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Sports - Football - Pre-Season Friendly - Match Report:
Liverpool finished their pre-season encounter against Melbourne Victory on top, ending 2-0 winners thanks to skipper Steven Gerrard and Iago Aspas.
The result was tough on the young Melbourne side though, especially for the skipper Adrian Leijer after all his hard work at the back, but it was a comfortable win for the Reds in the end thanks to a little bit of magic by none-other than Gerrard and Luis Suarez's help!
The first chance on target fell to the Australian side after Jose Enrique's mistake gave the ball away to Andrew Nabbout who pulled a fine save out of Brad Jones.
However, just past the half-hour mark, the Red skipper got the breakthrough in the centre of the box, with a nice run, nice placement and comfortable finish off Fabio Borini.
Jordon Ibe and Raheem Sterling were producing a fine display, creating some good build-ups and unpredictable play for the young Melbourne side. The Reds seemed to have everything under control approaching half time.
Both teams made no changes during the break and Liverpool enjoyed a flurry of corners at the start of the second half where Borini sprung to life with a couple of glorious chances, including an over-head kick which went wide, just.
Brendan Rodgers then rang the changes with just under 20 minutes to go, putting on a fresh Red side to keep the Aussies on their toes.
Melbourne Victory were keeping up the pressure too though with just one goal separating the two sides and can be very proud of their performance.
Liverpool saw plenty of chances, all blocked by some stubborn defending from skipper Leijer with under 10 minutes to go.
Just a couple of minutes injury time were added on with Liverpool dominating in possession, comfortably. A free kick from left outside the box was cleared easily. With all eyes on Suarez, the controversial Uruguayan eventually created a golden chance.
Aussie keeper Nathan Coe's save led to another Red corner, which was taken short by Stewart Downing, to Suarez who dunk the ball onwards and saw it turned in by Aspas to double the visitors' lead seconds before the final whistle was blown.
The question is, will the trouble maker still be wearing the Red number seven by the end of August? For now, all we know is that he has added his bit to a Red victory once again.
MVFC Team: 1 Coe; 4 Ansell, 23 Leijer (c), 24 Galloway, 30 Geria; 6 Broxham, 14 Celeski, 17 Jeggo; 13 Nabbout (17 Stella - 83rd), 19 Pain, 22 Makarounas (27 Cristaldo - 86th).
Coaches: Ange Postecoglou & Kevin Muscat
LFC Team: 1 Jones (22 Mignolet - 72nd); 2 Johnson (34 Kelly - 72nd), 37 Skrtel (16 Coates - 72nd), 47 Wisdom (5 Agger - 72nd), 3 Enrique (38 Flanagan - 72nd); 8 Gerrard (c) (21 Lucas - 63rd), 24 Allen (19 Downing - 72nd), 14 Henderson (6 Alberto - 72nd), 44 Ibe (9 Aspas - 72nd), 31 Sterling (7 Suarez - 72nd); 29 Borini (Spearing - 72nd).
Subs not used: 49 Robinson, 11 Assaidi.
Kolo Toure is out with tight calf & Philippe Coutinho with a training ground knock, neither are thought to be serious.
1st & 2nd half stats:
MVFC v LFC:
Attempts: 1-11 & 1-6
On target: 1-5 & 1-2
Offsides: 1-1 & 0-1
Corners: 0-3 & 3-6
Free kicks: 0-0 & 2-4
Referee: Jumpi Iida
Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard
At the MCG
Sports - Football - Pre-Season Friendly - Match Notes:
1st half notes:
MVFC kick off the game at the MCG.
20th minute: 1st chance on target falls to MVFC, Enrique's mistake, gives ball away to Nabbout who pulls a fine save out of Jones.
21st: Gerrard shot deflected & saved by Coe. The tempo has certainly gone up after a slow, comfortable start.
31:01min and the star skipper gets the breakthrough in the centre of the box, nice run, nice placement, comfy finish off Borini, 0-1.
