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2010/11 Ashes Series

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busybeeburns

busybeeburns

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England were elated when the prolific Mike Hussey fell for just eight

 

Ashes: England dominate woeful Australia in Melbourne

 

England put themselves in a remarkably dominant position after day one of the fourth Ashes Test having bowled out Australia for just 98 in Melbourne.

 

Chris Tremlett and James Anderson swung the ball beautifully to take four wickets each after captain Andrew Strauss had won an important toss.

 

Australia showed poor technique to contribute to their demise.

 

And they were made to pay when Strauss and Alastair Cook pushed England along to a very healthy 157-0 in reply.

 

Having lost by 267 runs on a much faster wicket in Perth to relinquish their 1-0 series lead, England's flawless performance on Boxing Day with bat and ball defied logic.

 

They have already put Australia, who recorded their lowest all-out total in an Ashes Test at the MCG, in a situation where defeat is a probability.

 

In Australia's mitigation was the fact that cool, cloudy conditions up until tea had turned the early exchanges into something more akin to a May Test match in England, with bowlers able to extract swing and seam movement.

 

With propitious timing for the tourists, the clouds melted away as Strauss - who ended the day on 64 - and Cook (80) strode to the crease. And barring one or two early deliveries from Ben Hilfenhaus the ball did not swing for the Australians.

 

Australia entered this critical match with only three batsmen in any sort of form. Mike Hussey had made an extraordinary 517 in the first three Tests, while Shane Watson and Brad Haddin had also produced some key performances.

 

This time, however, with England's three seamers locating a searching length from the off - and finding swing consistently, those three all failed. Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting were due runs, but managed only 20 and 10 respectively, while Phillip Hughes and Steve Smith do not appear to possess the necessary techniques for swing-friendly conditions.

 

Such was the one-sidedness of the early exchanges, that England could afford to drop Watson twice before he had scored - Paul Collingwood at third slip and Kevin Pietersen in the gully were the culprits.

 

Anderson was the unlucky bowler on those two occasions, but it was Tremlett who supplied the first wicket, Watson getting a nasty one that bounced up to an uncomfortable height - and gloving to Pietersen. Despite his double let-off, Watson had made only five.

 

There was another catch for Pietersen in the gully when Hughes, craving anything wide outside off, flashed at one that he should have left to give Bresnan a wicket with his seventh ball in an Ashes contest.

 

The Yorkshireman had been a debatable selection ahead of Steven Finn, the leading wicket-taker in the series. But he showed some fine control at one end as Tremlett and Anderson probed away at the other.

 

Ricky Ponting suggested a possible return to form when hitting two fine pull shots for four, but Tremlett got one to fizz away from him off the seam and the Australian captain's edge was well held by Graeme Swann at second slip.

 

England were in prime position at 37-3, but they still needed to send Hussey back to the pavilion. They got their wish when Anderson snaked one away from him off a full length just two balls before a 90-minute rain break which incorporated lunch.

 

Prior's catch was riotously celebrated, and Anderson remained in hot form during the afternoon: uncertain pushes outside off-stump caused the demise of both Steve Smith and Clarke - the Anderson-Prior combination doing the business each time.

 

A score of 77-6 became 77-8 when Haddin wafted Bresnan to slip, before Prior accepted another catch from Anderson's bowling to send the occasionally dangerous Mitchell Johnson on his way for a duck.

 

Tremlett returned to wrap up the tail and Australia were all out in 42.5 overs. Every dismissal had been as a result of a catch behind the wicket, Prior becoming the seventh England gloveman to take at least six in a Test innings.

 

England's efficiency in the field meant they could turn their attentions to batting during the tea interval.

 

Their progress was serene in the extreme as Strauss and Cook did what Australia's batsmen had failed to do - leave the ball well alone when necessary, or play it tightly in defense with bat and pad close together.

 

Cook was given out lbw on 27 but called for a review which quickly revealed an inside edge.

 

There were some nice shots as well, such as Strauss's on-drive off Peter Siddle to bring up the fifty partnership and two straight drives for four by Cook off Hilfenhaus.

