Sunday, August 14, 2005
Gunfight at the OT corral
One more day to go of the third test match, and it could be a cracker! England have set the Aussies a world record fourth innings target of 423 to win, and the Aussies batted out ten overs in fading light this evening to finish on 24-0. They need another 399 to win, with England requiring ten wickets from the 98 overs available.
England batted fairly well once they'd removed the last three stubborn first innings batsmen (with Jones the Taff taking a test best 6 wickets); Trescothick, Strauss (first Ashes hundred), Bell and Jones the glove all hit the ball hard, and scored fairly quickly. McGrath cashed in with 5 wickets as the slog went on, but The Fat Record-Breaking One went wicketless on the sharply turning track.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is good, so can England take the advantage with just two tests left, or will the Aussies rekindle memories of Bradman and Headingley in 1948?
I think it will be a tough day, and Pedro45 will not be surprised to see a draw. The obvious scenario for Australia is to bat till tea, re-assess and, if they have a chance to go for it, take it from there. England will just be trying to apply pressure, and hope to pick up wickets consistently, while not conceding too many runs that may bring pressure later upon themselves.
Harmison and Hoggard (who both had to be removed from the attack today due to poor light) will be key in getting rid of the openers, and Flintoff, Jones, Giles, and as we saw briefly tonight, Vaughan will all be required to get stuck in and bowl good spells. The second new ball will be due around 5pm tomorrow, and that, possibly and hopefully, may prove to be the winner for our boys. The crowd could also prove crucial (it's been great to watch them taking the mickey of all the Aussie boundary fielders in the last two tests) and we need them to cheer England on at every stage.
The series has been the most intense I have ever witnessed, with very tough cricket from both sides. If England can win tomorrow, Vaughan's men may prove difficult to hold back in the series, and the Ashes will return once more to their rightful place. The Aussies have been troubled by internal strife (Ponting/Warne), injuries to key players (McGrath, Clarke, Lee), and poor form by previously consistent key players (Hayden, Gillespie, Gilchrist). All this wil be forgotten should the unlikely happen and they get the 399 more they need, and this is something that England cannot allow.
Pedro45 wishes he had a crystal ball, and could claim to know exactly what will happen; what I do know is that it will, should either side win, be a great day in Manchester or Melbourne depending.
England batted fairly well once they'd removed the last three stubborn first innings batsmen (with Jones the Taff taking a test best 6 wickets); Trescothick, Strauss (first Ashes hundred), Bell and Jones the glove all hit the ball hard, and scored fairly quickly. McGrath cashed in with 5 wickets as the slog went on, but The Fat Record-Breaking One went wicketless on the sharply turning track.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is good, so can England take the advantage with just two tests left, or will the Aussies rekindle memories of Bradman and Headingley in 1948?
I think it will be a tough day, and Pedro45 will not be surprised to see a draw. The obvious scenario for Australia is to bat till tea, re-assess and, if they have a chance to go for it, take it from there. England will just be trying to apply pressure, and hope to pick up wickets consistently, while not conceding too many runs that may bring pressure later upon themselves.
Harmison and Hoggard (who both had to be removed from the attack today due to poor light) will be key in getting rid of the openers, and Flintoff, Jones, Giles, and as we saw briefly tonight, Vaughan will all be required to get stuck in and bowl good spells. The second new ball will be due around 5pm tomorrow, and that, possibly and hopefully, may prove to be the winner for our boys. The crowd could also prove crucial (it's been great to watch them taking the mickey of all the Aussie boundary fielders in the last two tests) and we need them to cheer England on at every stage.
The series has been the most intense I have ever witnessed, with very tough cricket from both sides. If England can win tomorrow, Vaughan's men may prove difficult to hold back in the series, and the Ashes will return once more to their rightful place. The Aussies have been troubled by internal strife (Ponting/Warne), injuries to key players (McGrath, Clarke, Lee), and poor form by previously consistent key players (Hayden, Gillespie, Gilchrist). All this wil be forgotten should the unlikely happen and they get the 399 more they need, and this is something that England cannot allow.
Pedro45 wishes he had a crystal ball, and could claim to know exactly what will happen; what I do know is that it will, should either side win, be a great day in Manchester or Melbourne depending.
