Ashes recap: England humiliate Australia again
It was another Test match and it was another disappointing result for the Aussies. England completed another humiliating innings defeat of the Aussies in the series and finished them off before the close of the last day. It was always going to be a tough
task for the Aussies to manage a draw and in the end; the task was too much for them. Australia could not have done much when England managed 644 runs in their first innings.
This is the second time when England has managed 600 plus runs in the series and this, actually highlights the level of the Aussie bowling. Australia had a mammoth task on their hands to bat almost two days in trying conditions. The chances of a draw was
always on the cards and there was some hope that Australia might be able to manage a draw of this one and end the series with a less humiliating margin of 2-1.
Australia started their innings in a dominating fashion and pushed their score to 46 runs. Shane Watson batted in an explosive manner and played a lot of strokes off the bowlers. But like his previous starts in the series he was not able to convert his starts
into huge totals and got out after playing a quick knock of 38 runs. Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 played a lot of drives on the off side and played with an idea of taking the Aussie total to a quick start. England had their first success of the day when they took the wicket
of Watson at the score of 46. It was a terrible mix up with Phil Hughes which ended up in Watson being run out for 38 runs. Phil Hughes got out for another low total and failed to justify his selection as an Aussie opener. Hughes made 13 runs before he edged
a good delivery on the off stump line from Bresnen and ended up in giving an easy catch to the keeper.
Australia had just lost two quick wickets and there was an urgent need from their batsmen to play a top innings in their second innings. A good partnership of 65 runs developed between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 and Michael Clarke and it helped Australia in having some
respite for some time. Clarke, being the captain, had a huge responsibility on his hands to save http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 from another defeat in the series and play a responsible innings for his side. Clarke batted well for 41 and tried to handle the English bowlers from
exerting too much pressure on the Australian batsmen. Khawaja again showed a lot of versatility in his batting and played some confident shots. England broke the third wicket stand when Anderson produced a delivery that seamed away from Khawaja and Khawaja
ended up giving a catch to the keeper. Few overs later, England were again found celebrating when Anderson sent the Aussie skipper back to the pavilion. It was another classical delivery from Anderson as the ball moved slightly away from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Clarke
ended up in edging it to the keeper. English bowlers were bowling a tight spell and were not giving much to the Aussie batsmen to hit at. They bowled at a decent line and expected an already under pressure Aussie batting line-up, to make mistakes.
A lot depended on Hussey. He needed to come forward and play a solid innings for his side. Hussey batted well for his 12 runs and used his feet well against the bowlers. England had a major success when Hussey got caught at gully position off the bowling
of Bresnen. England could easily sense a victory from there on and just had Haddin in their way of a well deserved third victory in the series. The Englishmen had further success when Tremlett struck for them with consecutive deliveries. Tremlett first took
the wicket of Haddin, when he dismissed Haddin for just 30 runs. His next delivery was a pure gem as he bowled Johnson with a fuller delivery. Suddenly, Australia were 171-7 and the hopes of an early finish were just on the cards for the Englishmen. Smith
(54*) played with some responsibility and along with Siddle contributed an 86 run partnership for the eighth wicket. Siddle also played well for his 43 but it was just too late for the Aussies to save the Test match. On the fifth day, the whole Australian
side got dismissed for 281.All the English bowlers bowled exceptionally well in the match and Anderson and Tremlett were the pick of the bowlers who picked three wickets each.
Australia had no positives to take from this Test match as it was just a “clueless” batting from the Aussies that cost them the match. Alastair Cook, for his splendid batting was named “Man of the Match” and “Man of the Series”. Australia has some serious
issues with their line-up before they take on England for the one day series.
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