Australia staring at third defeat by an innings

Sports - Cricket - Ashes - 5th Test - Sydney - Day 4

My picks of the fourth day:

England are on the verge of crushing Australia by an innings for the third time and taking Ashes home for the first time in 24 years with an emphatic 3-1 series win. Australia finished the fourth day on the brink, 213-7, 151 runs behind. Earlier in the day, Matt Prior smashed in 118 off 130 deliveries helping on England to reach 644, their highest Test total Down Under. After slumping from 161-4 to 171-7, Australia had to bat out and hold through an extra half an hour as England pressed for the win on the day. But Steven Smith (24*) and Peter Siddle (17*) held through and are still standing on a 42 partnership and taking the match and series to the fifth and final day.

Run of Play: Advantage to...

1st session, England 636-9, 356 ahead at lunch: Prior is the star man of the session with his fourth test century, the fastest and record-ninth Ashes century for England, unbelievable stuff! Australia did get some wickets but have still not woken up out of this long nightmare by far!

2nd session, England 644 all out, 364 ahead, Australia 77-2, 287 behind at tea: After reaching their highest Test total ever in Australia, England got cracking with the ball too, taking out the Aussie openers before the second break of the day.

3rd session, Australia 213-7, 151 behind at the end of day four: Australia are bleeding, bleeding badly, and although they survived and take England to the last day, these wickets and wounds will prove fatal on the last day, it is just a question of time.

Partnerships: England smashed and bashed in plenty of records during the series and this match alone. On this day, they continued that trend with the help of record-centurion Prior and Tim Bresnan (35) whose partnership of 102 runs is England's highest eighth-wicket stand at the SCG, after beating the 86 by Jack Hearne and Johnny Douglas in 1911. After both record-men fell, Graeme Swann put in a fine bash too, unbeaten on 36 off 26, and last-wicket partnership of 35 runs with Chris Tremlett (12) to take England to their record total of 644. Opener Shane Watson (38) once again muddled things up for Australia, with an unnecessary, clumsy and irresponsible run out after a breakdown of communication and ending up at the same end as his partner Phillip Hughes. England's bowlers took control from there, the only partnerships of note being 65 between Usman Khawaja (21) and skipper Michael Clarke (41), who were both caught behind off James Anderson, and the 42-and-still-standing between Smith (24*) and Siddle (17*).

Bowlers: Not only did Prior star with the bat, but also with the gloves, taking four catches on the day. Anderson, Tremlett and Bresnan did a brilliant job with the ball sharing a couple of wickets each, with Swann also contributing to the Aussies' frustration and pain with some fine bowling. The swings, the bounces and the speed made the Aussies sweat. Mitchell Johnson's golden duck - bowled by Tremlett, who was on a hat-trick after seeing out Brad Haddin (30) caught behind in the previous delivery - exemplified England's brilliance and dominance and how quickly they had learnt from previous mistakes. Australia are the shadow of the side they used to be, but that cannot and shall not discredit England's quality and improvement.

Ups: England are three wickets away from thrashing Australia by an innings for the third time and taking the Ashes series by storm. It can hardly get better than that - only South Africa (2009-10 Castle Test Series drawn 1-1) and India (facing them in a four-match Test series from 21 July 2011, can't wait!) left to beat to take over the cricket world leadership!

Downs: Shame England could not end it on day four and the celebrations had to be potsponed for another day. The atmosphere today was awesome and unbeatable. The England fans will be there on the last day, no doubt whatsoever, but I still don't think they will be able to beat the cheers and chants from this day!

Hero to zero: After mentioning his lack of form yesterday, surprise, surprise, Paul Collingwood announced his retirement from Test cricket after this series. I don't think he had much of a choice. No discrediting his contributions, we will certainly miss him at slip and on the field, but with the bat, I'm sorry, as mentioned yesterday, I don't think he would have survived on the team sheet and batting lineup for much longer anyway...

Australia v England fifth Test fourth day as it happened:

Highlights taken from the BBC website:

1st session:

- Looks like it's confirmed that Colly has called it quits after 67 Tests. But he remains a key member of the one-day side (and T20 captain to boot), so it's not the last we've seen of the hard-working Durham all-rounder. Players walking out, we're nearly ready to start...

- England 489-7: Mitchell Johnson takes the first over of the day, bowling left-arm fast around the wicket (in Wasim Akram mode) - it's the bearded Prior and the burly Bresnan taking up arms for England. Prior knocks a single through the covers, and Aggers on TMS gently pulls Michael Vaughan's leg for "blubbing" in his press conference when he retired as captain in 2008.

- England 493-7: "Gentle Ben" Hilfenhaus, whose Ashes series has rather gone downhill since dismissing Strauss with the third ball of the series, begins the 143rd over as Prior tries to turn him to leg and they trot through for a leg bye, before Bresnan does the same. Prior dabs a two to third man, he's up to 57.

- DRINKS BREAK, England 525-7: The snarling Peter Siddle replaces Johnson. Prior prods a single, but his Yorkshire partner remains stout in defence - and the players have earned their first drinks break of the day. The lead is 245.