Ibe & Sterling are producing a fine display, creating some good build-ups, unpredictable for the young MVFC side. LFC seem to have more control now, approaching half time.
LFC finish the half on top, enjoying more chances & a one-goal lead thanks to skipper Steven Gerrard. The young Melbourne side are holding on & making a fine match of it though. More to come of the second half, I'm sure.
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2nd half notes:
LFC kick off the second half at the MCG, no changes have been made by either side.
A flurry of corners for LFC at the start of this half. Suarez is warming up...
50th: A Johnson block leads to MVFC's first corner, blocked out by Jones, leads to another corner for the young Australian side, which is headed over by Geria.
56th: Pain pulls a corner out of Skrtel, headed away by Gerrard at the near-post. Changes are imminent...
60th: Borini hits a fine chance straight at keeper Coe, swift counter by MVFC, saved by Jones. They are certainly making a match of this!
62nd: Spectacular over-head-kick by Borini goes wide.
63rd: 1st LFC substitution: 21 Lucas on for 8 Gerrard.
64th: 1st free kick for LFC, ends in a high shot, nowhere near by Sterling. A line of players are warming up for LFC.
72nd: 2nd LFC substitution(s): 1 Jones is replaced by 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson by 34 Kelly, 37 Skrtel by 16 Coates, 47 Wisdom by 5 Agger, 3 Enrique by 38 Flanagan, 24 Allen by 19 Downing, 14 Henderson by 6 Alberto, 44 Ibe by 9 Aspas, 31 Sterling by the much anticipated 7 Suarez and 29 Borini by Spearing.
75th: Downing takes a corner, straight to the keeper.
MVFC are keeping up the pressure, just one goal separating the two sides. They can be very proud of their performance here.
LFC see plenty of chances blocked, great defending by skipper Leijer with under 10 minutes to go.
83rd: 1st change for MVFC: 17 Stella on for 13 Nabbott.
86th: 2nd change for MVFC: 27 Cristaldo on for 22 Makarounas.
2 minutes added on: LFC enjoying & dominating in possession, comfortably. A free kick from left outside the box is cleared easily, all eyes on Suarez, not much to reports. Coe's save leads to another LFC corner, which is taken short by Downing, to Suarez who dinks the ball onwards and sees it turned in by Aspas, 2-0. Tough on MVFC, especially for the skipper Leijer after all his hard work, but it is a comfortable win for LFC in the end thanks to a little bit of magic by none-other than Gerrard & Suarez!
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MVFC: 1 Coe; 4 Ansell, 23 Leijer (c), 24 Galloway, 30 Geria; 6 Broxham, 14 Celeski, 17 Jeggo; 13 Nabbout (17 Stella - 83rd), 19 Pain, 22 Makarounas (27 Cristaldo - 86th).
Coaches: Ange Postecoglou & Kevin Muscat
LFC Team: 1 Jones (22 Mignolet - 72nd); 2 Johnson (34 Kelly - 72nd), 37 Skrtel (16 Coates - 72nd), 47 Wisdom (5 Agger - 72nd), 3 Enrique (38 Flanagan - 72nd); 8 Gerrard (c) (21 Lucas - 63rd), 24 Allen (19 Downing - 72nd), 14 Henderson (6 Alberto - 72nd), 44 Ibe (9 Aspas - 72nd), 31 Sterling (7 Suarez - 72nd); 29 Borini (Spearing - 72nd).
Subs not used: 49 Robinson, 11 Assaidi.
Kolo Toure is out with tight calf & Philippe Coutinho with a training ground knock, neither are thought to be serious.
1st & 2nd half stats:
MVFC v LFC:
Attempts: 1-11 & 1-6
On target: 1-5 & 1-2
Offsides: 1-1 & 0-1
Corners: 0-3 & 3-6
Free kicks: 0-0 & 2-4
Referee: Jumpi Iida
At the MCG
Sports - Football - Pre-Season Friendly - 1st Half Notes:
MVFC kick off the game at the MCG.
