The Ashes - England v Australia 2009

[sheem]

Australia tour of England 2009

Fixture

[sheem]

England beat Australia to take 1-0 lead in Ashes

LONDON: England won an Ashes Test at Lord''s for the first time in 75 years as they beat Australia by 115 runs in the second Test here on Monday to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Australia, set a record 522 to win, were bowled out for 406 on the fifth and final day with fast bowling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff taking five wickets for 92 runs and off-spinner Graeme Swann four for 87.

England, who clung on for a draw in the first Test in Cardiff, made a sound start with captain Andrew Strauss scoring 161 in a first innings total of 425.

Swing bowler James Anderson then took Test-best figures against Australia of four wickets for 77 runs as the touring team were bowled out for 215 in reply.

Strauss decided against enforcing the follow-on and, thanks to brisk fifties from Paul Collingwood and Matthew Prior saw England make 311 for six before he declared their second innings before play on Sunday.

Australia were then left needing to set a world record for the highest fourth innings total to win a Test, surpassing the 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03, to win.

England, aided by some favourable umpiring decisions, reduced them to 128 for five before a sixth-wicket stand of 185 between Michael Clarke (136) and Brad Haddin (80) revived Ashes-holders Australia''s hopes.

But Flintoff removed Haddin with his fourth ball Monday and from then on wickets fell steadily before Swann bowled Mitchell Johnson (63) to wrap up the match shortly before lunch.

The third Test of the series starts at Edgbaston on July 30.

Brief scores:
England 425 (A Strauss 161, A Cook 95; B Hilfenhaus 4-103, M Johnson 3-132) and 311-6 dec (M Prior 61, P Collingwood 54; N Hauritz 3-80)
Australia 215 (M Hussey 51; J Anderson 4-55, G Onions 3-41) and 406 (M Clarke 136, B Haddin 80, M Johnson 63; A Flintoff 5-92, G Swann 4-87)

Result: England won by 115 runs.

[sheem]

Australia coach says will try to be back in Ashes

LONDON: Australia coach Tim Nielsen says his side must sharpen up mentally before next week''s third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

The Australians paid dearly for their sluggish start to the second Test at Lord''s as England registered a 115-run win and a 1-0 series lead.

But Nielsen said it was all in the mind for the Australians, having shown they had the skills in their dominant performance in the drawn series opener at Sophia Gardens.

"When you get behind against good quality teams, it''s totally a mind game," Nielsen said.

"We''ve shown that our skills are in order and our players are good enough.

"When you get under pressure, the reason your skills fail is because your mind is not working as well as it should.

"So the challenge now is to get back up and to make sure we are fresh and thinking well when we get to Edgbaston."

Nielsen''s predecessor John Buchanan took a fairly hands-off approach during the 2005 series as England steadily overpowered the tourists.

But the current coach said he definitely won''t be going down that path.

"My role is really to get to the front now and to lead and ensure the group is still enjoying Test cricket," he said.

"You need to be careful that you don''t let it get too big and too ugly. Two Tests into a five Test series, we''ve got a lot of cricket to play yet.

"There is so much time left in the series.

"We have to make sure we don''t let the results drive how we''re feeling, how we''re acting or preparing. We just need to reset."

The former South Australian wicketkeeper also defended gloveman Brad Haddin''s work behind the stumps at Lord''s.

The New South Welshman has been in terrific form with the bat, having scored 229 runs at 76.33, but let through 31 byes at the home of cricket.

"He had a pretty ordinary spot in the first innings here, which he would admit, where the ball was curving after it had bounced," Nielsen said.

"And he got tight, all about the mental side.

"He got anxious and was worrying about what people were thinking and clanged a couple.

"He kept fighting hard, and didn''t miss anything that counted. We know how good he is."

[sheem]

Flintoff determined to play through the pain barrier

LONDON: Andrew Flintoff insists only a "very, very serious" injury would stop him firing England''s bid to regain the Ashes from Australia.

Flintoff was named man of the match after a second-innings five-wicket haul in England''s dramatic second Test victory over Australia at Lord''s.

The 31-year-old''s performance came despite the pain of a persistent knee problem, which has put his fitness for the third Test at Edgbaston in doubt.

But Flintoff, who last week announced his retirement from Test cricket at the end of the series, is determined to go flat out for the remaining three Tests.

