SECOND DAY.
The old vet loses control and actually phones, which must be a sign that the Lotto money has gone to his head. "Did you ever see such batting?" he asks. He is very angry. "Prior has not got a shot, keeps moving across his wicket and allowing himself to be hit. At least Swann knows how to play but by that time Johnson is so much in the groove Bradman could not stop him. It is the worst England batting I have seen for years."
To lunch. Everything goes swimmingly to 78 until Johnson suddenly produces a spell of four wickets - Cook, Trott, Pietersen and Collingwood - that makes my predictions of an easy England win are doomed. Lunch at 119-5.
To tea England all out 187, an Australian devil score, after Johnson also disturbs the tail with a soft, old ball and finishes with 6-38. All right, half his wickets are gifts but as he hardly got the ball past the bat in the first Test and is dropped for the second, it's a great performance.
To close Finn struck twice and now has the second best Test strike rate in history. Hughes is hardly more than a gimme but when Prior caught Ponting down the legside he waited for a referral before marching off in a fury. How much longer will the selectors tolerate his lack of runs? He could be finished if his men lose this match and the Ashes fly home to Lord's again. By the end of the second day Australia are sure to win. Just like England yesterday so don't cry just yet.
Jo King, Queen of the Important Stat, says: Finn has 45 wickets in his 11 Tests, at 25.73 with a strike rate of 39.32 compared with old-timer Lohman who had 112 wickets in 34 balls each. Not all his victims turned out to be Test stars. Five more wickets and Finn will have beaten Botham's record of 50 wickets at 22 years and 261 days. Finn will not be 22 until April 4.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Falling behind
THIRD TEST
To lunch: The pitch was so green we might have been in Cork or Donegal and when Strauss won the toss he made sure Ponting knew the Aussies would bat. Watson was wrongly given out in the first over - but reprieved - Tremlett bowled Hughes, Ponting was caught acrobatically by Collingwood at slip, Clarke played a surrender shot to Prior, Watson was lbw and Smith caught at slip. If you never saw a team demoralised before you did today. By lunch they were 65-4 and when Hussey - pretending he had not hit the ball - was shown to be caught by Prior they were 137-6
To tea: The Aussies fought, of course. Haddin, strangely held back until to No.7, hit 53 and Johnson, looking so tense you could almost read his thoughts, top-scored with 62 while Siddle and Hilfenhaus put on 35 off 23 balls before Strauss remembered Swann was his best bowler. At tea 179-6 and you could say Australia should have been out for 210 or so but without a leader in any sense and with the top six in turmoil it is only a matter of time before England confirm their superiority. As against Australia A, Tremlett bowled beautifully and proved to be the right pick for all Bresnan's claims.
To close: Strauss who had a mixed day as captain and Cook knocked off 29 and now it appears to be plain sailing although Strauss must not forget Swann in the second innings when his flight and dip, backed by whatever turn he can find still hold the key. Sometimes I wish I was there.
The veteran texts: "To think I was worried there might be an Aussie revival. Perhaps I am getting past it. I can't keep up with the young 'uns!" It seems to me that there may be a tale to be told in that last sentence. Kate also texts: "The old boy is falling behind."
Lets give Jo King, the undoubted Queen of Stats, the last word. "Some people," she says with a raised eyebrow, "are suggesting England might win this game after their victory in the second Test. It would be the first time England have beaten Australia in successive Tests since the Edgbaston and Oval matches of 1985."
To lunch: The pitch was so green we might have been in Cork or Donegal and when Strauss won the toss he made sure Ponting knew the Aussies would bat. Watson was wrongly given out in the first over - but reprieved - Tremlett bowled Hughes, Ponting was caught acrobatically by Collingwood at slip, Clarke played a surrender shot to Prior, Watson was lbw and Smith caught at slip. If you never saw a team demoralised before you did today. By lunch they were 65-4 and when Hussey - pretending he had not hit the ball - was shown to be caught by Prior they were 137-6
To tea: The Aussies fought, of course. Haddin, strangely held back until to No.7, hit 53 and Johnson, looking so tense you could almost read his thoughts, top-scored with 62 while Siddle and Hilfenhaus put on 35 off 23 balls before Strauss remembered Swann was his best bowler. At tea 179-6 and you could say Australia should have been out for 210 or so but without a leader in any sense and with the top six in turmoil it is only a matter of time before England confirm their superiority. As against Australia A, Tremlett bowled beautifully and proved to be the right pick for all Bresnan's claims.