- England 547-7 - THIRD NEW BALL AVAILABLE: Leg-spinner Steve Smith, ruffled blond hair sticking up for fine weather, hops and skips in to Prior, who helps himself to three through third man. Smith - demoted to number seven but not called upon to bowl until the 102nd over yesterday - is plundered for two by Bresnan, and the third cherry is available. "Always a depressing moment for a fielding side," notes my match-report colleague Oliver Brett.

- England 567-7: Two contrasting spinners in action here, Beer keeps it tight but Prior sweeps another two before crashing a four through the covers for his fourth Test century. He leaps into the air and salutes the Barmy Army - astonishingly, it's apparently the fastest Ashes century (109 balls) by an Englishman since Botham (Old Trafford, 1981) - THAT'S A RECORD: And that's nine centuries for England - the most they've ever got in an Ashes series.

- THAT'S A RECORD - England 582-7: Smith has clearly been hit out of the attack as Cap'n Clarke takes the third new ball and hands it to Mitchell Johnson... who as we know, may bowl it just about anywhere. Bresnan belts the new cherry through the covers, cracking shot and it zips over the rope too fast for the sweeper to cut it off. A leg bye rotates the strike, this is now England's highest eighth-wicket stand at the SCG, beating the 86 by "Young Jack" Hearne and JWHT ("Johnny Won't Hit Today") Douglas in 1911. Prior swipes a four over the slips and helps himself to a two through mid-wicket, 11 from the over and the stand is now worth 97.

- England 584-7: With the new ball available, Hilfenhaus returns, and briefly halts the free-scoring eighth-wicket pair as he sends down a maiden to Bresnan. DRINKS BREAK

- WICKET, Bresnan c Clarke b Johnson 35 (England 589-8): Unbelievably, Michael Clarke has a bit of a grin on his face as Johnson begins a new over to Prior, who plays and misses with an expansive drive. But then he does connect with the same shot, and it pings sweetly off his bat for his 11th four of the innings to bring up the century stand from 168 balls. A single takes him to 116. But Bres gets an edge as he pushes forward and Clarke pouches it at second slip.

- WICKET, Prior c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 118 (England 609-9): With half an hour until lunch, Hilfenhaus digs in a bouncer and a miscued hook from Swann dribbles towards mid-wicket as they run one. But Prior's entertaining knock is ended when he tries to upper-cut and is caught behind. Or is he? What the deuce? It's another of those no-ball referrals... and as TV replays show a fraction of Hilfenhaus's foot behind the popping crease, umpire Billy Bowden sends Prior on his way.

- England 629-9: Chris Tremlett is England's last man - and not the worst number 11 they've ever fielded, having seven first-class fifties to his name. But he's the non-striker as Swann steers a two, before swatting a bouncer over fine leg and that's six! A straight drive brings the Notts spinner two more, then he whacks Johnson over mid-off for four! "This reminds me of my university days, bowling against county batsmen filling their boots," notes Vic Marks on TMS. Swann heaves a three towards cow corner, and Tremlett edges his first ball past the slips for three - that's 20 off the over. Johnson has 4-168, and this is England's second highest innings score in Australia...

- England 629-9: The highest England score in Australia is 636 in a timeless Test in Sydney in 1928, with Wally Hammond scoring 251, while wicketkeeper George Duckworth (a regular 10 or 11 at international level) made his highest Test score of 39 not out. Back in the present day, Tremlett plays out a maiden from Hilfenhaus.

- UMPIRE REVIEW: Johnson joins Smith in having been hit out of the attack after that last over went for 20. Swann swings, Siddle appeals for a catch behind, the umpire is unmoved and Australia call for a review... NOT OUT! Replays seem to show the ball flicking Swann's shirt rather than his bat, and so Swann stays his ground and Australia have lost a review.

- England 630-9: Swann swipes a single, Tremlett is cut in half by a lifter from Siddle which will give the tall seamer a little encouragement that the wicket may have a little in it for him this afternoon... England lead by 350, and we're coming up towards lunch.

- INTERVAL, LUNCH - England 636-9: Siddle to serve up probably the last over before lunch, Swann turns it off his legs for a single. Vic Marks on TMS has picked up an email in the inbox from Ben Powell which points out that "Steve Smith has seven first-class fifties, so I guess that makes Tremlett an all-rounder too!" Swann runs a leg bye, a cover-driven two by Tremlett draws England level with that 636 from Sydney in 1928, then Tremlett is struck on the shoulder by a bouncer but looks unmoved. He survives the over - and that's lunch. Swann has 33, Tremlett has seven, England lead by 356, and their fans will feel all is right with the world.

2nd session:

- THAT'S A RECORD - England 643-9: Michael Beer bowls, a Swann single brings England their highest Test score in Australia. Michael Vaughan on TMS expects Chris Tremlett to have a swing at Beer, and he's perfectly capable of clearing the ropes - but he's content to prod a single at this stage. Swann sweeps for one, then Beer tosses up a Jeremy Snape-style "moon ball" and Tremlett whacks it through extra cover for four!

- WICKET, Tremlett c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 12 (England 644 all out): Hilfenhaus to Swann, who guides a quick single past gully, then Tremlett prods forward and is caught behind. England's epic innings is ended in the 178th over - and the lead is a Len Hutton-esque 364.

- Australia 7-0: Watson hooks the first ball of the innings from James Anderson for four through mid-wicket - clearly Australia have nothing to gain by blocking, so this could be worth watching. Watson laces a cover drive for three, Hughes shoulders arms to his first ball.

