need to go with an experienced player.

We are now back to what I said before the series started. Where do they go? Do they opt for Nathan Hauritz or a wrist-spinner like Steve Smith? Do they play two spinners or none at all and prepare a green, grassy wicket in Perth? That would be a big gamble against England’s seam attack. The pitch is not fast and bouncy these days, so maybe you get a local guy who knows the Perth conditions, like left-arm spinner Michael Beer. Sometimes horses for courses works. Australia have to explore all options and win this next match to get back in this series. They need to look at all avenues and go all out for a win.

 

There has been a bit written in Australia and people have been asking me about making a comeback. All I can say is that it is very flattering to hear those words.

 

It must be tough for Ricky Ponting at the moment. Leading a losing team and being the only captain who could lose three Ashes series in the modern era is hard for such a great player. Let’s hope he can get back in the runs in Perth, which will help his cause and Australia’s.

He now has to listen to his players in the team, the selectors and the coach. They have to ask if they have got everything right and what can we do better? It is important to listen to the guys around the team and try to lift everyone.

This is not the time to blood youngsters or panic. If Australia lose this series badly then that is the time to reassess everything and say, “Right, it is back to the drawing board”. Then they can give three or four youngsters a go, with four or five experienced players, and try to rectify things.

Australia might have to put up with a bit of pain and lose a few Tests over a period of a few years, but they will not be any the worse for it. That is still a while away and would only happen if they get a real thumping by England.

At the moment it is hard to try to find anything positive for Australia, but Michael Clarke looks back to the form he has been in for the last

18-24 months. He is batting beautifully again. Mike Hussey still looks good. Ryan Harris bowled pretty well given the conditions in Adelaide, the heat and the wicket.

Australia’s tail is a worry. It looks six out, all out, and the fielding has to improve. A lot of the things we are saying about Australia now it seems we used to say about England all the time.

We have to give England credit. They look really good. They are well-planned, hungry and up for it. They have good plans in place and good tactics to each batsman. England also look a lot more patient with their plans. Australia appear as if they are searching and hopeful rather than believing.

England’s preparation for the series was spot on and now the only thing they have to worry about is replacing Stuart Broad.

I know England rate Ajmal Shahzad from Yorkshire, but I think they will go for a like-for-like replacement in Chris Tremlett, because of his height and pace.

They might consider playing Tim Bresnan to strengthen their batting but with their top order playing so well they should go with the best bowler and Tremlett is a dangerous bowler who I said before this series has all the talent to be among the best in the world.

England should not think about batting Australia out of the series and playing a safe game. They have got to stay positive and win, and I think they will concentrate on doing that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was only joking about Warney being given a recall, but clearly some people aren't. How desperate can you get?:lol:

 

The next time England suffer a batting collapse, I'm going to suggest they bring back W.G. Grace!:P

I also can't believe how quickly the Aussies have disintegrated from being the best side in the world to a bunch of also-rans.:stunned:

 

Me too. It's just shocking how you can go from the likes of Warnie, Lee, McGrath, Langer, Hayden, Gilchrist etc to this lot.

:D COME ON ENGLAND. I honestly think after the second test that this could turn out to be a whitewash...

^^

 

yeah entirely possible. take out the first innings in brisbane. australia has hardly threatened englands batsmen.

Beer puns:

 

"Beer left out of the Australian side. Now a minute's silence for sub-editors around the world," Michael says. Well, yes, but of course we can make the point that Beer has gone flat already.

"The team with no Beer. How un-Australian," says Rob 'Slim' Badman.

"Beer on ice," Jarrod notes.

""Beer must be bitter about his omission from the team," says Nick.

"I think trouble will be brewing without Beer," says Alistair.

Australia look to fight back in the evening session after Chris Tremlett takes three wickets for England on day one of the third Ashes Test in Perth.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/9283306.stm

 

 

making this thread was a bad idea..............:(

I really didn't expect Tremlett to make an impact but he did. Ominous for Australia.

Is Alistair Cook possibly the most hated man in Australia at the moment??!

wow what an hour! england 5 down now :D