To close: Strauss who had a mixed day as captain and Cook knocked off 29 and now it appears to be plain sailing although Strauss must not forget Swann in the second innings when his flight and dip, backed by whatever turn he can find still hold the key. Sometimes I wish I was there.
The veteran texts: "To think I was worried there might be an Aussie revival. Perhaps I am getting past it. I can't keep up with the young 'uns!" It seems to me that there may be a tale to be told in that last sentence. Kate also texts: "The old boy is falling behind."
Lets give Jo King, the undoubted Queen of Stats, the last word. "Some people," she says with a raised eyebrow, "are suggesting England might win this game after their victory in the second Test. It would be the first time England have beaten Australia in successive Tests since the Edgbaston and Oval matches of 1985."
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Clear cut catastrophe
FIFTH DAY
It was all done and dusted by lunch on Hussey had hoisted the surrender flag with a high lob which no place in this match nor at Wimbledon. Swann in his present mood cannot tolerate tail-enders as bad as the last three Aussie batsman and they cannot fathom him. The result was that England won by an innings and 71 runs just before lunch.
I cannot remember a more comprehensive victory by England against anyone away from home. I guess that Brearley's side had one and certainly Hutton's side - stoked by the fire that came from Tyson - but those I have seen in the last 25 years were snatched in tight games that might have gone either way.
Now for the series. Lets hope for 3-0. The Aussie commentators so remind me of the way Willis and Co used to rattle on in the 1990s which brought players unfit to tread the boards into the side only to be rejected as if somehow it was their fault.
Jo King, stats Qeen, says: It is England's first innings victory in Australia for almost a quarter of a century. Mike Gatting's side won in Melbourne by an innings and 14 runs and only 11 other England sides have won by innings.
It was all done and dusted by lunch on Hussey had hoisted the surrender flag with a high lob which no place in this match nor at Wimbledon. Swann in his present mood cannot tolerate tail-enders as bad as the last three Aussie batsman and they cannot fathom him. The result was that England won by an innings and 71 runs just before lunch.
I cannot remember a more comprehensive victory by England against anyone away from home. I guess that Brearley's side had one and certainly Hutton's side - stoked by the fire that came from Tyson - but those I have seen in the last 25 years were snatched in tight games that might have gone either way.
Now for the series. Lets hope for 3-0. The Aussie commentators so remind me of the way Willis and Co used to rattle on in the 1990s which brought players unfit to tread the boards into the side only to be rejected as if somehow it was their fault.
Jo King, stats Qeen, says: It is England's first innings victory in Australia for almost a quarter of a century. Mike Gatting's side won in Melbourne by an innings and 14 runs and only 11 other England sides have won by innings.
Monday, 6 December 2010
Last minute luck
FOURTH DAY
To lunch: Strauss battted on for half an hour, KP reached 227, his highest Test score, and Prior, with 27 off 21 balls, played just the right innings. Australia, at their positive best too. set off as if they were chasing down a T/20 score until Swann put the brakes on: 78-0 was a good start. Kate. apparently alive again after several days of silence, texted: "These bastards are going to win! but I think not.
To tea: Katich, who has an ankle problem, got out four runs into the afternoon and after scratching around for 19 balls, Ponting was anapped up by Collingwood in the slips and Watson caught off Finn. Two successes for Swann and all's right with the world but Clarke bustled in like a general on his first grand parade, and Hussey was at his most obdurate so that tea came at 160 for three.
To close: Bad light stopped play for an hour and it looked as if England might be a wicket or two short at the end but off the last ball - bowled by K "I'm an all-rounder"P - Clarke was caught after some nonsence with "whose referral is it anyway" Australia finished on 238-4 and even Boycott thought England would win "comfortably".They get their luck when they need it, like Australia used to and Manchester United always have.
Jo King, turns Memory Girl: In 1992-3 on the ground fmmed for high scoring, Australia needed just 186 to beat West Indies - and lost by one run. To this day Craig McDermott swears the ball that go him caught behind hit his chest. The umpire was Darrell Hair. An Aussie. Well, it happened in those days but not any more and I'm throwing my vote behind Boycs abd Ted who are both English and say they are, naturally, backing the Strauss lads.
