Ed Cowan reflects on a tough series defeat – Cricket News Update
Despite dominating the best part of the recently concluded Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Graham-Downton-c44379 Cowan, admitted that the deciding defeat at Perth taught the team a harsh lesson about the relentless nature of five-day cricket.
The two heavy weights clashed in the three-match series in a bid to stake their claim on the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Test mace. After two closely fought battles, the series still remained tied at 0-0, before the Proteas nailed down their authority to clinch the final game at WACA.
The Aussies twice had the chance to get in front. At Brisbane, centuries from Cowan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978, gave the home side the ascendency but the Proteas fended off a final day surge from the Aussie bowlers to earn a draw. A day had further been lost to rain, which could have given the hosts extra time to finish off their opponents.
At Adelaide again, the Kangaroos held command for the best part of five days. After piling on 550 in their first innings, and restricting the opposition to 388, the Aussies eventually set a 430-run target for the Proteas to overcome in the remaining five sessions.
They entered the final day with their tails up high, having already dismantled four top order batters. However, victory again eluded them as a stupendous rearguard effort from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Faf-du-Plessis-c1427, who batted the entirety of the fifth day to remain unbeaten on 110, saw the Proteas again sharing the spoils.
Moreover, it left the Aussie bowlers physically exhausted, forcing the management to name a revamped attack for the all-important Perth clash. However, it was the Proteas’ time to shine, who cemented their grip on the Test mace by inflicting a heavy defeat.
"From a team point of view it was a great lesson that Test series are exactly that," Cowan said. "It's not one or two days of really decent cricket, to beat the best you have to be consistent for 15 days. As a group we felt as though we dominated them for eight or nine days of the series, maybe had points decisions on two or three days and only lost two or three days to them, and you end up losing the series. So it was a great lesson for us that the great teams soak up pressure when they have to and have an ability to really nail you when they have that momentum."
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