 

Even as news filtered through that 84,345 spectators had watched the early exchanges of the afternoon session, huge swathes of them were already leaving the ground - though a delighted Barmy Army contingent remained in situ.

 

Strauss took England into the lead with a sublime on-drive off Watson, but Cook was playing with even more fluency than his senior partner and was just 20 short of a third century in the series when stumps were drawn.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/9311506.stm

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mc_squared

mc_squared

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Ashes slip from Australia's grasp

 

By Raman Goraya

Updated December 27, 2010 18:55:00

 

r694839_5269383.jpg Jonathan Trott's chanceless innings put England in an unbeatable position on day two. (Getty Images: Tom Shaw)

 

An unbeaten century from Jonathan Trott played the key spoiling role as England quashed any chance of a miracle Australian comeback in the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG.

Trott's 141 helped steady the tourists during wobbly periods before lunch and tea on a controversial day two, guiding the tourists to 5 for 444 at the close and a substantial lead of 346 runs.

The determined 29-year-old notched up his third ton in just his fifth Test against Australia, taking the lead in two important partnerships at the beginning and end of the day with Kevin Pietersen and then Matt Prior.

Prior, given a life on 5 when caught behind off a Mitchell Johnson no-ball, went to stumps on 75 in an undefeated, sixth-wicket stand with Trott that was worth 158.

The Australians went wicketless in a final session that yielded 140 runs, adding to the frustration of captain Ricky Ponting who could find himself in hot water after persistent remonstrations with umpires Aleem Dar and Tony Hill over an unsuccessful referral.

With extended periods of sunshine helping dry out the pitch, Australia's only chance of Ashes survival is if it can bat out the majority of the remaining three days and force a highly unlikely draw.

Peter Siddle (3 for 58) gave the hosts a perfect start and a glimmer of hope on an overcast morning with the wickets of Alastair Cook (82) and Andrew Strauss (69) in the space of four overs.

But the Australian attack promptly relinquished the early ascendancy as Trott and Pietersen easily racked up a handy 92-run union courtesy of some wayward bowling by the likes of Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus.

For the majority of the day, Australia's four seamers were far too straight on a flat Melbourne pitch and were duly punished off the pads.

Trott was particularly harsh, hitting nine of his 12 boundaries on the on side as well as overcoming a blow to his inner knee to build his Ashes average to 96.33.

Siddle was by far the pick of the bowlers and did his best to get Australia back in the match in an eventful middle session.

The Victorian firebrand removed Pietersen plumb lbw for 51 before taking two fantastic catches on the fine leg boundary to dismiss Paul Collingwood (8) and Ian Bell (1) in near identical fashion from a pair of Johnson bouncers.

England lost 3 for 24 and the tail could have been exposed just a few overs before tea when Johnson found a thick outside edge from Prior.

But in a strange set of circumstances Dar requested the assistance of the third umpire to check his suspicions of a no-ball, despite already giving the English 'keeper out.

Replays showed Johnson clearly overstepped the mark and Prior was given a stunning reprieve.

Earlier in the session, Ponting lost his cool when he unsuccessfully challenged a caught behind decision against Pietersen.

Video replays, including Hot Spot, showed no clear evidence of an inside edge and the not out decision was correctly upheld.

A clearly incensed Ponting, flanked by Siddle, hassled umpire Dar for an explanation and his animated appeals continued into the next over and even spread to square leg umpire Hill.

With a history of ICC conduct breaches over his career, Ponting is likely to face some form of hearing at the end of the day's play which will probably lead to a fine.

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busybeeburns

busybeeburns

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Ashes: Ricky Ponting fined by ICC after on-field row

 

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has been fined 40% of his match fee after an ugly row with umpire Aleem Dar on day two of the fourth Ashes Test.

 

Ponting spent more than a minute remonstrating with Dar after an unsuccessful review of a not out decision against Kevin Pietersen. Ponting also exchanged words with Pietersen and umpire Tony Hill. In a statement, the International Cricket Council said Ponting pleaded guilty to a Level 1 offence.

 

Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct relates to "arguing or entering into a prolonged discussion with the umpire about his decision".