20th minute: 1st chance on target falls to MVFC, Enrique's mistake, gives ball away to Nabbout who pulls a fine save out of Jones.
21st: Gerrard shot deflected & saved by Coe.
The tempo has certainly gone up after a slow, comfortable start.
31:01min and the star skipper gets the breakthrough in the centre of the box, nice run, nice placement, comfy finish off Borini, 0-1.
Ibe & Sterling are producing a fine display, creating some good buildups, unpredictable for the young MVFC side. LFC seem to have more control now, approaching half time.
LFC finish the half on top, enjoying more chances & a one-goal lead thanks to skipper Steven Gerrard. The young Melbourne side are holding on & making a fine match of it though. More to come of the second half, I'm sure.
MVFC: 1 Coe; 4 Ansell, 23 Leijer (c), 24 Galloway, 30 Geria; 6 Broxham, 14 Celeski, 17 Jeggo; 13 Nabbout, 19 Pain, 22 Makarounas.
Coaches: Ange Postecoglou & Kevin Muscat
LFC Team: 1 Jones; 2 Johnson, 37 Skrtel, 47 Wisdom, 3 Enrique; 8 Gerrard (c), 24 Allen, 14 Henderson, 44 Ibe, 31 Sterling; 29 Borini.
Subs: 22 Mignolet, 34 Kelly, 16 Coates, 5 Agger, 38 Flanagan, - Spearing, 21 Lucas, 19 Downing, 6 Alberto, 9 Aspas, 7 Suarez, 49 Robinson, 11 Assaidi.
Kolo Toure is out with tight calf & Philippe Coutinho with a training ground knock, neither are thought to be serious.
1st half stats:
MVFC v LFC:
Attempts: 1-11
On target: 1-5
Offsides: 1-1
Corners: 0-3
Free kicks: 0-0
Referee: Jumpi Iida
At the MCG
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.
Sports - Cricket - Ashes - 4th Test - Melbourne - Day 3
My picks of the third day:
England added only 69 runs to their overnight total and were all out for 513, leaving Jonathan Trott unbeaten on 168. That gave Australia a deficit of 415 to make up for. The hosts started steadily, losing only one wicket in the afternoon session, before Tim Bresnan ripped through the heart of their attack taking three wickets for only five runs in the final session, making Australia fall and end the day on 169-6, still 246 runs behind England.
Run of Play: Advantage to...
1st session, England 513 all out, 415 ahead at lunch: As pointless as it was to bat it out, England added 69 runs to their overnight total, losing five wickets in the process, extending their lead to 415 runs and giving Australia an even more impossible, harrowing hill to climb.
2nd session, Australia 95-1, 320 runs behind at tea: Australia will be happy under the given cirumstances, having only lost just the one wicket. Every session from now onwards would have to be the same to give the hosts a chance, which seems less likely and too good to be true...
3rd session, Australia 169-6, 246 behind at the end of day three: England got the breakthrough and broke the Aussies down as it seems all too familiar and typical for this match and series. They will have to wait another day to celebrate their victory, but the last session and wickets will be just rhetorical really in answering the question on who the winner and better side of this match and series is.
Sports - Cricket - Ashes - 4th Test - Melbourne - Day 2
My picks of the second day:
England lost five wickets and fell to 286-5 on day two at Melbourne with Peter Siddle's name written on all of them in one way (caught two) or the other (bowling two catches and one lbw). It all seemed to be going Australia's way after a nightmare of a first day, until Jonathan Trott (141*) and Matt Prior (75*) took over and stabilised England to 444-5 and extending the guest's lead to 346.
Run of Play: Advantage to...
1st session, England 226-2, 128 ahead at lunch: Australia will be happy with the start to the day, happier than on day one that is for sure, taking two early wickets, breaking the opening partnership and taking out the two top scorers of the match so far.
