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.

Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston, Day Four

Sports – Cricket – Ashes

My picks of the fourth day:

Andrew Flintoff was back to his old batting self on day four of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston. He scored strongly and beautifully, proving his worth and class with the bat, what he could not do with the ball earlier in the match. He pulled the advantage back for England after the Aussies took crucial wickets, forming a strong lead under the timely shortened and restricted circumstances of 113 runs. With the Aussies a couple of wickets down at the end of the day, it leaves the match tight and tense and promising for the last day of play.

Run of Play: Advantage to...

1st session, England 159 for 4 (104 behind) at lunch: Australia taking crucial wickets quickly, not giving England a chance to get too comfortable.

2nd session, England 316 for 7 (53 lead) at tea: England pulling the advantage back thanks to a long-missed dominant innings by Freddie.

3rd session, England 376 all out (113 lead), Australia 88 for 2 (25 behind) at the end of day four: England having formed a lead of over 100 and taking a couple of early wickets.

Partnership: 89 runs between Matt Prior (40) and Andrew Flintoff (41): After a late start left little play before lunch, England lost a couple of wickets in that short period with captain Andrew Strauss ending his splendid innings disappointingly, nicking Ben Hilfenhaus's delivery behind to wicket keeper Mike Hussey replacement Graham Manou and Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting catching Paul Collingwood's edged drive off Hilfenhaus over his left shoulder at second slip.

In the afternoon session, Ian Bell fell eventually after more controversial decisions had gone his way, but this time the lbw was given to Mitchell Johnson, bang in front with the inswinger. It left England looking less likely to get any compatible lead established and a chance of getting anything out of the match, until Prior and Flintoff formed a beautiful partnership. Flintoff showed some of his good-old and long missed class, ticking and smacking, including many sweet fours and a couple of smashing sixes.

Freddie got caught out by Michael Clarke at slip just before tea, making it 309 for 7, but the tail-end contributed well and added 67 runs to the total, the main contributor being Stuart Broad with his much-needed half-century since his place in the team is under threat. That left the Aussies trailing 113, and after losing opener Simon Katich for 26 to a straight ball by Onions caught behind and captain Ricky Ponting for 5 to a perfect delivery by Graeme Swann, a shattering quality off-spin, Australia will have to work hard to survive the last day of play and get something out of the match.

Bowlers: Mitchell Johnson showed a better and more dangerous overall-display, confident as always, but still showed weaknesses. Ben Hilfenhaus was the strongest of the day, as always, Peter Siddle adding to the strong character of the bowling team, but not much more. It was an overall better display by the bowling, but the frustration still showed, especially when decisions went against them and the scoreboard kept ticking with Flintoff heading the torment.

Ups: Freddie back to his old class, at least for a bit, beautiful to watch. Also good to see Broad finally getting something from his bat. It was a pleasure to see nearly every player enjoying and contributing their part.

Downs: The Aussies attitude, like holding sour grapes, spoiled the match a bit, especially Siddle and Johnson mouthing it off, plus the skipper Ponting. I lost count how many time Jonhson and Siddle were mouthing off about something or another. Obviously no surprise with the umpire regularly going against them, it makes that encounter more juicy, but it is still not nice for the game.

Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston, Day Three

Sports – Cricket – Ashes

My picks of the third day:

No play due to a wet outfield! :-(

It leaves England 116 for 2 in their first innings, 117 behind Australia, with two days of play to go.

Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston, Day Two

Sports – Cricket – Ashes

My picks of the second day:

James Anderson and Graham Onions put England in a strong position with brilliant displays and nine wickets between them on day two of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Australia's shocking collapse to 203 for 8 before lunch did not come without controversial decisions by umpire Rudi Koertzen. They were eventually all out for 263, Anderson completing his 5-wicket haul and Onions finishing the Aussies off with his fourth. When bad light stopped play at the end of the day, England's captain Andrew Strauss had led England to 116 for 2, leaving them 147 runs behind.

Run of Play: Advantage to...

1st session, Australia 203 for 8 at lunch: England capitalised and put Australia onto their knees, both Onions and Anderson with hat-trick chances, unfolding a brilliant nail-biter.

2nd session, Australia 263 all out, England 56 for 1 (207 behind) at tea: England getting Australia all out and a start, the captain looking strong and confident, unsurprisingly after the day his side had enjoyed so far.

3rd session, England 116 for 2 (147 behind) at the end of day two: England ending a mouthwatering day with 8 wickets in tact and a very promising chance of getting something out of the match.

Partnerships:

- 37 runs between Ricky Ponting (20) and Michael Clarke (17): Australia's highest partnership reflects the run of play and their display: Their captain saw two wickets go within a couple of blinks of the eye, of the first two balls of the day, Shane Watson out for 62 after a perfect lbw by Graham Onions, Mike Hussey bowled the very next ball for a golden duck and Michael Clarke surviving Onions' hat-trick ball. Clarke stuck with his skipper, Ponting becoming the third all-time test batting run scorer behind India's Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies' Brian Lara and Australian record leading run scorer in test matches. But the glory did not last long, the skipper falling a couple of deliveries later caught behind, the third wicket for Onions.