To lunch: Strauss battted on for half an hour, KP reached 227, his highest Test score, and Prior, with 27 off 21 balls, played just the right innings. Australia, at their positive best too. set off as if they were chasing down a T/20 score until Swann put the brakes on: 78-0 was a good start. Kate. apparently alive again after several days of silence, texted: "These bastards are going to win! but I think not.
To tea: Katich, who has an ankle problem, got out four runs into the afternoon and after scratching around for 19 balls, Ponting was anapped up by Collingwood in the slips and Watson caught off Finn. Two successes for Swann and all's right with the world but Clarke bustled in like a general on his first grand parade, and Hussey was at his most obdurate so that tea came at 160 for three.
To close: Bad light stopped play for an hour and it looked as if England might be a wicket or two short at the end but off the last ball - bowled by K "I'm an all-rounder"P - Clarke was caught after some nonsence with "whose referral is it anyway" Australia finished on 238-4 and even Boycott thought England would win "comfortably".They get their luck when they need it, like Australia used to and Manchester United always have.
Jo King, turns Memory Girl: In 1992-3 on the ground fmmed for high scoring, Australia needed just 186 to beat West Indies - and lost by one run. To this day Craig McDermott swears the ball that go him caught behind hit his chest. The umpire was Darrell Hair. An Aussie. Well, it happened in those days but not any more and I'm throwing my vote behind Boycs abd Ted who are both English and say they are, naturally, backing the Strauss lads.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
KP at the double
THIRD DAY
To Lunch: Trott's value was shown by the total when he was out - 176-3. He is far from the most dynamic batsman in history but he takes those runs on offer and if he is batting with KP the rate stays high. All that was needed now KP had shown he was at his best were workmanlike innings as provided by Trott and Collingwood. At lunch England were 449-3 and the wise men of Australian cricket close to admitting their bowling had no answers.
To tea: Collingwood missed a straight ball but he had done his work and KP, driving through the onside and down the vee, or simply hitting, rubbed in the lessons of England's chances of beating a weak side. It began to rain as KP reached his double hundred and they did not return after tea at 551-4, 306 ahead and whatever the weather able to ocntrol the rest of the match. Although we must remember what happened four years ago even if there are no giants of Warne's stature in this Ausralian side.
Jo King, Queen stat, says: KP needs n handful of runs to beat his personal best of 226 against West Indies at Headingle but my guess is that Strauss will take one look at the overhead cloud and go flat out for the win. If he can squeeze a minute or two for KP he will reap the benefit later in the series because to KP confidence is like a drug and a new PB will undoubtedly encourage him to score even more runs.
To Lunch: Trott's value was shown by the total when he was out - 176-3. He is far from the most dynamic batsman in history but he takes those runs on offer and if he is batting with KP the rate stays high. All that was needed now KP had shown he was at his best were workmanlike innings as provided by Trott and Collingwood. At lunch England were 449-3 and the wise men of Australian cricket close to admitting their bowling had no answers.
To tea: Collingwood missed a straight ball but he had done his work and KP, driving through the onside and down the vee, or simply hitting, rubbed in the lessons of England's chances of beating a weak side. It began to rain as KP reached his double hundred and they did not return after tea at 551-4, 306 ahead and whatever the weather able to ocntrol the rest of the match. Although we must remember what happened four years ago even if there are no giants of Warne's stature in this Ausralian side.
Jo King, Queen stat, says: KP needs n handful of runs to beat his personal best of 226 against West Indies at Headingle but my guess is that Strauss will take one look at the overhead cloud and go flat out for the win. If he can squeeze a minute or two for KP he will reap the benefit later in the series because to KP confidence is like a drug and a new PB will undoubtedly encourage him to score even more runs.
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Cook can't stop
SECOND DAY
To lunch: Third ball and Strauss is out allowing a ball to go past, except it didn't. Never mind, by lunch Cook and Trott have taken to score to 90-1 in perfect safety. What is wrong with Strauss? Too much on his mind is my guess.
To tea: Trott reaches 78 without trouble before carelessly hitting a catch to Clarke at mid-wicket. He has already proved his worth for all there are many who resent his selection. When the first two Aussie wickets fell on day one Clarke was still in the nets, we hear. This sort of lack of discipline can be seen all the way through his team. England have concentration, discipline and application in bucketloads. It is the main difference between the two sides and Cook us there to demonstrate its value with 90 at tea while KP already looks set for a steady innings.