2nd session, England 304-5, 206 ahead at tea: Australia are taking wickets but are nowhere near taking any control, with no decision going their way, England continuing play, scoring and making it as hard as possible for the hosts, whilst their skipper is losing it and making the job even harder for the umpires and his team.
3rd session, England 444-5, 346 ahead at the end of day two: The day continues going and ends up all England's way with Trott and Prior reaching the highest sixth-wicket Test partnership by England at Melbourne, beating the 140 by Patsy Hendren and Maurice Leyland in 1929 and they are still going...
Partnerships: As mentioned above, Australia were happy to get their first breakthrough early on, ending Andrew Strauss (69) and Alastair Cook's partnership (82) with two quick consecutive wickets with just over half an hour played on the day. Then all hell broke out in the second session, Trott and Kevin Pietersen (51) looking to even things out for England again with a partnership of 92, frustrating and angering the Aussies, refusing to go early and easy. A little crumble followed after KP fell though, Paul Collingwood (8) and Ian Bell (1) following the former skipper to the stands in quick succession. But Trott and Prior made sure the Aussies would have nothing to smile about, falling for nothing, no tricks, no quick flashes of disasters or the like, Trott reaching his fifth Tests hundred in the process for England and moving him to second in the highest run scorer lists in 2010 behind India's Sachin Tendulkar.
Bowling: Siddle took three wickets and caught two off Mitchell Johnson on the day, looking like he was the only Australian player to have turned up and in the right mind today. Ricky Ponting made an embarrassment of himself and whatever his side has achieved on the day with his tantrum to the umpires. Just when you thought Siddle and Johnson were clinching on and scrambling back some kind of control for Australia, their skipper and his impatience and impertinence made sure they would have none of it.
Ups: It was everything else but boring, that is for sure. The umpires did a great job in all the ups and downs and controversy, with and without the third umpire and video review, they kept their cool, hats on and doing their job brilliantly and respectfully (unlike one certain skipper). All together, it has certainly added salt onto the hosts' wounds and spice into the whole match and contest.
Downs: I don't like the fact that half the ground ends up empty as soon as things go against the Aussies. Us England fans have and are used to seeing our side down and thrashed often enough through the years (in any sport)but we still stay and sing on. For the first time in decades the same thing is happening to the Aussies and what do they do?! Come on!
Hero to zero: Well, I will give you three guesses who is the booman at the moment. All the posters and newspapers showed his miserable and/or crying face and he underlined that by how he acted today. If Ponting stays on as Australian captain for much longer after this series, I will be very surprised...
Australia v England fourth Test second day as it happened:
Highlights taken from the BBC website:
1st session:
- England 158-0: The sun is shining - no likelihood of four days of rain to save Australia here - as Siddle charges in to Andrew Strauss, facing for the first time today. The England skipper, with plenty of time on his hands, doesn't play anything he doesn't have to and another maiden ensues.
- WICKET, Cook c Watson b Siddle 82 (England 159-1): Australia's first breakthrough as Cook nudges Siddle to Shane Watson at first slip. Is it too late for the worm to turn?
- WICKET, Strauss c Hussey b Siddle 69 (England 170-2): After a single from Trott, Strauss tries to force Siddle to leg, it loops up off the shoulder of the bat and he's caught at gully! (Rather like Tremlett's dismissal of Watson yesterday, if you saw that).
- DRINKS BREAK, England 188-2: "There's a very chilly wind out there," notes Aggers on TMS as he notices the number of people reaching for coats and fleeces at the MCG. That's a maiden over from "Gentle Ben" Hilfenhaus to Trott - and time for drinkies.
- England 226-2: Trott is watchful against Smith, eventually pushing an all-run four to one of those astonishingly long MCG boundaries at mid-wicket. That's lunch - England have scored 69 for the loss of two wickets in this session, and lead by 128.
