England surge ahead despite Siddle’s double strike
Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook put together a brilliant 159-run opening partnership to put England firmly in command, at lunch on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test. The England openers earned their team a decent lead of 128 runs to put http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746
in danger of losing the Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
England's opening pair did not replicate their Arch-rivals performance in their first innings, and the first session of play hung in the balance, as the visitors racked up 69 runs for the loss of two wickets.
Both openers played vigilantly at the start of England’s innings in order to negate the seam movement off the pitch. However, as the red cherry became old and there was no considerable seam movement off the surface, the pair opened up and played aggressively.
Strauss played a captain’s knock, as he posted a resilient half century. In his defiant 69-run knock, the English captain struck five boundaries. Mainly, he played his shots square off the wicket, and was particularly harsh on anything that was around the
off-stump.
Cook has been in remarkable form in the Ashes, and he recorded yet another score of substance. From the start of his innings, the dashing left hander was in a positive frame of mind. He played aggressively for his 82 runs, striking eleven crisp boundaries.
England however lost two quick wickets in the middle of the first session. The openers fell in a space of just 11 runs. Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen then led the fightback with a defiant 56-run partnership. The duo pushed England’s lead to a significant
margin of 128 runs.
Trott was solid at the start of his innings, as he knew his stay at the wicket is important. As a result, the right hand batsman remained unbeaten for his 31-run innings.
Pietersen, who struggled in the Perth Test, played positively and found the form he had displayed in Adelaide. He was not out on 31 at lunch. The partnership between Trott and Pietersen will be a key factor in the outcome of the fourth Test.
Peter Siddle was the pick of the bowlers for Australia, as he recorded competent figures of two for 30 in an excellent spell of seam bowling. The Australian quick bowler bowled with a persistent line and length, and removed the English openers.
Apart from Siddle, no other Aussie bowler made an impact with the ball. It was hardwork for the Australian bowlers, and they had to toil hard in the Melbourne heat. The hosts need to break the current partnership if they are to give themselves any chance
in the game.
Tags: