Watson century beats England at the MCG‏

Sports - Cricket - 1st ODI - Australia v England - Melbourne

Shane Watson's record score of 161 not out from 150 balls lead Australia to a memorable win completing the highest successful run chase at the MCG and beating England's record total against the hosts Down Under.

England won the toss and chose to bat, skipper Andrew Strauss (63) not making a bad start with a 90 partnership from 12 overs together with Steven Davies (42).

David Hussey then got the breakthrough bowling Davies and seeing Jonathan Trott (6) caught behind by Brad Haddin soon after.

Kevin Pietersen then came to the crease seemingly back to his best scoring 78 from 75 deliveries whilst seeing Strauss, Ian Bell (23), Eoin Morgan (8) and Michael Yardy (9) all falling relatively cheeply, before he himself was run out by Mitchell Johnson, unlucky.

The collapse was completed with the last three wickets falling for only 23 runs with two deliveries remaining of the 50 overs.

Australia responded strong but patient. It was not a bang-boom-bang display, well under England's run rate at times, but disciplined and perfectly timed.

England meanwhile, looked more clumsy and chaotic in the field than usual, missing catches, stumpings, catches and fielding in general.

But no discredit to Watson's display and his superb partnerships of 110 with Brad Haddin (39) and 103 Michael Clarke (36).

Their contributions were just as crucial to Australia's win but Watson was the star of the day, finally getting a century after all his half-century-bit-starts.

England got three wickets during the batting powerplay and their hopes up late on in the match, Clarke and Steven Smith (5) caught on the off-side off Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad respectively before Mike Hussey was caught for 21 by Chris Tremlett off Bresnan.

But the man of the match Watson saw his side through with five balls and six wickets to spare, setting up the series with a win and on a good, competitive, juicy note for the ICC ODI world number one Australia against main rivals (number five) England.

For full summary of the day's action, check out the BBC website.

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.

Record breaker KP & England rule at Adelaide

Sports - Cricket - Ashes - 2nd Test - Adelaide Oval - 3rd Day

My picks of the third day:

Record breaker Kevin Pietersen has put England on top with his second Test-career double-century, giving the visitors a massive 306-run lead on the third day at the Adelaide Oval. Hitting one six and 31 fours, KP helped England to 551-4 before rain prevented any further play after tea, leaving Australia reeling and wondering when they will have to face the taunting and terrorising England bowling music with the bat.

Run of Play: Advantage to...

1st session, England 449-3, 204 ahead at lunch: England happy and healthy scoring 132 off 26 overs this session, that's over 5 runs per over! KP thriving and bashing on 159, Colly joining in on 40, England look unstoppable, Australia and Ponting in disbelief.

2nd session, England 551-4, 306 ahead at tea: England smashing boundary after boundary, partnership after partnership, KP breaking record after record, Australia in no man's land, Ponting clueless who or what to resort to to change the trend of the game.

3rd session, England 551-4, 306 ahead at the end of day three: Rain ends the day at tea, England will be contemplating whether and when to declare and put the Aussies on to bat on day four, Australia will be doing the rain dance.

Partnerships: It's all about Kevin Pietersen today, scoring boundary after boundary, holding one partnership after another: 175 with Alastair Cook (c Haddin b Harris for 148 off 269), 101 with Paul Collingwood (lbw b Watson for 42 off 70) and lastly and still standing at 99 Ian Bell joining the smashing record breaker (on 41 off 76). With 213 off 296, including 32 fours and 1 six, KP hit the record score at the Adelaide Oval, breaking Cook's record of 206 from 2006. After all the criticism he had to face over the last year or two, since losing his captaincy and form, this could not have been a better stage and a stronger performance to prove his doubters wrong. Yes, it's not the same Australian side as in the last few Ashes series, but, that should not and does not nullify Pietersen's achievement here today, exemplary top class cricket, no doubt about it.

Bowling: Ricky Ponting looked clueless who or what to turn to next. Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle and Xavier Doherty were all England's victims with poor bowling and no sign of confidence, getting smashed all over the place. Ryan Harris was the only bowler who got something out of the pitch, keeping the batsmen guessing and that little bit wondering and worried with their bats dangling. Signs of desperation were useless and pointless reviews, lots of misfielding and skipper Ponting not having many options to take or turn to to change the trend of the game.



Ups: Bam - boom - bang, smash, hit, score. That was the tone and trend of the day. A couple of wickets fell as well of course, but KP and England made sure they were quickly forgotten and rode the show with the bat.

Downs: The rain, ending the grand day at tea - the Aussies will certainly be hoping for more of that the next two days, because I cannot see anything or anyone else saving them.

Hero to zero: Again Australia lacked options, Ricky Ponting looked a very lonely man indeed. He and everyone watching is left wondering who will be the one to step up and break up England, who will be the hero for Australia. So far, there is none, niente, zero - Harris is the only man I feel who looks able and is at least trying to make a competition of it against England so far.

Australia v England second Test day three as it happened

1st session:

- Kevin Pietersen v Doug Bollinger to kick off the third day of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval, England 317-2, lead by 72, Alastair Cook on 136, Pietersen on 85, 141 partnership off 243 deliveries.

- Boundary for KP off the last ball of Bollinger's over, 321-2 after 90 overs.

- Cook v Ryan Harris at the other end, 1 0 0 0 1 0, 323-2 after 91 overs.

- Pietersen has been dismissed in his 90s five times before in his career... 1 0 0 0 0 0, 324-2 after 92 overs.

- Lbw appeal, Harris v Cook, not given, leg bye signalled, Ponting sends it to the third umpire for a review, looked outside the line plus there may have been a hint of inside edge, replay confirms, not out, Australia give away a review in desperation. Boundary brings up 150 partnership, 153 off 266, Cook contributing 59 off 113 and KP 91 off 153. 1lb 0 0 0 4 0, 329-2 after 93 overs.