2nd session:
- England 240-2: NEW BALL AVAILABLE, Australia are a little ragged in the field as KP and Trott plunder three singles from Smith's over. So, will the new cherry enter the fray?
- England 246-2: NEW BALL TAKEN, Ben Hilfenhaus returns to the attack, KP smashes the first ball of the over back past the bowler for four, and the second new ball is then taken. Pietersen defends the sphere nouveau, taking a two off the last ball of the over.
- England 254-2: Trott guides Hilfenhaus for a two and a single, he's up to 44. KP drives fiercely, Hilfy deflects the ball onto the stumps but thankfully Trott had kept his bat firmly grounded.
- UMPIRE REVIEW: Harris spears in one which goes straight through Trott, who is beaten outside off stump as he tries to force the ball to leg. Geoff Boycott on TMS is purring at Harris bowling in his favoured "corridor of uncertainty". Trott stabs a single, KP straight-drives for four to reach 49, then Haddin appeals for a catch behind and Australia invoke the Decision Review System! NOT OUT: Now, did that brush KP's pad? There's certainly nothing on his bat on Hotspot, the ball looked to go between bat and pad. And there's clearly enough doubt for the third ump to signal "not out", and Ricky Ponting isn't happy, having a right go at umpire Aleem Dar. He really harangues Mr Dar - Punter, just accept the decision and move on. I hope the match referee is watching this, as Punter may well end up losing a chunk of his match fee if he continues to harangue the officials like this. He then goes over to have a whinge at the other umpire, Tony Hill! Sorry, Punter, but that's disgraceful. You may have a fractured finger but you should hang your head in shame. England 259-2: That was the last ball of the over, by the way.
- England 261-2, PIETERSEN FIFTY: More and more replays (and Hotspots) are shown - but whether the technology got it right or wrong (and there was enough doubt for the batsman to get the benefit of the doubt), you do not harangue the umpire for that long after a decision, whether you're Ricky Ponting at the MCG or Joe Bloggs on the village green. Even Jim Maxwell on TMS, an Aussie, says "you accept the umpire's decision". Back in the game, Trott adds a single, and Pietersen clips one off his legs to bring up his half century, to the delight of the Barmy Army. But not the Australian crowd, many of whom boo him.
- WICKET, Pietersen lbw b Siddle 51 (England 262-3): Peter Siddle into the attack, KP trapped back on his crease and he walks off before the umpire even raises his finger. The atmosphere at the "G" is quite electric.
- England 270-3: Trott pushes Siddle to leg, Punter gives chase and sends in a return from the long-on boundary, Trott goes for a dodgy third and has to dive for the crease at the bowler's end. It goes up to the third umpire... and it's too close to call. In one frame, Trott is short of the crease and the stumps are intact, in the next frame Trott is home but the stumps are broken. Third ump's verdict... NOT OUT! Punter may well explode.
- DRINKS BREAK, England 277-3, TROTT FIFTY: Trott punches Harris for a single to bring up his half century, then Colly off-drives and Punter (not fielding in the slips because of his fractured finger) is a ball-magnet at the moment, it's following him around the field. They run three. Trott pushes the last ball before the drinks break for three more. Hopefully the drinks cart might bring Punter some cocoa to calm him down a little.
- WICKET, Collingwood c Siddle b Johnson 8 (England 281-4): Mitchell Johnson into the attack in place of Harris, his first ball is wild down the leg side. He bangs in a short ball to Collingwood, who hooks and it's straight down the throat of the man at long leg. That's 10 scores in single figures from his last 12 innings. Oh, Colly...
- WICKET, Bell c Siddle b Johnson 1 (England 286-5): Johnson drops it short, Bell hooks and gets a top edge just like Collingwood... and is caught by Siddle just like Colly was! Great catch though, he really had to run in from fine leg.