- Australia 7-0: Chris Tremlett, fresh from his batting cameo, shares the new ball with Anderson, Watson drives firmly but can't beat Jonathan Trott at short extra cover. Maiden over.

- WICKET, Watson run out 38 (Australia 46-1): Swann, round the wicket to the left-handed Hughes, continues from the Randwick End - Hughes works a single off his legs, Watson turns blindly and sets off for a second run, and while Hughes hasn't moved, Watson is run out by two-thirds of the length of the pitch! Having sawn Hughes off in the first innings, and run Katich out at Adelaide, Watson is starting to get a reputation as a bad runner between the wickets. (Nasser Hussain managed to run out most of the rest of the team at various points when he was England captain). Usman Khawaja is the new batsman and defends his first two balls.

- APPEAL - NOT OUT, Australia 52-1: Big appeal from Swann as Hughes sticks his front pad out and offers no shot, you're always dicing with disaster when you do that... The opener forces a single to leg.

- WICKET, Hughes c Prior b Bresnan 13 (Australia 52-2): A great ball by Bresnan finds the edge and Prior takes a great catch in front of first slip!

- APPEAL - NOT OUT, Australia 52-2: Michael Clarke is the new batsman, averaging 19 for the series (well, at least it's more than Ricky Ponting's 16.14). Bresnan goes charging in, and stumbles over in his follow-through, then there's a big leg-before shout off the last ball of the over as Clarke is hit on the pad, but England decide against a review.

- INTERVAL, TEA - Australia 77-2: Now then, I wonder whether England might give Pietersen a bowl at some point in the final session, given that he accounted for Clarke in Adelaide with the last ball of the fourth day... It's Swann to close out the afternoon session, he sends down a maiden to Clarke and that's tea. Clarke has 19, Khawaja has four and Australia trail by 287.

3rd session:

- Australia 79-2: Chris Tremlett's first ball after tea to Khawaja is down the leg side, there's a half-hearted appeal for a catch behind but England rightly decide not to review it. Khawaja then pulls a two to deep backward square leg.

- Australia 96-2: Swann, tossing up his off-spin from around the wicket has a slip as well as helmeted men at short leg and silly point for the debutant Khawaja. He prods forward, that's a maiden over and as Boycs said on TMS earlier, bowling a string of maidens may be England's best way of building pressure to serve up a wicket - it worked for Hughes, after all...

- Australia 100-2: Clarke steers Tremlett for four through the covers, Australia are up to three figures and the home skipper removes his helmet to wipe the sweat off his head. These two have added 48 from 88 balls.

- WICKET, Khawaja c Prior b Anderson 21 (Australia 117-3): Khawaja cracks Anderson for four over mid-wicket, but then he nicks one to the keeper and Anderson goes absolutely mad in celebration!

- DRINKS BREAK, Australia 124-3: Hussey is finally off the mark as he pushes Swann for a quick single through the covers. Clarke cuts past the diving Tremlett at backward point and they run three. Hussey gets forward well to push a two through cover, and umpire Aleem Dar calls on the drinks cart. We have 16 overs remaining today.

- WICKET, Clarke c Prior b Anderson 41 (Australia 124-4): Right, Australia trail by 240 and it's eyes down for the final stretch of day four. And the drinks break has done the trick as Clarke falls prey to a lovely reverse-swinger from Jimmy A and feathers an edge to Prior behind the timbers!

- APPEAL - NOT OUT, Australia 135-4: Haddin steers a two and a single, this pair - who enjoyed a mammoth partnership in Brisbane that feels so long ago - are both on seven. A loud appeal for a catch behind, Hussey stays his ground - do England go for the review? They decide against it - and just as well, as replays appear inconclusive, and Hussey would have got the benefit of any doubt.

- DROPPED CATCH, Australia 140-4: Haddin is down the track, taking on Swann, there's a man at deep mid-on... but it's just out of the reach of the leaping Tim Bresnan and over his head for four. (A taller player may have caught it - Tremlett? Steven Finn? Will Jefferson? Mohammad Irfan, that 7ft 1in Pakistan seamer?) He then chops one into the covers, there's a really hard chance to the diving Bell at short cover - difficult, but still a chance, and he can't hold on.

- Australia 146-4: Hussey is watchful against Swann, although a short ball is punished by being pulled through square leg for four. The official close of play today is 0630 GMT, there are eight overs to be bowled after this one and they can continue until 0700 to bowl the overs if necessary - and it's not impossible that if three or four wickets fall in the next eight overs, England could claim the extra half-hour on the grounds that they had a realistic chance of finishing the match tonight.

- Australia 152-4: Steve Smith, next man in for Australia, is biting his nails on the Aussie balcony - as well he might. No sign of a nightwatchman. Haddin has quietly motored up to 19 by aggressively square-cutting Swann for three. Six overs left, and with the spinner on, we may not need much "overtime" for a change.

- WICKET, Hussey c Pietersen b Bresnan 12 (Australia 161-5): More runs for Haddin as he guides Bresnan through the covers for two before another fluent drive through the same region brings him four. A leg bye rotates the strike, this pair have added 37 - but then it's bye bye Hussey as he cuts straight to gully!

