Cricket Update: Ashes 2010- Trott Put England in a Commanding Position on the 4th Test at the MCG
After the 3rd Test at the WACA, Australia seemed to have recovered well from its problems and it was England looking in trouble this time. However, the situation has been completely different to what it was predicted for the Boxing Day encounter
as at the close of play on day 2, England is leading by 346 runs with five 1st innings wickets in hand. This is after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 was blown away by the English fast bowlers for only 98 runs on the 1st day.
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Andrew Strauss won the toss and had no hesitation in bowling 1st on a track that had a lot of juice in it for the seam bowlers. Australia played an unchanged team as the captain Ricky Ponting avoided the scare
of missing out on this Test due to a finger injury. On the other hand, England made just one change to its previous line-up, as Tim Bresnan was drafted into the playing eleven in place of Steven Finn, who was rested for this match.
It turned out to be a fantastic toss to win as the Aussies were in trouble from the word go as Chris Tremlett troubled the baggy green with his pace and bounce. Australians were swept aside by the English fast bowlers for just 98 runs in only 42.5 overs
on day 1. Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 was the highest scorer for the Aussies with 20. He was looking good but could not carry on with the momentum that he got. Quite amazingly all the Aussie batsmen were caught behind the wickets.
James Anderson and Chris Tremlett were the pick of the English bowlers as they took 4 wickets each. Tim Bresnan bowled a superb spell in the 1st innings as he picked up a couple of vital wickets after giving away only 25 runs in his 13 overs.
Wicket-keeper Matt Prior took 6 catches behind the stumps.
In reply, the English openers gave a solid start to their team and scored 157 runs for the 1st wicket partnership at the close of play on day 1.
Australians were able to pick up a couple of early wickets on day 2 because of a wonderful spell by Peter Siddle but a splendid hundred by Jonathan Trott made sure that the visitors were able to pile up 444 runs for the loss of 5 wickets at the close of
play on day 1. Jonathan Trott is still unbeaten on 141 runs off 278 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and he is accompanied by Matt Prior, who is batting at 75 off only 105 balls in which he has already struck 10 fours. Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and
Kevin Pietersen also scored valiant half-centuries for the English. The out of form Paul Collingwood missed out once again as he was dismissed of the bowling of Mitchell Johnson for only 8 runs.
Peter Siddle picked up 3 wickets for the Aussies as Mitchell Johnson took 2 victims. Ricky Ponting was definitely missing a quality spinner in the bowling line-up who could hold one end for the Aussies.
With 346 runs ahead, England is right in the driving seat to retain the Ashes before going into the New Year Test at the SCG. However, complacency is the last thing that the English management would require at the moment. As far as the Australians are concerned,
things are looking gloomier with every ball bowled in the 4th Ashes Test. But Ricky Ponting would still like to think positively and expect great things from his batting line-up in the 2nd innings. It is an uphill task for the Aussies
and would require nothing less than a miracle to save the Test and with that the Ashes from here onwards.
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