Australia vs England - Old Trafford

It was remarkable! A mirror of the previous test, the same heart stopping conclusion, although the result thankfully different from an Australian viewpoint. England played all over Australia for 4days at Old Trafford (excluding the 76overs lost to rain on day 3), and probably deserved to take a 2-1 lead, if not for the stalwart day 5 resistance of Ricky Ponting and the last 3 Australian batsmen. With 399 more runs to win on the last day, Australia did brilliantly to end the day 371.

It was remarkable! A mirror of the previous test, the same heart stopping conclusion, although the result thankfully different from an Australian viewpoint. England played all over Australia for 4days at Old Trafford (excluding the 76overs lost to rain on day 3), and probably deserved to take a 2-1 lead, if not for the stalwart day 5 resistance of Ricky Ponting and the last 3 Australian batsmen. With 399 more runs to win on the last day, Australia did well to end the day 371.

From the moment Michael Vaughan won the toss and batted, Australia was on the back foot. If not for dismissing Vaughan for a brilliant 166 in the 78th over, Pietersen in the 87th, and Hoggard on the last ball, Australia looked to set have a torrid day 2. As it was, England added just another 103 decisive runs, all out 444.

Australia’s openers haven’t had the best series, and 58 for the first wicket was Hayden and Langer’s highest thus far. What Australia needed was another 100+ opening, but 58 was ok. Falling to 5-129 wasn’t, and for the first time in 17years Australia was staring at a follow-on. Going to stumps with all recognized batsmen in the shed, still 31runs behind, was not my idea of a great day for Australia, but England is playing the better cricket.

Day 3 saw play restricted to a paltry 14 overs, and the ICC I believe must review their laws. Come to think of it they seem to review it every bloody week and come each match a new (and abusive to the game) regulation surfaces that sees, as it did today, play end amidst glorious sunshine. Why is that? I cannot fathom who in their right mind, on deciding play would end at 6pm regardless, deem this acceptable to the game and the people that pay for it! (Below: This series has easily been England's Crusade to win back the Ashes. And the England cricketers are looking better than these lads did after a day in the sun, and a skin of turps!)

So, in the process of a late start to day 3, and another stoppage, Warne continued his Edgbaston form to reach 78 and, with Gillespie (7), see Australia safely to 245 with 2 full days play remaining, minus a miscellaneous reduction of lost overs, never to be found. Admittedly, the over rate from both sides has been nothing greater than pathetic, thereabouts 85 overs in 6.5hours. Team that with ‘ICC Regulations’ and it’s no surprise the teams and umpires were booed off the ground on day 3 with Australia 7-264.

Unlike every other country, it would appear that play’s not allowed to start early in England to make up for lost overs. So with about 80 overs still owing, play got cracking on day 4 at 10.30am. Warnie looked good for his maiden hundred, alas holed out on 90. At 8-292, Australia managed 10-more runs handing England a 142run lead.

If Australia were to win, they had to cut through England and limit the chase to no more than 300. Australia’s attack looked ordinary this match. Warne fired in the first innings especially when he brought up his 600th test wicket, McGrath in the 2nd, and Jason Gillespie in neither. England took Australia apart plundering 280 runs, with Andrew Strauss leading the way with a fantastic 106. Like Vaughan in the first, he too has found some form, and though Pietersen and Flintoff were rolled for 4, Strauss was the mainstay behind England setting Australia 423runs to win. Good Luck!

Langer and Hayden survived to stumps at 6.30 with 8 overs never to be bowled, and started the run chase on day 5, in front of a sell out crowd, in less than heroic fashion. Alfie out first ball, Australia 1-25, and the 10,000 people turned away at the gates wished they’d got there earlier. With a series of streaky edges, Haydos was looking great, until local hero Freddie Flintoff bowled him for 36. At 2-96, Australia had a long way to go, and even further when Damien Martyn was dismissed LBW at 3-129, just after lunch. (Below: Adam Gilchrist better in the middle of the replay screen than he did in the middle with the bat. He'll be back!!)

Ponting was playing a ‘captain’s knock’ by definition, as his partners came and went to ponder their lack of grit. Starting the 3rd session needing 200+ runs to win, there were still 42 overs to bowl and a chance of victory for Australia. And unlike every other day, bowl the overs they must. Not that I was chasing the draw, but how can what’s wrong for four days, be right for the last day?

Punter hit his hundred just after tea and with Michael Clarke was proving a handful for England as the runs ticked over. Michael Clarke was showing some of last year’s form before being bowled shouldering arms to Simon Jones who, with his 6 wickets in the first innings, was mesmeric with his reverse swing.

Gillespie, with his frustrating ability to stay there, came before Warne suggesting Australia was now indeed chasing the draw. Bowled for 0, Dizzy was not frustrating today. With the score 7-264, Punter and Warne put on 76, with 423 still gettable provided they stayed there! They didn’t. Ricky notched up 150, before Warne was out playing a ball he shouldn’t. 8-340 became 9-354 when Punter was out for a man-of-the-match 156 leaving Lee and McGrath to face 24 agonising balls to salvage a draw. 18balls gone, the crowd was on its feet for the final over, bowled by Harmison; England needing one wicket, Australia needing crap bowling. Australia got their wish!

Simply the worst over you could ask someone to bowl. One missed everything by a quarter of a bee’s left leg, whereas the other five were lollypops; the last, a full toss down leg that Lee dispatched to ensure the series remained 1-1, and the Flags went to the heavens amid passionate ecstasy. It was the most exciting test match draw I’ve witnessed, and as good as a win, providing Australia again clinches the series in Nottingham. It took sometime for the heart to slow, and for the 2nd time in 8days Australia and England played out a monumental game.

Following the thriller at Edgbaston, the ECB launched ‘The Greatest Test Match’ DVD. This test was so much better than Edgbaston, and had England won here, I wonder if the ECB would have recalled the DVD to re-name it ‘The 2nd Greatest Test Match’. Like England has done so many times before, their celebrations always seem a little premature! See you in Notts!

Luke Gillian 17/08/2005 14:08:41