- Australia 165-5: So, five down, how many do England need to take the extra half-hour? Six? Seven? Steve Smith, who doesn't appear to be in this side as a batsman or a bowler, is the new batsman - but he's the non-striker as Swann takes a well-deserved rest after a 23-over spell, and Tremlett returns. The Surrey man immediately has Haddin fishing at thin air outside off stump. A leg bye brings young Smith on strike, he knocks his first ball to cover for a single. Haddin prods forward, sends Smith back and he would have been run out at the bowler's end if the throw had hit... Haddin pushes a two past gully, and the Aussies now trail by under 200.

- WICKET, Haddin c Prior b Tremlett 30 (Australia 171-6): Tremlett begins the antepenultimate over of the day, Haddin tries to get out of the way of a short ball, gets a nick and it steeples to Prior! Huge wicket!

- WICKET, Johnson b Tremlett (Australia 171-7): Mitchell Johnson bowled first ball as he tries to jam his bat down, Tremlett on a hat-trick!

- Australia 171-7: Peter Siddle is the new batsman, all the England supporters are on their feet and Tremlett is on a hat-trick. "If he's on the money here, it's out," says Michael Vaughan on TMS. Siddle's hit on the pad, the slips appeal... but the bowler doesn't. Dot ball. A double-wicket maiden from Tremlett, and Cap'n Strauss had a word with the umpires after Johnson's dismissal, will they claim the extra half-hour?

- Australia 176-7: Skipper Strauss chats with Ump Dar before Tremlett charges in for the last scheduled over. Siddle is doughty in defence, he plays and misses at one which seams past his outside edge. There are four slips, a gully and a short leg in for the Aussie tail-ender, who fishes at thin air to the fourth ball of the over. "That were too good for thee," I can hear Fred Trueman saying... The fifth ball trickles off an edge along the ground to gully, and Siddle flicks the last ball off his legs for four as Tremlett's radar momentarily strays. Umpires come together for a chat... and England have taken the extra half-hour. We'll have eight overs or half-an-hour, whichever is the later.

- Australia 176-7: Smith resumes defensive duties against Bresnan as Australia "try to delay the inevitable and take the game into a fifth day," says Simon Mann on TMS. Maiden over, seven overs remaining.

- Australia 181-7: Tremlett still has four slips, a gully and a short leg for Siddle, who is hit on the pad as he tries to flick the ball to leg. Roughly two-thirds of the slip cordon appeal, without much conviction. That's a nice stroke from Siddle, he drives one that jags back at him through the covers and they run three. Smith, with a slightly open stance, guides a single to mid-on. Six overs left tonight.

- Australia 181-7: The Barmy Army are in fine voice with their "Everywhere we go" song, led by "Jimmy Saville" as usual, as Siddle defends against Bresnan. He tries to force one off his legs... and it doesn't quite carry to Bell, who's fielding in a sort of shortish backward square leg position. Five overs to go.

- Australia 191-7: Tremlett - "the pride of Otterbourne" according to a recent Hampshire local newspaper report, and I'm sure his parents are watching - runs in to Smith, who hangs his bat out to steer a wideish ball for four. Tremlett oversteps for a no-ball, then Smith plays and misses at one that bounces twice in front of Prior who can't take it cleanly and they run a couple of byes. A single ensures Smith keeps the strike.

- Australia 198-7: A big roar from the England fans in the crowd as Anderson returns to the attack for a last two-over blast at the Aussie tail-enders. Smith steers a two off his legs, then slashes a four through third man - as I mentioned, the runs are largely irrelevant, it's all about whether England can whittle out these last three wickets in the next three overs or whether we'll all be back for day five.

- Australia 198-7: The Otterbourne Enforcer takes a rest and England turn to Graeme Swann, who has three predatory close fielders round the bat for Smith. You sense that England may just have run out of juice tonight - it's been a marathon day with an extended start and an extended finish - and as Swann completes a maiden, we have two overs left. England need to take two wickets in the penultimate over if they're going to win it tonight - as if a wicket falls in the last over, they'll go off immediately.

- Australia 208-7: Siddle chops Anderson for four, that's 200 up for Australia (like that matters!), before angling a two to third man. Siddle keeps out the fifth ball of the over, so we'll be back tonight. He edges the last ball over the slips for four, and we've got one more over in the day.

- CLOSE OF PLAY, Australia 213-7: Although Geoff Boycott wants England to bring on Kevin Pietersen to toss the ball up, England will conclude day four's proceedings with Graeme Swann's orthodox off-spin. With close fielders surrounding the bat, Smith punches a four through the vacant cover region - this pair have somehow put on 41! Siddle defends the last ball of the day and walks off - that's the close of play and as Aggers notes on TMS tomorrow, unless the heavens open with rain tomorrow, England should wrap up a series victory.

England thrash Australia to retain the Ashes

Sports - Cricket - Ashes - 4th Test - Melbourne - Day 4

My picks of the fourth day:

England have retained the Ashes for the first time in 24 years by thrashing Australia by an innings and 157 runs. It is their biggest win against their bitter rivals since 1956 and made Ricky Ponting the first Australian skipper in 120 years to lose the Ashes three times. Whilst he is out of the last Test and doubtful for keeping the captaincy in general, England captain Andrew Strauss is a proud man and hopeful his side can win the series emphatically by avoiding defeat in the fifth and final Test in Sydney starting on Sunday.

