At the close of play on day 3 of the 1st Ashes Test in Brisbane, England were in huge trouble and it seemed as if http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 is on track to take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes 2010. But the English top order took it as a challenge and destroyed the Aussie
hopes in style.
After conceding a 1st innings lead of 221 runs, English openers, Alastair Cook and captain Andrew Strauss started the innings carefully at the end of day 3 but resumed quite positively on day 4 and played their shots at will. Strauss led the English
charge and decided to counter aggression with aggression and at no stage the English openers gave an impression that they were playing to save the Test.
Initially, Strauss and Cook gave England the confidence and momentum with a magnificent opening partnership of 188 runs. Strauss was playing on 110 when he got carried away and literally threw his wicket to the part time off-spin of Marcus North. Strauss
struck 15 fours in his innings and changed his gears beautifully on day 4.
Australians were looking for a breakthrough which they got in shape of Strauss’ wicket but then Jonathan Trott came to the crease and started a partnership with Cook which actually put England in a commanding position. Strauss was the only man to be dismissed
on day 4. At the end of day 4, England had reached 309 runs with a lead of 88 runs and 8 wickets still in hand.
Cook and Trott started the innings on day 5 from where they had left on day 4. Alastair Cook completed his double hundred and scored an unbeaten 236 runs with 26 fours and Jonathan Trott scored 135 runs with 19 fours. Both of them had accumulated 329 runs
for the 2nd wicket partnership before the English captain decided to declare the innings at 507 runs for the loss of only 1 wicket. The English coach, Andy Flower would be a satisfied man as all the 3 batsmen who got a knock in the middle scored
hundreds.
Australia just had to bat for 26 overs on final day, which they did so by losing only 1 wicket of Simon Katich who was caught in the 1st slip by Andrew Strauss off Stuart Broad. Australia were 107 runs for the loss of 1 wicket when the high-scoring
match was drawn.
Australia would be disappointed as they had the upper hand for majority of the first two days of the Test but lost that advantage. The most worrying factor for the Australian think-tank would be their bowling performance in the 2nd innings as
they only managed 1 wicket in almost 2 days and even that wicket was taken by a part-timer.
On the other hand, England would be in a positive frame of mind for the next Test at Adelaide Oval which is going to start from 3 December.
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