Ashes Update: England on top as Australia’s top order caves in on day four at Adelaide
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 toiled hard in their second innings of the Adelaide Test yet have a gigantic task ahead of them as they bid to go to the third Test of the series locked at nil-nil rather than conceding a 1-0 lead against
their bitter rivals England.
The English team declared their first innings at a mammoth 620/5, with Kevin Pietersen smashing a career best 237-run knock that helped propel the lead to 375 runs.
The Aussies were indebted to a century plus partnership between Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke, which lifted them from the precarious position of 134/3. The third wicket to fall was of Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 (57 runs) who
was sent packing by a fine delivery from Steve Finn with English captain Andrew Strauss taking a fine diving catch in the slip region.
Clarke and Hussey then stretched the innings past the 200 runs mark; the total reached 238/3 when calamity struck with the departure of Clarke (80 runs) on the last ball of the day as Pietersen struck with Alastair
Cook taking a sharp catch at short leg.
Michael Hussey was stunned at the other end and claimed that he was devastated to lose his batting partner at such a crucial phase of the game.
"I just remember looking back at the umpire and yelling no, no, no," he said. "So I didn't know what was going on down [Clarke's] end. By the time I turned around they pretty much referred it straight away and
I could tell in Michael's body language that he thought he was out.”
“It was a real sombre way for us to finish the day because we fought pretty hard and it would have been nice to go in three-down," Hussey added. "It would have really capped off a great day because he played awesome
cricket today. He played like the Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 we love and have loved watching play over the last few years."
On the other hand, the English camp was overjoyed with the wicket of Clarke, and now is aiming to run through the remainder of the Aussie line-up on the last day of the Test, on a wicket which is turning and bouncing
sharply.
Swann was elated with his performance on the penultimate day of the Test match; he snagged two wickets to trigger a mini Aussie collapse. The first victim was Simon Katich (43 runs), who was caught behind, and
the second wicket was that of Ricky Ponting (9 runs), who was brilliantly held by Paul Collingwood on a straighter one by Swann.
"It's a massive bonus for us," said Swann. "It was tough going for us in the last session, with their two best players against spin at crease, both playing well. Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration and who else but KP to come
on and give you it. We're confident, we've played some very good cricket since day four in Brisbane, and we’ve been a very good side. If we can turn up tomorrow and continue in that vein then I think we are in the box seat."
"It was very satisfying, and the ball felt great coming out of my hand today," he added. "It wasn't a very enjoyable last session after the rain because the ball gets wet and my fingers gets sore, but that's one of the beauties
of being a spinner, you have to put up with that.”
The last two sessions were marred by rain; the English team is hoping that the weather stays clearer on the last day and they get to bowl out the Aussies and take full advantage of the special effort that they put in the match
that they have dominated from the onset.
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