Run of Play: Advantage to...

Australia 258 all out, England beat Australia by an innings and 157 runs: It was only a question of when not if the Aussies would fall and England could celebrate...

Partnerships: Australia resumed batting on day four on 169-6, England needing only three wickets to tie up and finish the match and series successfully with Ryan Harris unable to bat due to injury. Mitchell Johnson (6) fell quickly bowled and beaten by Chris Tremlett's reverse swing (Australia 172-7). But Brad Haddin (55*) and Peter Siddle (40) created a bit of a fight back with a partnership of 86, postponing the inevitable by an hour-and-a-bit. But when Siddle fell, Ben Hilfenhaus (0) followed soon after and after finally getting Australia all out for 258, England were able to let the fun and celebrations begin.

Bowling: Tremlett, Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan took a wicket each on the day making it five and six wickets in the match for the two fast bowlers respectively. Although the bowlers did a great job in the whole match, each chipping in with wickets, James Anderson also with five and Swann finding a bit of his form back with two, batsman Jonathan Trott won the man-of-the-match award and deservedly so for his unbeaten 168 score he contributed to England's staggeringly score of 513 and unreachable lead of 415.

Ups: For the first time I can remember (I was only 1 the last time this happened) England have retained the Ashes and won it Down Under! I am definitely going to buy this DVD-set, that is for sure!!!

Downs: The attendance has fallen just as drastically as and with the Aussies from 84,345 on day one, it went down to 67,149/68,773 the next couple of days and then plummeted to 19,889 on day four. And as far as I could tell, 99% of them were all part of the Barmy Army, chanting and celebrating on!

Hero to zero: It has been confirmed this morning that Aussies skipper Ricky Ponting has been ruled out of the Sydney Test due to aggravation of the fracture to the little finger of his left hand. Michael Clarke will replace him as skipper and Usman Khawaja will make his Test debut with the bat. After scoring only 113 runs in eight innings and averaging only 16.14 this series, I am not too sure whether it Ponting's injury is the only reason which excludes him from Australia's team sheet and would not be surprised if that is the last we have seen of him, as the Aussie skipper at least...

Australia v England fourth Test fourth day as it happened:

Highlights taken from the BBC website:

- WICKET, Johnson bowled Tremlett 6 (Australia 172-7): Brad Haddin is a sinewy character, with uncomplicated with a see-it-and-hit-it philosophy to batting, punching a lovely meaty straight drive past bowler Chris Tremlett towards the mid-on boundary, but Alastair Cook makes an excellent parry to cut the runs down to a single. But Mitchell Johnson's stay ends when he is cleaned up by a Chris Tremlett delivery. It's started...

- Australia 210-7: Siddle gets in on the boundary-scoring antics with an aerial thump over mid-off before adopting similar tactics with a chop over gully down to deep point off Tremlett, who wears the expression of a man who can't quite work out whether he locked the back door before flying out to Australia. Meanwhile, Sid El moves to 14 from 25 deliveries. Decent fight from this eight-wicket duo. Well played.

- DRINKS BREAK, Australia 237-7: Wonderful drift from Swann, moving away from Haddin's bat before turning sharply off the wicket, mesmeric bowling, a real pleasure to watch. Just a single to Haddin from the over and he moves on to 48. A beverage break.

- WICKET, Siddle c Pietersen b Swann 40 (Australia 258-8): Siddle goes for the big guns again and launches another huge swat high into the air, but he doesn't get enough willow to clear the ropes as Kevin Pietersen takes a smart catch just centimetres from the boundary ropes. Get your drink of choice on the go, we're almost there...

- WICKET, Hilfenhaus c Prior b Bresnan 0 (Australia 258-9): That's it - start the car! ENGLAND HAVE RETAINED THE ASHES! Hilfenhaus edges a simple catch to Matt Prior for Tim Bresnan's fourth wicket of the innings. The celebrations have begun - let the fun begin... ENGLAND BEAT AUSTRALIA BY AN INNINGS AND 157 RUNS.

England thrash Australia by an innings

Sports - Cricket - Ashes - 2nd Test - Adelaide Oval - 5th day

My picks fo the last day:

England beat Australia by an innings and 71 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series with three Tests to go. It took less then 90 minutes on the last day, avoiding any of the stormy weather forecasted and worried about. The last time England beat Australia by an innings was 1986/87, the last time the tourists won the Ashes Down Under.



Partnerships: None of note really today! They all failed and they know it, Australia need changes, an overhaul, and they know it. Many have already branded this match and series as an end of an era similar to the West Indies and their fall from grace after their glory 80s and early 90s. Will England take over at the top from here? We will have to wait and see, but the odds are definitely on it.

Bowling: Graeme Swann is the king with 5 wickets, 3 on the day including the winning one. Steven Finn is his successor with two, same for James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen "snatching" the man of the match award with his double-century and crucial wicket. They all chipped in and Australia out, big style!

Ups: 1-0! 1-0! 1-0! All sunshine! Who was worried about the rain??? Australia tormented and torn to pieces.

Downs: Stuart Broad is out for the rest of the series with a torn stomach muscle. Shame for him, great miss for England. It didn't show much on this day, but his replacement has quite large boots to fill.