 

And having pleaded guilty, match referee Ranjan Madugalle passed down his judgement without recourse to a full hearing. Madugalle said: "Ricky's actions as captain of his country were unacceptable. A captain is expected to set the example and not get involved in a prolonged discussion with the on-field umpires and question their decision.

 

"While pleading guilty to the charge, Ricky understood that the discussion went far too long. He apologised for his action and stated that he has nothing but respect for the umpires and his on-field actions were not intended to show disrespect to Aleem Dar or Tony Hill."

 

However, Ponting can consider himself lucky he was not charged with a Level 2 offence, which refers to "dissent [which] contains an element of anger or abuse which is directed at the umpire or the umpire's decision or where there is excessive delay in resuming play [or] there is persistent re-reference to the incident over time". A Level 2 offence can lead to a 100% fine and/or a suspension.

 

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin had launched a loud but lone appeal for caught behind, convinced Pietersen, who was on 49, had nicked the ball from seamer Ryan Harris. A video review revealed no 'hot spot' where the ball passed Pietersen's bat but a furious Ponting, who was joined by finger-jabbing seamer Peter Siddle, argued long and hard with Dar, prompting jeers from sections of the Melbourne crowd.

 

Pakistani Dar, widely regarded as one of the best umpires in world cricket, later called on the technology at his disposal to save England's Matt Prior after he was caught behind. Prior, who was on five, walked but was called back to the crease as Dar consulted the third umpire, whose review of the footage showed bowler Mitchell Johnson had delivered a no ball.

 

Pietersen made only two more runs after the first appeal before falling lbw to the fired-up Siddle but Prior went on to form a formidable partnership with Jonathan Trott as England finished the day on 444-5, 346 ahead of the hosts.

 

Siddle declined to comment on the incident, saying "it's just cricket", while Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland was reluctant to pass judgement on Ponting's behaviour. However, former Australia skipper Ian Chappell, commentating for Test Match Special before the verdict was announced, suggested Ponting should have been suspended. Chappell said: "You can't start arguing with umpires over a judgement call, and he then started saying something to Pietersen.

 

"I know if I'd have been Pietersen what I would have told him to do, go and jump in the lake, because it's none of his business. "If the ICC are being serious they've got to do something about it because it's not the first time I've seen him arguing with umpires over judgement calls and you can't keep on allowing captains to do that. I would have thought a suspension would be in order because it went on for so long and he went to both umpires."

 

Ponting voiced his frustration over video referrals during the first Test in Brisbane, when England opener Alastair Cook refused to walk after Ponting took what he claimed was a fair catch low to the ground. The Australia skipper's "catch", when Cook was on 209, was referred to the third umpire but television replays were inconclusive and the English opener went on to make an unbeaten 235.

 

Ponting said the referral of disputed catches to inadequate technology was a "blight on the game".

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/9322256.stm

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busybeeburns

busybeeburns

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England close in on Ashes victory in Melbourne

 

England moved closer to retaining the Ashes for the first time in 24 years following another dominant display at the Melbourne Test on day three.

 

England added 69 to their overnight total as they were dismissed for 513, with Jonathan Trott unbeaten on 168.

 

Australia had been progressing steadily at 99-1 when Tim Bresnan ripped through the middle order with three wickets for five runs in the final session.

 

The hosts ended the day on 169-6, still 246 runs adrift of the tourists.

 

That deficit is purely mathematical with only three lower-order wickets remaining - Ryan Harris is unlikely to bat after sustaining a stress fracture of his left ankle bowling in the morning session - and with England's bowlers rampant.

 

A superb, disciplined display from the quartet was characterised by sustained periods of pressure, starving Australia's beleaguered top order of run-scoring opportunities.

 

At the forefront of the middle-order demolition was Bresnan's superb spell of 3-17 from seven eventful overs, dismissing Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey in quick succession.

 

The Yorkshireman was ably assisted by the frugal Chris Tremlett and the ever consistent James Anderson, who once again exemplified why he is the best swing bowler in the world.

