The Ashes
Adelaide: The English spin wizard Graeme Swann took 3 wickets in 4 balls in the first session on Day 5 as England won the second test match of the Ashes by an innings and 71 runs after the Aussies were all out for 304 just minutes before lunch.
England now take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes as James Anderson claimed 2 scalps and Steven Finn one on the final morning, while Australia lost six batsmen for just 66 runs after resuming at 238-4.
“We wouldn’t want to get this victory on our heads, but if we continue with the way we are playing, we stand a good chance of winning the series,” England skipper Andrew Strauss quoted after the victory. Finn took the all important wicket of Mike Hussey when he mistimed a pull shot to Anderson at mid-on to be dismissed on 52.
The devastating over by Swann in which he took 3 wickets in just 4 balls ended the home team’s hopes of drawing the match. James Anderson dismissed Brad Haddin caught behind for 12 and got Ryan Harris out on the very next ball.
Just 2 balls after that, Swann got Marcus North trapped leg before on 22. The English players appeal was initially turned down by the ground umpire but the 3rd umpire showed a different story in the replays that showed that the ball had struck the batsman in the line of the stumps and would have gone ahead disturbing the timber.
Swann, who was a hero for England today came with a five-wicket haul, then bowled Doherty and Peter Siddle to complete England’s 100th test victory over the Australians in test matches. Aussie skipper Ponting said later in the press conference – “We’ve been totally outplayed in this match, there’s no denying that. Now we have to find other ways to get better for the upcoming 3rd test match in Perth.”
The only disappointing news for England was that on the final morning when it was declared that Stuart Broad would miss the rest of the Ashes with a torn abdominal muscle. Australia are also likely to be playing without their opening star Simon Katich for the remaining test matches.
Kevin Pietersen was adjudged as Man of the match after he hit a career best double century score of 227 in England’s 1st innings, 620-5 declared and took the important wicket of Michael Clarke off the last ball of the final session yesterday. “It’s pretty great, our team having been so bad 4 years ago to be 1-0 up in Ashes,” Pietersen said. “If we keep performing like this, we’ll retain the Ashes.”
Tags: Ashes Series, Australia, Cricket, England, Graeme Swann, Kevin Pietersen, Michael Hussey, Sports, Test Cricket, The Ashes