Hero to zero: From 5-0 white wash 2007/08 to 1-0 with 3 Tests to go this Ashes series. From cruisers to losers. From rulers to the upset and deprived. And no sign of saviour for Australia and they need to find one quickly if they want to change that trend.

Australia v England second Test day five as it happened

- Kevin Pietersen completes his over from the previous day, the 80th of the innings, 4 deliveries, 1 run, North off the mark, Mike Hussey on 44, Australia 239-4, 136 behind.

- New ball available, Marcus North v Graem Swann, maiden, Aus 239-4 after 81 overs.- England keep the ball and Pietersen, 243-4 after 82 overs.

- Lbw appeal Swann v North, pad definitely first but the question is if it's outside the line, Swann looked confident and sends it to the 3rd umpire for a review, the ball goes off the pad first onto the bat JUST outside the line, decision stands, England are one review down to one. Hussey reaches his 23rd half century with a boundary, tickles the last ball but Prior dropped it anyway, Swann close again, Aus 248-4 after 83 overs.

- Steven Finn on for KP, v North, new ball taken, 4 off the first delivery, a single her and there, 254-4 after 84 overs.

- James Anderson on for Swann v Hussey, single brings North on against the paceman, another single, a couple more and a boundary takes North into double-figures, Aus 261-4, 114 behind, after 85 overs.

- Stuart Broad is reportedly seriously injured and out until the World Cup, big blow for the fast bowler and England.

- Lbw appeal Finn v Hussey, not given, not much objection by England, looked wide - he mistimes the next shot, wacks it up and is caught by Anderson, easy catch, Hussey out for 52 off 107, Australia 261-5, the Barmy Army cheering loud, Brad Haddin on, the last batsman on the list, all tailenders after him. The next delivery is a very wide horror ball by Finn, 4 byes! Where did that come from?! Aus 268-5 after 86 overs, 107 behind.

- Anderson v Haddin, two boundaries from the over, Aus 276-5 after 87 overs, 99 behind.

- Aus 279-5 after 88 overs, 96 behind, North on 16 off 26, Haddin on 11 off 11, 18 partnership.

- Aus 280-5 after 89 overs, 95 behind.

- Swann's back on, from the cathedral end in place of Finn, see what the spinner can get out of the new ball. 4 0 0 1 1 0, 286-5 after 90 overs 89 behind.

- Anderson gets edge out of Haddin to be caught behind and out for 12 off 21, Australia down to the tailend, 286-6, Ryan Harris on and out next ball, lbw, looked plumb but he sends it to the third umpire, only thing is hight, hitting, flicking he is out, golden duck, wasted review, Anderson on a hat-trick, Aus 286-7.

- Xavier Doherty is on, but Anderson has to wait an over for the hat-trick ball, lbw appeal second delivery by Swann v North, given not out, sent to the third umpire again, the ball hits pad first, looks plumb, middle stump, Australia in dissaray, the crowd cheering and North on his way out before umpire confirms the decision, out for 22, Aus 286-8, Peter Siddle on, the ball showing bounce. The ball rolls and hits onto stumps but the bails stay on! Lucky smiling Siddle, Aus 286-8.

- Anderson bowls a short one v Doherty on his hat-trick delivery, only one run off the over, Doherty off the mark, Siddle still waiting, Aus 287-8.

- The sun's out, who was on about dark clowds and rain possibly getting in England's way? Where? What? How?

- Doherty boundary v Siddle makes it 291-8, Australia 84 behind.

- Siddle off the mark with a boundary v Anderson, Aus 295-8.

- Doherty is out the next ball v Siddle, the ball drifting inand sneaking through him onto the top of middle-stump, he walks for 5 off 9, Australia on the brink at 295-9. Doug Bollinger's on, off the mark with 2, Australia 297-9 at the end of that over, the 96th. England need 1 wicket to win.

- Anderson v Siddle, single; v Bollinger, ball chips off bat short off Matt Prior, next one is an edge but well short of Swann, next one's off the led bounces wide... Aus 298-9, 77 behind.

- Swann looking for his 5th wicket, single brings on Bollinger, who gets the ball away for another single to make it 300 for Australia, 300-9 at the end of the over, Swann stays on 4 wickets for 91 runs.

- Finn's back on, 56-2 so far from him, off 17 overs, the leading wicket taker of the seris so far with 9, v Bollinger, hits it for four just wide of KP at gully, Aus 304-9 after 99 overs.

- Swann starts the 100th over and ends the match, Siddle comes forward, ball goes through onto the stumps, Siddle out for 6 off 22, Aus 304 all out, England win by an innings and 71 runs, Swann gets his 10th Test 5-wicket haul, Finn and Anderson contributing a couple each and KP getting the crucial breakthrough with the last ball of the day yesterday. They got it together to achieve England's 100th Test win against Australia, the host's 2nd heaviest defeat at Adelaide and their first innings defeat since 1993 v West Indies, England lead the Ashes series 1-0 with 3 Tests remaining. All joy after all the flapping and worries about the time and weather and criticism on Strauss his tactics. It's been a fabulous morning of cricket, good night from me! :-D

Australia survive to take it to the last day

Sports - Cricket - Ashes - 2nd Test - Adelaide Oval - 4th Day

My picks of the fourth day:

Kevin Pietersen struck late on to lift the spirits and hope of victory for England on the last day of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval. Graeme Swann took two wickets on the day, threatening to break through and down the Aussies most. But many close calls were not close enough and Australia ended the day on 238-4, 137 behind, hoping for more rain to disrupt most of the last day as it did this evening.