- APPEAL - NOT OUT, England 295-5: As if he's trying to replicate the bouncer that removed Colly and Bell, Johnson is banging the ball in all over the place, but when Prior tries to push the ball into the covers, he edges behind to Haddin and is given out. But Prior stays at the pitch after Umpire Dar calls him back - it may have been a no-ball. And the TV replays show... it was a no-ball! And Prior stays! Astonishing scenes - Punter may lose the plot completely here!
- England 304-5: This should be the last over before tea, as Australia fiddle with the field long enough to ensure we'll go past 0410. After a single from Trott, another lovely cover drive from Prior brings him two runs and ends an enthralling session. England lead by 206.
3rd session:
- DRINKS BREAK, England 347-5: Australia persist with Harris even though Peter Siddle, who's been Australia's best bowler today, hasn't bowled since the 95th over and we're now in the 112th... Prior plays out a maiden, and he and Trott (who now averages 88 against Australia) reach the latest drinks break unscathed.
- DRINKS BREAK, England 388-5: Plenty of heart and effort from Siddle, but Trott's unswerving patience ensures another maiden over. Probably the last drinks break of the day...
- England 393-5: Prior begins the "home straight" of day two with a single, Trott despatches a half-volley for four with a fluent on-drive. England lead by 295... and if Australia were to win this Test, it would be a new world record - as the highest first-innings deficit overturned to win a Test is 291 by Australia against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 1992.
- England 400-5: Prior turns Siddle off his legs for a well-run three which takes him to 48, before a marvellous cover-driven four, right off the middle of the bat takes Trott to 125 and England to 400. Rather like yesterday, if you're just waking up in the UK and supporting England... look at the scoreboard and begin the working day with a smile on your face!
- England 404-5, PRIOR FIFTY: Prior latches onto a loose delivery from Smith and smashes it through mid-wicket for four to make sure of his 16th Test fifty. And it's fair to say that from the email reaction his comment has produced, I think Salim at 0610 is on his own with his theory that England may not have a big enough first-innings lead...
- THAT'S A RECORD, England 427-5: Smith takes a rest, Shane Watson is recalled to the attack. Trott helps himself to two with a pull to fine leg, and this is now the highest sixth-wicket Test partnership by England at Melbourne, beating the 140 by Patsy Hendren and Maurice Leyland in 1929. Today's attendance: 67,149.
- CLOSE OF PLAY, England 444-5: Johnson to bowl the last over, and it looks as though he's going to bowl a foot outside off stump with seven men on the off side. Trott won't have anything to do with that. When he does pitch one on the stumps, Trott defends it and Johnson pretends he's going to aggressively throw at the stumps, earning him a pantomime villain-style "boo" from the Barmies. A two off the last ball takes England to 444 - old Shep would be proud. They lead by 346. And that, as they say, is that.
Sports - Cricket - Ashes - 4th Test - Melbourne - Day 1
My picks of the first day:
Chris Tremlett and James Anderson bowled beautifully, swung and downed Australia all out for 98 with four wickets each after skipper Andrew Strauss won the important toss on day one of the fourth Test in Melbourne with the series being all square at one all. Michael Clarke was the top scorer for the Aussies with 20, whilst England openers Strauss (64*) and Alastair Cook (80*) remain unbeaten and took the guests to the end of the day on 157, 59 runs ahead.
Run of Play: Advantage to...
1st session, Australia 58-4 at lunch: After dropping two catches and losing their two reviews early on in the match, it looked like England were giving the advantage away, but they did everything else but. The hosts crumbled sad and badly, the rain saving them - FOR NOW - 5 minutes early to lunch...
2nd session, Australia 98 all out at tea: England all joy and on top after seeing Australia fall to their lowest Test score against them at the MCG. It shows how times and teams have changed, especially after the thrashing Strauss and the lads got at the Waca...
3rd session, England 157-0, 59 ahead at the end of day one: Skipper Strauss and Cook take England to the end of the day, with a lead and ten wickets spare. A dream day makes it a dream start to the fourth Test for England, making it harder than ever to imagine how Australia imagine to get out of this one without losing the match and Ashes...
