The Ashes 2010-11 reminds critics about Test cricket excitement
Some people claim that Test matches have lost the ability to attract fans and because of that, there should be no more Test matches or there should be less Test cricket and more limited over cricket.
For all the critics, who are against Test cricket, the Ashes opener was a reminder, of the thrill and beauty of true Test match cricket. The first match between Australia and England had almost everything a spectator can expect. It had strong bowling performances,
some marathon innings and a strong fight back from both the teams.
This year’ The Ashes were expected to be exciting and competitive compared to the previous years as both the teams were evenly poised. The spectators got nothing less than what was expected.
It all started off with a magnificent spell of bowling from Peter Siddle, who took a hat trick in his six wicket haul. England was placed nicely when the scorecard was 197/4 and there were two set batsmen at the crease.
All of a sudden it was Peter Siddle, who turned things around for Australia with the best ever spell of bowling he had ever bowled. Siddle got Alistair Cook, Matt Prior and Stuart Broad in three balls to complete his first Test match hat trick and due to
that England was 197/7 with no run added and three wickets falling down.
It was then a little fight back from Ian bell scoring a brave 76 before getting out to Doherty. With the help of his fight back, England managed to score a reasonable total of 260 runs. However, it was the Australian bowling that dominated the first innings
especially Peter Siddle with his six wicket haul.
The Australian openers started off nicely and managed a 78 run partnership before Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 got out to some excellent seam bowling from James Anderson. The Aussie openers had laid a solid platform for the middle order to capitalize on but it was the debutant
Steven Finn, who halted them and helped his team bounce back in the match as Australia were five down for 143.
Things were looking good for England as they ran through five of the top six Aussie batsmen but it was again a fight back coming from the Australian middle order specialist Mike Hussey and the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Together, they compiled a massive partnership
of more than 300 runs which helped the Aussies take a lead of more than 200 runs.
The English team was looking all at sea and Australia were the favourites to win the match after dominating the first two innings of the game. But the match took another twist when the English openers fought back hard and compiled a 188 run partnership to
bounce back in the match before Strauss got out after scoring a century. After that it was all England till the last day of the match, scoring a mammoth total of 517 runs, with Alistair Cook and Jonathan Trott unbeaten on 235 and 135 respectively.
England then declared and Australia batted for the last 26 overs to end the match in a draw with Ponting gaining some confidence after scoring an unbeaten 51 in the second innings.
Although the match ended in a draw but it had a lot of twists and turns and all it missed was a result. It was a thrilling and absorbing game of cricket and as England is the Ashes winner in 2008, the draw would be a win for them. If the English team is
able to level the series, they will retain the Ashes. The first Test match has set the stage for an exciting series ahead.
If Australia loses the Ashes, Ricky Ponting will be the only captain to lose three Ashes for Australia. The Aussies need to keep coming hard at the English players to pressurize them and take advantage of their home conditions. Even if they lack a quality
spinner, they can play at their strength and dominate England as they have done over the past two decades.
England should also keep their patience and cool to retain the Ashes. It is a good opportunity for England to overcome Australia in their home conditions as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 is on the back foot and has not performed as the team has been doing.
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