Run of play: Advantage to...

1st session, England dec 620-5, 375 ahead, Australia 78-0, 277 behind at lunch: England make the controversial decision to continue batting the first overs of the day, it pays off, they add 69 off 9 overs, that's nearly 8 runs an over (!) but fail to take advantage with the ball, no early wickets this time round.

2nd session, Australia 160-3, 215 behind at tea: England make the breakthrough, Swann making Australia wabble. Everyone can smell Aussie blood, rain the only thing that can save them and wash it away.

3rd session, Australia 238-4, 137 behind at the end of day four: Michael Clarke looked he was going to take Australia safely to the end of the day, before he gave his wicket away with the last ball. Australia will be keeping on the rain dance tonight, that's for sure, all eyes are on England bowlers whether they can wipe the hosts out, whatever the weather.

Parternships: The opening partnership of 84 between Shane Watson and Simon Katich frustrated England as they were hoping to break and shake up Australia in similar fashion to the first innings. They did break eventually and then had a little shake up and shiver thanks to Swann taking out Katich for 43 caught behind by Matt Prior and Ricky Ponting soon after caught by Paul Collingwood for only 9, but 104 between Clarke and Mike Hussey (44) settled the hosts in again. But, just when you thought they were set to stand, they fell again, KP making the breakthrough with the last ball of the day, starring not only with the bat but with the ball now too, getting Clarke out for 80, breaking the biggest partneship of the innings so far.

Bowling: Swann was Australia's main thorn in the eye throughout the day, bowling 34 overs in total. Although he only got the two wickets on the day as mentioned above, he could have had four or six the way he was going. He was so close again and again, shaving and scaring the Aussie batsmen again and again, but was not close enough and England will need to hope the rain will not spoil the show for them on the last day.


Ups: As mentioned, Swann mocked Australia in the second session, only 82 runs from it, England so close to taking over and winning the game.

Downs: The weather again. Australia will be dancing the rain dance throughout the night as I cannot see anything else, any of their batsmen that has the stamina to take them through to a draw.

Hero to zero: Clarke out for 80, not able to make a ton of a good start yet again. He is the tip of the iceberg as far as Australia are concerned. Just when you think he could be the one to stay put and save the hosts, he falls. That's general tone of the music as far as the Australian batsmen are concerned so far in this match.

Australia v England second Test day four as it happened

1st session:

- England opt to resume batting on day four, they are 551-4, 306 ahead, Pietersen and Bell on a 99 off 152 partnership, 98 overs to be bowled today due to the rain disruption yesterday.

- Bollinger kicks off the day v Pietersen, who is on 213 off 296, 0 4 2 0 1, Bell faces the last ball of the over on 41 off 76, 0 from it, England 558-4 at the end of that over, 106 partnership off 158 balls, 313 ahead.

- Pietersen v Peter Siddle on the cathedral end, 1 1 1 0 0 0, 561-4 after the second over of the day, 145 overs in total.

- KP distracted by Shane Warne's burger (ad) face in the background, withdraws from the first delivery, controversial move, Bollinger's not amused, 3 from the over, Eng 564-4.

- Xavier Doherty on for Siddle, v KP, who scores a boundary off the first ball to get to his career best Test score - and is out the next delivery, caught at slip by Katich after a slight turn, 227 off 308, Eng 568-5, 323 ahead. Prior's in, off the mark with 3 runs off the second ball he faces, Bell smacking in a six off the last ball, England 577-5 at the end of that over, 332 ahead, Bell on 49.

- Siddle's changed ends now, produces a yorker, full and straight lbw shout, Prior sends it to the third umpire, not looking too confident though after being hit full on on the foot... Decision overturned as the virtual eye shows the ball would have gone on wide. Good call there after all by Prior. Single off the last ball, England end the over 578-5, 333 lead.

- Half century for Bell, his 25th. Next delivery, Prior has another lucky escape, smacking the ball up, Ponting and Siddle both go for it and it drops right between them, mis-communication or more like no communication between the two. England 589-5 after that Doherty over.

- Siddle continues at the other end. 596-5 after Bell smacks the last ball for four, he's on the charge.

- Doherty v Prior, 2 1 2 2 3 4, 14 off the over! It's second time since WWII that England have scored over 600 against Australia, Bell passes his 4000 mark in career runs. Eng 610-5, 42 off 28 partnership between Bell and Prior, England are bashing it in.

- 52 partnership off 34 balls, 10 off the over, England 620-5 off 152 overs, their highest score against Australia since 1937. It gives the guests a lead of 375 runs, Andrew Strauss calls his men in and declares, Bell finishing on 68 off 97 and Prior on 27 off 21. 9 overs bowled so far today, 69 scored from them, that's 7.67 per over and only 1 wicket.

- England huddling on the field looking for a similar start as in the first innings, Australia's openers coming on, hoping for more rain (forecasted for later today and tomorrow btw).

