Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston, Day Five

Sports – Cricket – Ashes

My picks of the fifth day:

Michael Clarke and Marcus North got Australia through the day and sealed the draw of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston. After the Aussies lost a couple of wickets before lunch, their record-partnership of 185 runs carried Australia past tea and safely to the draw. England were left frustrated after pouncing on their extraordinary 1st innings but getting nothing likewise out of the pitch or ball on the last day, leaving their advantage at 1-0 with two tests to go.

Run of Play: Advantage to...

1st session, Australia 172 for 4 (60 lead) at lunch: England for taking a couple of wickets, leaving the pressure on Australia and looking for another collapse.

2nd session, Australia 293 for 4 (181 lead) at tea: Australia for holding through brilliantly, strongly and not looking threatened or uncomfortable at all.

3rd session, Australia 375 for 5 (263 lead), match drawn: Australia for getting the draw, frustrating England for the last day, thanks to Clarke and North.

Partnerships:

- 84 runs between Shane Watson and Mike Hussey: There was no swing on offer for England on the last day, so, the Aussies were able to begin the day in comfortable and assured fashion.

- 185 runs between Michael Clarke (89) and Marcus North (96): Clarke and North rode the show after lunch with hardly any threat or danger on offer from the other side. A pain and torture to watch for the England fans, who were hoping for and expecting another blast like on day two, but got none-the-like. The sweeter the taste of the record-partnership was for Australia and their fans.

Bowlers: Graham Onions and Andrew Flintoff started the day, to no avail. They were replaced by Graeme Swann and James Anderson, who also got aggrieved by the state of the pitch and play that came from it – but not for long. Watson tried to drive Anderson on his front foot after he was worked over by some Flintoff brutes, ending up feathering the ball to be caught behind and ending his partnership with Hussey. Stuart Broad removed Mike Hussey on 64 just before lunch, capping a fine over by drawing the left-hander forward, leaving the wicket keeper Matt Prior with an easy, simple catch behind. But that was the best the bowlers could get out of the day, North the only other wicket to fall at the end of the day, unlucky not to have reached a century to cap off his fantastic innings and partnership with Clarke after he was caught in gully for 96. At that stage, the Aussies knew, they had escaped defeat comfortably, leaving Clarke on to reach his century before they waved him off, happy with the record and draw.

Ups: The lunch break – it left the hopes high and the mouths watering, Australia could have another major collapse after lunch like in the first session on day two and give England a chance to win the match. Juicy visions, possibilities and predictions were discussed...

Downs: It was never meant to be, England's bowlers got nothing and nowhere after lunch, similar to the shortened play on the first day. It made the day a long torture for the bowlers, team and fans – not on the Aussie side of course. They will be delighted and deserve to be after holding through strongly.

Hero to zero: Why was James Anderson left out for most of the day's play after his superb 1st innings haul?! What was Andrew Strauss thinking?! I am totally lost trying to find an explanation to the bowling line-up that started the day and that started after lunch, if England really wanted to make an attempt of winning the match.