Fourth Ashes Test, Headingley, Day Two

Sports - Cricket - Ashes

My picks of the second day:

Australia comfortably added 249 runs to their total for their last six wickets on day two of the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley, Stuart Broad finishing off the lower order with four wickets on the day. That left England trailing by 343 runs and reeling once again after they ended the day five wickets down for only 82 runs, leaving no doubt whatsoever, they will be heading to the Oval needing to win the final test if they want to regain the Ashes, unless a miracle can happen.

Run of Play: Advantage to...

1st session, Australia 306 for 5 (204 ahead) at lunch: Australia after enjoying a comfortable morning, no threat whatsoever.

2nd session, Australia 445 all out (343 ahead) at tea: Australia after losing their last five wickets for "only" 142 runs but still being on top.

3rd session, England 82 for 5 (261 behind) at the end of day two: Australia after shattering any hopes for England of producing a miracle-saviour innings.

Partnerships: 

- 152 runs between Michael Clarke (93) and Marcus North (52): England once again could not get the line and length right, giving Clarke and North enough space to place their strokes and proceed play as comfortably as they had the day before. Clarke eventually fell lbw to a Graham Onions' yorker after achieving a marvelous 96 from 138 deliveries. 

- 70 runs between Marcus North (37) and Mitchell Johnson (27): After Brad Haddin got caught out with a premeditated shot for only 14, North and Johnson brought more frustration to and runs against the home side. The short pitch finally paid off against Johnson, who put the ball down Ravi Bopara's throat and was caught for 27 off 53 deliveries. North completed his second century of the series in style, smacking the ball for six and capitalizing of a wary England attack like he had enjoyed all day. He fell for 110, giving Anderson an easy catch and Broad his sixth wicket with Australia finishing the innings 445 all out. 

- 58 runs between Andrew Strauss (17) and Alastair Cook (32): Coming out after tea trailing by 343 runs, it left England with more than just a mountain to climb. Australia started too straight, giving Strauss and Cook a start and creating a glimmmer of hope that England would at least not get thrashed by an innings - but that was not of long last after the skipper fell lbw to a terrific length delivery by Ben Hilfenhaus. One can always dream - all nightmares for England in this test match though with the Aussies on fire.

Bowling: Stuart Broad will have hopefully shut up all the critics who were calling for his head after he completed a five-wicket haul and was the only bowler to create a threat with figures of 91 runs off 25.1 overs with six maidens and 6 wickets. James Anderson looked the most vulnerable, uncomfortable and was the most expensive at 5.5 runs per over. Steve Harmison stayed out of line, length and sorts. Hilfenhaus and Johnson showed them up again, taking five wickets between them by the end of the day - the two completing in not even a couple of hours what took the five England bowlers over a day's play!

Ups: Broad's 5er - would have obviously been celebrated more and louder under different circumstances. But I was still happy and cheering for him, have to grant him that much, especially after all the criticism, threats and calls for his place he had to take lately.

Downs: The poor lbw decision against Bopara just reflected and completed England abysmal couple of days. Made me think of the Dr Pepper advert, "What's the worst that could happen?" - my answer to that: just look at England the last couple of days!

Hero to zero: England - I do not want to pick on an individual because I feel the whole side was a letdown. They will have to dig deep if they want to escape from this with the Ashes urn.