- James Anderon starts v Shane Watson, with three slips and two gullies waiting and preying, edge on third delivery goes through the gap for the first boundary of the innings. A leg slip and a short mid-wicket for an injured Simon Katich, he gets a single and Watson finished the over with another boundary. 0 0 4 1 1 4, Australia 10-1 after the first over.

- Katich v Stuart Broad at the other end, positive shot for a single, good early signs for the Aussies. Katich and Watson aiming and scoring through the gap between slip and gully. 1 0 2 0 4 0, Aus 17-0 after 2 overs.

- Good maiden over by Anderson v Katich, there is movement on that pitch and this over showed it, Katich leaving a close one, Aus still 17-0 after 3 overs.

- Good line and maiden by Broad too, Aus 17-0 after 4 overs.

- 4 0 0 0 4 4, 12 off the 5th over, cool shots by Katich who ends the over on 15, Watson on 14, Aus 29-0.

- 1 0 0 0 0 0, Broad changes angle by coming around the wicket v Katich, some sweet deliveries, Aus 30-0 after 6 overs.

- 0 0 0 4 0 0, a firm drive by Watson v Anderson gives Australia another boundary and makes it 34 off 7 overs for the hosts.

- 0 0 0 1 0 0, top edge by Katich v Broad lands safely nowhere near any fielders, get a single from it, Aus 35-0 after 8 overs.

- Anderson going around the wicket v Katich and is sliced away for four. Australia showing the right attitude with a high run rate, 0 4 0 1 4 0 this over, 44-0 after 9.

- And Graeme Swann is on for Broad in the 10th over, good and right move by Strauss after Australia have been whacking in nearly 5 runs per over. Katich faces the spinner first, 1b after the ball bounced off the wicketkeeper's pad, Watson now against the spin 0 0 0 0 0, nice and full first over by Swann, Aus 45-0 after 10 overs, Watson on 24, Katich on 20.

- Broad swaps ends and takes over the other end from Anderson, v Katich, 0 0 1 0 0 0, Aus 46-0 after 11 overs.

- 0 0 2 0 1 1, Aus 50-0 after 12 overs, Watson contributing 25 off 36, Katich 24 off 36, the last shot a close catch-call for Cook. Drinks break.

- Broad v Watson, a maiden over with a little lbw shout but it was outside the line and very far forward, so, not even worth a review, Aus 50-0 after 13 overs.

- Swann v Katich, 0 0 1 0 0 0, Aus 51-0 after 14 overs.

- Just a single off the last ball of the over, Katich hobbling across, feeling the close shaves against Broad, Aus 52-0 after 15 overs.

- Three/four close calls and escapes for Australia: One through Bell's legs at silly point, one wazzes past Strauss, just, for Anderson to throw it back quickly for a chance of a run out and last but not least Bell shouts and tumbles back and over for a catch - but all not quite there in the end. Aus 55-0 after 16 overs, Swann tickling the Aussies.

- Another maiden by Broad, 55-0 after 17 overs.

- Good over by Swann, England jumping and shouting for everything, lbw, catch, anything. You feel it is, or something is, just around the corner... Aus 56-0 after 18 overs.

- Steve Finn's on for Broad, boundary off the last ball by Watson, his patience paying off, Aus 60-0 after 19 overs.

- Maiden by Swann, a little lbw shout nothing more, the sillies and the gullies paying off and covering well.

- Australia 78-0 at lunch, England so close.

2nd session:

- Swann gets the breakthrough soon after lunch in his 11th over having Katich's little nick caught behind, he's out for 43.

- Ponting on, off the mark with a boundary from the 13th delivery he faces.

- Ponting is caught and out for 9 a couple of deliveries later, by Paul Colling wood at slip, another one for Swann, Aus lose their skipper for cheep again and are shaking a little bit on 98-2.

- Watson reaches his 13th Test fifty with his 9th boundary of the day v Broad.

- Watson caught by Strauss low at slip off Finn, out for 57, failing once againt to convert a good convincing start into a century, Aus 134-3.

- Australia 160-3 at tea, 215 behind, Clarke on 36, Hussey on 14, England bowling beautifully, keeping the pressure on the Aussies, but they will need wickets quickly as there have been severe weather warnings for later today and tomorrow - Warne thinking there won't be a ball bowled tomorrow, the way he knows Adelaide and the weather... And it's already getting darker and darker.

3rd session:

- And the covers come on eventually, this could be it... Australia 175-3, 200 runs behind.

- But the clouds have lifted! 19 overs to be squeezed in at the end of the day after all! England have make the most (wickets) of it!

- Clarke given out on 67, caught at slip, but the referall shows the ball brushed nothing but his pad, the decision is rightly turned over, not out.

- Swann is giving his all here, having bowled over 30 overs today. He is still giving Australia problem, Clarke escaping a couple close catch-calls.

- Pietersen is on for the last couple of overs and the change pays off. He has Clarke caught at short-leg with the last ball of the day to make it 238-4 at the end of day four, Australia trailing by 137. There was an obvious nick on Clarke's bat before it came off his arm, England in celebration, the umpire unmoved, it is sent to the third umpire, out dead for 80, KP's fifth Test wicket. It brightens England's day and spirit ahead of the fifth and final day, they will just be hoping the weather will be playing along with them.