Fifth Ashes Test, Oval, Day Four

Sports - Cricket - Ashes

My picks of the fourth day:

Australia were crushed to a 197-run defeat and 2-1 series loss on the fourth day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Kennington Oval. After the Aussies had built up a productive and solid partnership past lunch, they gave away their wickets in extraordinary fashion. The last five wickets fell for only 21 runs, putting a sparkling glorious end to the series for England, who thereby regained the Ashes.

Run of Play: Advantage to...

1st session, Australia 171 for 2 (375 behind) at lunch: England for striking when Australia started to look comfortable and showed signs of consistency.

2nd session, Australia 265 for 5 (281 behind) at tea: England for once again seizing the opportunities when Australia were starting to build on their innings.

3rd session, Australia 348 all out, England win by 197 runs and regain the Ashes: England for well and truely outplaying Australia in this match, regaining the Ashes and deservedly so.

Partnerships:

- 127 runs between Ricky Ponting (66) and Mike Hussey (54): After two wickets in consecutive overs before lunch, Ponting and Hussey batted past lunch and into the afternoon. Their partnership actually got the "could-it-be-possible-for-the-Aussies" thoughts and discussions going, until a brilliant move and direct hit by Andrew Flintoff run out Ponting. That turned the tide again - if it was ever gone from England in the first place. Four balls after their captain's exit, Michael Clarke was run out, too, and not long after that, Marcus North followed him after being stumped by some sharp work from Matt Prior. "Stupid clowns" is what the commentators chose to call the batsmen and summarize the Aussie players' display and how they passed that test of stamina at the most crucial of times and tests. Extraordinary moments.

- 91 runs between Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin (34): Hussey and Haddin held Australia past tea, until the inevitable collapse came- the last five wickets falling for just 21 runs, all edged and caught off some fine, slick and smart bowling. They just avoided an even worse defeat, nothing more.

Bowling: Graeme Swann and Steve Harmison picked Australia apart. Stuart Broad, Flintoff and James Anderson were also effective but less lethal this time around - Flintoff's only wicket contribution was a superb throw smashing into the middle stump to run out none-other than Ricky Ponting. In the end, they all contributed in one way or the other; ball, field and/or atmosphere.

Ups: All the players that have been doubted and criticised most have risen and flourished to the occasion: Man of the Match Stuart Broad tops the English wicket taking list of the tournament with 18. He is the only bowler to have achieved the five-wicket hawl twice in the series and is followed by Swann with 14 wickets. Both of them won the last deciding test match with their wickets; not to forget Anderson and Graham Onions with their vital series contributions of 12 and 10 wickets though.

And last but everything else but least Man of the Series skipper Andrew Strauss, who led his side in exemplary fashion and tops the runs list with 474 runs, one century (the highest individual score of the series with 161 runs) and 3 half centuries. He beat Michael Clarke with 448 (2 centuries, 2 half centuries) and Ricky Ponting with 385 (1 century, 2 half). Hopefully, all those stats and facts are examples England can buils on and indications for a glorious future, even without top men like Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen.

The Australian bowlers and Ashes debutants starred for their side, Ben Hilfenhaus with 22 wickets, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson with 20, but with their lack of variety, they lost out to the English variety of weather, pitches and bowlers.

Downs: Not all players shone, some disappointing continuously and should maybe be worried and made to fight for their positions: Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara and Ian Bell. Nine out of ten occasions, they all failed to impress and make the most out of bat and ball and thrive in their position. Even the lower order were able to make a better job of it, a couple of times. I am not saying they should be withdrawn and cut off straight away, but just indicating where I think improvements have to be made and who needs wake-up calls.

Hero to zero: Ricky Ponting, the legend of a captain he is, has not achieved a series win on English soil so far. The Australian fans and media layed the blame firmly on their skipper after another deafeat - but this side is in the rebuilding process and has a long way to fill their legends' shoes, the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Mark Waugh et al.