To close: So it turns out. Cook trots beyond 400 for the series, KP just like the big, rangy, I'm here to make mincemeat of anyone who tries to bowl, star batsman of two years ago. He's 85 and Cook, showing off in front of his parents, is 136 and no doubt seeing another double in his mind's eye.
Jo King, stats Queen, says: Stamina or runs Alistair Cook is surely man of the series already. He has been on the pitch for all but 11 overs and he cannot stop scoring runs and building partnerships. To think there were plenty of people who did not want him to play.
To lunch: Third ball and Strauss is out allowing a ball to go past, except it didn't. Never mind, by lunch Cook and Trott have taken to score to 90-1 in perfect safety. What is wrong with Strauss? Too much on his mind is my guess.
To tea: Trott reaches 78 without trouble before carelessly hitting a catch to Clarke at mid-wicket. He has already proved his worth for all there are many who resent his selection. When the first two Aussie wickets fell on day one Clarke was still in the nets, we hear. This sort of lack of discipline can be seen all the way through his team. England have concentration, discipline and application in bucketloads. It is the main difference between the two sides and Cook us there to demonstrate its value with 90 at tea while KP already looks set for a steady innings.
To close: So it turns out. Cook trots beyond 400 for the series, KP just like the big, rangy, I'm here to make mincemeat of anyone who tries to bowl, star batsman of two years ago. He's 85 and Cook, showing off in front of his parents, is 136 and no doubt seeing another double in his mind's eye.
Jo King, stats Queen, says: Stamina or runs Alistair Cook is surely man of the series already. He has been on the pitch for all but 11 overs and he cannot stop scoring runs and building partnerships. To think there were plenty of people who did not want him to play.
Friday, 3 December 2010
Losing the plot
SECOND TEST
To lunch: In a blink of an eye Katich, Ponting and Clarke were all gone for two runs, and you do not fight back from those blows easily.
To tea: Inevitably an Australian improvement but with only Finn below par and the last three Australian batsmen indisputably tail-enders there was always going to be a small total.
To close: Ponting is always defeated when he loses his temper and tonight he left the field shouting at Strauss. Last time, remember, it was Duncan Fletcher who caught his wrath. That outburst as the two sides left the field may be the clearest sign that there are big problems in the Australian dressing room, in particular for Ponting. Besides it has come to my notice that Mitchell Johnson, out of form fast bowler, shouted at Greg Chappell, the new supremo among the Australia selectors, after being dropped. Doesn't Johnson realise that his Brisbane bowling was so below par that he had become an enbarrassment. He was simply not performing at first-class level; he had to go.
Jo King, Stats Queen, says: It is 13 years since a side was bowled out on the first day at Adelaide where we remember Mohammad Azhurrudin, Mark Waugh and Paul Collingwood filling the air with gorgeous strokes and filling their boots at the same time.In 1997 it was West Indies, another side on their way down, who made 130 in 47.5 overs.
To lunch: In a blink of an eye Katich, Ponting and Clarke were all gone for two runs, and you do not fight back from those blows easily.
To tea: Inevitably an Australian improvement but with only Finn below par and the last three Australian batsmen indisputably tail-enders there was always going to be a small total.
To close: Ponting is always defeated when he loses his temper and tonight he left the field shouting at Strauss. Last time, remember, it was Duncan Fletcher who caught his wrath. That outburst as the two sides left the field may be the clearest sign that there are big problems in the Australian dressing room, in particular for Ponting. Besides it has come to my notice that Mitchell Johnson, out of form fast bowler, shouted at Greg Chappell, the new supremo among the Australia selectors, after being dropped. Doesn't Johnson realise that his Brisbane bowling was so below par that he had become an enbarrassment. He was simply not performing at first-class level; he had to go.
Jo King, Stats Queen, says: It is 13 years since a side was bowled out on the first day at Adelaide where we remember Mohammad Azhurrudin, Mark Waugh and Paul Collingwood filling the air with gorgeous strokes and filling their boots at the same time.In 1997 it was West Indies, another side on their way down, who made 130 in 47.5 overs.
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