http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 left Clueless on the 2nd day of the Ashes
Not long ago, Australia could take the game away from any opposition even from a losing position. However, things now seem bleak for the once mighty outfit in the cricket world.
Australia recently have not been successful in winning a game that was almost out of their reach. The last time they pulled off an unexpected victory was in the ICC Twenty20 Championship against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, where Michael Hussey steered
his side away from a certain defeat. However, since then, fans have not been able to see any last moment fireworks from the men in yellow.
The Aussies seem to be struggling in the Ashes as well. In the first Test, they managed to save grace by drawing the match, owing to the mind-blowing partnership between Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin.
Things were expected to be different in the second Test, but Australia just could not bat on a pitch that is famously known as the graveyard of bowlers. The Aussie skipper, Ricky Ponting chose to bat after winning the toss; however,
this decision backfired and Australia had the worst Test start in nearly sixty years of their international cricketing history.
The Aussies were two down for nil right from the onset and with just two runs on the scoreboard, the Australians obliged to give away another wicket to the English bowlers.
Ricky Ponting was no match in front of James Anderson and went for a duck. The top order followed suit and no one gave a performance good enough to put a mark on the scoring board. It was yet again Michael Hussey who had to rescue
his side, and the left hander stayed on the wicket for as long as he could, scoring an under pressure innings of 93 runs. Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 and Brad Haddin chipped in by scoring 51 and 56.
The day ended for the Australians after managing to put 245 runs on the scorecard, England then had enough time to come out to bat and score just one run when the first day play ended.
The second day was supposed to bring fortunes for the Australians, but that seemed a farfetched idea as the day progressed, owing to the solid batting display by Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott (78 runs).
The Aussies, for the last two decades, have always managed to pull off a victory coming from behind, and now they are unable to comprehend the fact that they are no longer the same. The Aussie wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said, “This
game does turn.” It is this belief that has always existed in the Australian side, but now their actions are finding it hard to matchup with the words.
Alastair Cook’s defiant innings made the Australians look desperate on the field and it seemed as if the Aussie skipper had run out of ideas and bowlers to get Cook out. Cook was not the only one causing problems for the Aussies
as Kevin Pietersen joined the left-handed opener and played a daunting innings of 85 runs. Both Cook (136) and KP were still batting at the end of the day.
Australia, now, know that they cannot win this game; the best that Ponting’s men can do is grace a draw and that is what they should be trying to go for on the third day. Nevertheless, England will want to win this game and put
the pressure on the struggling home side. The third day is going to define the outcome of the match and both teams will exhibit their best for sure. One will be hoping to take it to the draw while the other will be aiming to bury the opposition in an embarrassing
defeat.
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