 

And Graeme Swann's canny ability to collect wickets at crucial stages left Australia staring down the barrel of yet another humiliating innings defeat on home soil. After almost two days of rest, England's bowlers were eventually called for action after lunch when the tourists were dismissed for their third 500+ total in this series.

 

The indefatigable Trott brought up his second Test score in excess of 150 as wickets tumbled around him, with the ever-persistent Peter Siddle rewarded for a spirited bowling display with figures of 6-75, his fourth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

 

Matt Prior fell 15 runs short of his fourth Test hundred when he spooned a catch to Ponting at mid-on, while Bresnan became Siddle's fifth victim.

 

But Australia's hopes of wrapping up the tail were hindered when Harris was forced off the field when he broke down in his 28th over, later confirmed as a stress fracture which will require surgery.

 

An entertaining knock of 22 from Swann was brought to an end when Brad Haddin took an excellent one-handed catch high above his head off Ben Hilfenhaus, only his second wicket in the series.

 

And the Tasmanian added a third minutes later when he cleaned up Tremlett's stumps before Siddle wrapped up the innings and his sixth wicket when a fast reverse-swinging delivery clean bowled Anderson.

 

With two-and-a-half days remaining in the match, Australia needed to bat at least six sessions if they were to stand any chance of keeping the series alive for the final Test in Sydney on 2 January.

 

The onus was on Australia's openers to provide a solid platform for a robust riposte and, although Phillip Hughes began nervously with a series of streaky boundaries behind square, they managed to notch a confidence-boosting 50-run partnership.

 

However Swann's second over in the afternoon session provided the breakthrough, although the dismissal owed more to Watson's poor judgement calling for a quick single than the off-spinner's guile.

 

A superb throw from Trott in the covers caught Hughes out of his ground with Watson lamenting his hasty call from the non-striker's end. Bresnan and Anderson choked the flow of runs with a disciplined display of swing bowling, manipulating the 15-over old ball in both directions as Ponting and Watson were given few run-scoring opportunities to cash in on.

 

Tremlett maintained the stranglehold, using his huge 6ft 7in frame to generate awkward bounce and height, making batting an arduous affair for Australia's second-wicket pair.

 

The Surrey seamer was unfortunate to see a thick Watson outside edge fall just short of Prior at 79-1 while a number of lbw appeals were repeatedly turned down by umpire Aleem Dar, with height providing the biggest doubt in the Pakistani official's mind.

 

Watson reached his 15th Test half century from 95 deliveries in the 30th over but once again the barrel-chested opener fell short of a three-figure score when he misjudged a reverse-swinging delivery, offering no stroke to a ball which moved back into his pads.

 

Umpire Tony Hill upheld England's clamorous lbw appeal, although Watson's fate was delayed as the opener referred the decision to the third umpire Marais Erasmus, only for the South African to confirm the ball would have just clipped the top of the bails.

 

Ponting's painstaking and lugubrious innings of 20 from 73 deliveries was brought to a close soon after when a thick inside edge clattered into his stumps, much to the delight of the jubilant England fans.

 

And the assiduous Hussey, England's nemesis throughout the first three Test matches, was dismissed without scoring when Ian Bell took an excellent low catch at short cover to leave Australia reeling at 104-4.

 

With rookie Steve Smith, whose credentials as a Test number six have been questioned by seasoned observers and home fans alike, and the out-of-form Michael Clarke at the crease, England sensed another dismissal was close.

 

Although the fifth-wicket partnership offered obdurate defence, it was the deception of Swann which earned the fifth wicket.

 

Bowling around the wicket to Clarke, the off-spinner snared a thick outside edge into the hands of Andrew Strauss at second slip with a delivery which held its line outside off stump, further compounding Australia's vice-captain's miserable series.

 

Smith swung his bat at every opportunity whenever he was offered a modicum of width, collecting six boundaries before he dragged a short ball from Anderson on to his stumps at 159-6.

 

With Mitchell Johnson at the crease alongside Brad Haddin, Australia face the impossible task of saving the Test - and series - on day four, which is certain to herald huge celebrations from England players and fans alike.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/9323188.stm

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