- 0 0 3 2 1 1, 336-2 after 94 overs.

- KP's century drought has come to an end, his 17th in his career, 3rd v Australia, all top four batsmen have now already scored centuries for England against Australia in this Ashes series, 343-2 after 95 overs.

- Pietersen boundary brings up 100 lead for England, 347-2 after 96 overs.

- Harris v Pietersen, gets him in a mighty tangle with a high bouncer, right in the face, followed by another quick bouncer which KP smashes up but is lucky that the ball drops to ground nowhere near a fieldsman, boundary through Clarke's legs the next delivery, frustration to embarrasment - to joy! Haddin catches Cook's chip, what a catch, jump far and low to his right, Cook knows it came of his bat, big inside edge, and he walks without opting for a review, standing ovation, Cook out for 148 off 269, England 351-3. Paul Collingwood is on. Good, impressive over by Harris, 0 1 2 W 0 0, 351-3, 106 ahead after 97 overs.

- KP is skipping now against a slowed down Bollinger, hitting him left, right and centre, for a couple here, a boundary there, 357-3 after 98 overs, lead by 112.

- Harris not looking very comfortable, he seems to be having problem with his shoulder, but finishes with a maiden over, 357-3 after 99 overs.

- Figures so far today: 10 overs, 40 runs, 1 wicket, 12.4 over rate, 4 run rate.

- Peter Siddle is on for Bollinger, v KP, bangs in a bouncer to start with... 0 4 4 1 0 0, 366-3 after 100 overs.

- Poor bouncers by Siddle, Collingwood survives a couple, two slips and two gullies set against him after long mangling and hangling by Ricky Ponting. His tactical change didn't work there, at all! Pietersen 121 off 174.

- Harris into his sixth over in this spell, Collingwood off the mark running four, followed by a misfield-single. 372-3 after 101, 3.68 is the healthy run rate putting England in a very strong position for a massive total again.

- 4 byes from a massive reverse swing, no chance for the keeper, Siddle's surprised himself, 378-3 after 102 overs, drinks come on after an hour's play this morning, England averaging about one run per minute, 4.7 per over, healthy rates.

- Xavier Doherty on for Harris v KP, who has shown weakness against left-arm spin in the past, a couple of boundaries, 9 runs in total off the over, early signs of the day not good for Doherty, England 387-3 after 103 overs.

- Yet another boundary brings up KP's 150, his 6th 150+ score.

- KP finds the gap, between two fielders for yet another four, the Aussies were shouting for a catch...

- This session: 26 overs, 132 runs, 1 wicket, 13 over rate, 5.08 run rate, England happy and healthy on 449-3 after 115 overs, lead by 204 at lunch, KP on 159, Colly on 40, Ponting in disbelief.

2nd session:

- Collingwood out after just passing the 100 partnership with KP, lbw, no review, ball hit both pads, deep in the crease, plumb, Colly out for 42 (70), England 452-4, Ian Bell's off the mark with a boundary.

- Lbw + catch-it shouts v Bell, not out, not worth a review as there was an obvious inside edge, the Aussies clutching onto any straw or anything right now.

- Austrlia looking very tired, hobbling around, showing no variety, change, Ponting one lonely man.

- Harris v Pietersen, the only bowler who kept the batsmen guessing and that little bit wondering and worried, beats KP first ball, the ball passing his dangling bat. 493-4 after that over.

- Pietersen boundary and tight single brings up 500 for England, looks like KP pulled a hamstring there.

- 50 partnership, KP contributing 28 off 44, Bell 20 off 40.

- Boundary after boundary after boundary... England pass 275-lead... Pietersen moves onto 198, Bell 30...

- And that's KP's 2nd Test double-century for England, he's the man, he has made Adelaide his own today. Bell wants his say as well, pushing in a boundary of his own. Light drizzle around...

- More clean strikes and boundaries bring up the 300 lead for England and a record to KP, the highest scorer at this ground. Expensive over for Doherty brings up 550 for England, 14 runs from it, 551-4.

- 102 runs from 28 overs this session, 3.64 run rate, 99 partnership between Pietersen (213 off 296, record score at the Adelaide Oval, breaking Cook's record of 206 from 2006, 32 fours, 1 six) and Bell (41 off 75), 551-4, a lead of 306 runs after 143 overs at tea.

3rd session:

- And that's it for the day, rain taking over at Adelaide, England will be contemplating whether and when to declare and put the Aussies on to bat on day four, Australia will be doing the rain dance.

One-Day Series in the Carribean: England Shambles of Shame

Sports - Cricket - England victorious in the Caribbean but in deep trouble

The Ashes seem like some unreachable place, far far away, out of this world looking at England's dismal display of late. Kevin Pietersen whining and whingeing about losing his captaincy and form and being homesick just topped the mouldy crumbling cake called England.

Ok, this may sound over-harsh after England just left the Caribbean with their first one-day series success, beating the West Indies by 26 runs in St. Lucia and taking the series 3-2.

But they have the Duckworth-Lewis method and West Indies' coach John Dyson's confusion with it to thank essentially and mainly for that overall victory. They cannot and should not let a couple of wins cover up the cracks that have showed up and broken the team.

It was great to see Andrew Flintoff back to his best with a hat-trick in the last match, only the third Englishman to have done that, with 5-19 from five overs. But if they want a chance against Australia in the summer, they have got to work at their one-day as well as their test match sides.

First thing they need is to name their coach who will take over as soon as possible. He needs to get the team together and work on their confidence and consistence.

Hopefully, England will model themselves on Freddie - who looked the good old himself after a long absence and form blur.

Image taken from Cricket Online