- 58 runs between Andrew Strauss (35) and Ravi Bopara (23): Bopara made a good start as always with some beautiful shots after Alastair Cook got caught behind for a duck. But he gave his wicket away, after dragging the ball of Ben Hilfenhaus onto his stumps with a nothing-shot, inside-edge, without establishing a credible total and partnership with his skipper, very frustrating.

- 81 runs between Andrew Strauss (34) and Ian Bell (47): Strauss continued strongly and confident whilst Bell proved his worth replacing Kevin Pietersen, although he got away on a couple of occasions, the umpire not giving a dead-on lbw by Johnson at 106 for 2. Both shared terrific shots and boundaries between them, bringing England to 116 for 2 at the end of the day, 117 behind Australia, who were all out for 263, Graeme Swann catching the last wicket Hilfenhaus at gully, Onions fourth, after Anderson completed his five wicket haul after Peter Siddle's outside-edge was caught behind by Prior.

Bowlers: James Anderson with his five wicket haul and Graham Onions with four wickets formed the perfect, mind-blowing bowling attack for England, leading England to a perfect, strong and confident position. The first session must have been the best England have ever created and seen against the Aussies, with seven wickets between the two bowlers. Unforgettable, but not without controversy: After their skipper departed, Australia lost four more wickets before lunch: Clarke was given out controversially lbw to an inswinger by Anderson, which was probably missing offstump. Marcus North was caught brilliantly with an athletic jump by wicket keeper Matt Prior followed by Mitchell Johnson the next ball after he left another inswinger by Anderson and got caught out lbw, but the ball bouncing and flying slightly too high according to Hawkeye, leaving Anderson on a hat-trick. He was not on target to get the third one in a row, but got another one before lunch, this time changing angle and bowling out Graham Manou with a pearler without a question, leaving Australia reeling and angry 203 for 8 at lunch.


Ups: Morning session, the best, most shocking session I have ever seen! Unforgettable, dream come true for England, nightmare gone from bad to worse to indefeasible for Australia.

Downs: Typically, the last two Australia wickets were buggers, producing 60 runs, which is nearly as good as the previous five wickets produced between them. But England got them out eventually, too, that is the main thing.

Hero to zero: Freddie, who? Yesterday I was worrying about Andrew Flintoff's form and display on this pitch, but today, forgot all about him. With Anderson and Onions on a wicket spree, Flintoff was able to take a breather and out of most of the minds, for the time being.

Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston, Day One

Sports – Cricket – Ashes

My picks of the first day:

Only 30 overs were bowled after a rain-drenched outfield delayed the start of play on day one of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Shane Watson made an impressive Ashes and test match opening debut, replacing an out-of-form Phillip Hughes and frustrating the England bowlers after Australia won the toss and chose to bat. He ended the day unbeaten on 62, just 16 away from his best score in Test cricket with captain Ricky Ponting unbeaten on 17, having passed 20,000 career runs and leaving Australia comfortable at 126 for 1.

Run of Play: Advantage to...

1st session, Australia 104 for 1 at the end of day one: Australia after enjoying a much dreaded late session, leaving England frustrated after they got nothing and nowhere with their bowling.

Partnership: 85 runs between Shane Watson (39) and Simon Katich (46): Australia understandably chose to bat first on the slow pitch after winning the toss. Katich capitalised most from England's frustration and thrashed in 46 runs off 48 balls with some soft, cool and easy boundary shots. He was eventually out lbw, second ball and appeal lucky for Graeme Swann. Ricky Ponting got off the mark with a firmly shot boundary, bringing up the 100 for Australia. The captain eventually settled down after an anxious start and passed 20,000 career runs. Watson stayed on his merry way throughout the session, not shying from some beautiful boundary shots. Frustrating start for England, Australia definitely the happier.

Bowling: There was a little bit of swing for James Anderson early on, but Andrew Flintoff was not able to create any pressure or threat whatsoever. Graham Onions and Stuart Broad were leaking boundaries all over the pitch, punished by precise shots. Skipper Andrew Strauss lost his patience with his seamers eventually and turned to Swann just over an hour into play, which finally brought the breakthrough. We will have to wait and see who Strauss will turn to to start the second day as England need wickets and wickets fast. So far, nine times out of ten, his bowling changes and decisions have been good and crucial.

Ups: Strauss once again got his bowling change spot-on and a wicket from it. That was the only cheer England had in the short and only session of the day. They can hopefully build on it and get the Aussies worried early on day two - 'they' not being the seamers on this pitch.

Downs: The weather, the field, the bowling and the Aussies chilling on it. Hardly any cricket having been played, the only little play we have seen has been frustrating for England, the day saw 22 boundaries in total. Let us hope we will not see a repeat of that on day two.

Hero to zero: After winning the man-of-the-match award for the second test, Flintoff will want to forget today as soon as possible. He could not get anything out of the pitch, to no surprise under the circumstances though. Hopefully, Freddie will come back stronger tomorrow and hit the Aussies hard.