Flintoff told in a radio programe: "The good thing was I bowled a lot of overs and kept my pace up.

"I''d be lying if I said I''m not a little bit sore but I was confident when making the announcement that I was retiring from Test cricket that I had four to go, and now it''s three.

"It''d have to be something very, very serious not to play in the next three Test matches."

Although his Lord''s performance showcased Flintoff''s ability, he added that he would not be tempted to go back on his retirement decision.

"There are no thoughts of changing my mind," he said. "The things I am going through to get on the cricket field I can do short term but I won''t be able to do it much longer."

Flintoff, speaking at the launch of his own charity, the AF Foundation, which seeks to raise money for children''s rehabilitation and physiotherapy units, added: "It was a team effort. It was nice to get the plaudits on the final day and get a few wickets but I think everyone at some point contributed."

With three Tests to go and only a 1-0 lead, he also warned England not to rest on their laurels.

He said: "It is nice with a lot of people congratulating you but we can''t be complacent, we have only won one Test match.

"We have still got three to go and, knowing them (Australia), they are going to come back hard. We''ll just have to go that little bit harder."

[sheem]

Langer says is ready to play for Australia if asked

SYDNEY: Former Test opener Justin Langer said he was prepared to play for Australia in the third Ashes Test if asked.

Langer, who this week became Australia''s highest first class runs record holder, has admitted to missing the thrill of Test cricket.

The 105-Test veteran is currently playing for English county side Somerset.

"One of the boys in the Somerset changing room asked me ''if they asked you to play tomorrow, how much would it take?'' and I said I would play the third Test for Australia next week for nothing," he said.

Langer''s comments came as current opener Phillip Hughes''s form slump deepened on Friday, he made just ten in the first innings of Australia''s tour match against Northamptonshire.

"When you have played that much, you miss the big Tests," Langer said.

"I miss the hype of the Ashes series.

"I also miss the challenge of playing against Andrew Flintoff. That is what it is all about.

"That is the great test for batsmen. I really miss being in those sort of battles. I miss Test cricket.

"There is a lot I don''t miss about it but these big series, I''d play tomorrow if I was asked.''''

Langer retired from Test cricket at the end of Australia''s 5-0 demolition of England in the 2006-07 Ashes series.

[sheem]

England name squad for 3rd Ashes Test

LONDON: Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell is set to get a Test recall as England named Sunday a 13-man squad for next week''s third match of the Ashes series at his Edgbaston home ground.

Bell is set to replace Kevin Pietersen in the side that won the second Test against Australia at Lord''s by 115 runs, to go 1-0 up in the five-match series, after the South Africa born batsman was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes with an Achilles injury.

Fast bowler Stephen Harmison and left-arm spinner Monty Panesar have also been added to the XI that played at Lord''s, with Pietersen''s absence the only change to the initial 14-man squad announced ahead of the second Test.

Bell, 27, played the last of his 46 Tests against the West Indies in Jamaica in February but was dropped after a run of low scores, with Ravi Bopara taking over in England''s problem position of No 3.

However, Bell has scored heavily in the County Championship with 640 runs in his seven innings this season prior to his recent double failure against Hampshire, which included a duck.

But his record against Australia is mediocre, with his 502 runs in 10 Ashes Tests coming at a low average of 25.10.

Miller also said he was confident of the fitness of Andrew Flintoff, the fast-bowling all-rounder who led England''s attack at Lord''s despite a troublesome knee injury.

Flintoff bowled unchanged on the final morning on his way to taking five wickets as England won an Ashes Test at Lord''s for the first time in 75 years.

But before that match he announced he would be retiring from Test cricket at the end of the Ashes because his injury-blighted body could not long stand the strain of five-day cricket.

And doubts still persist as to whether he will get through this series.

England squad:
Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matthew Prior (wkt), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions, Stephen Harmison, Monty Panesar.

[sheem]

Third Ashes Test from tomorrow

EDGBASTON: Third test of Ashes series between Australia and England will be started from tomorrow in Edgbaston.

Host England having 1-0 series lead in the best of five series. All rounder Andrew Flintoff will be part of playing XI. England captain Andrew Strauss optimistic that his team will perform well whereas Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said his team will level the series by wining third test.

[wick3d]

Petersen injured

[sheem]

English take control 2nd Edgbaston morning

EDGBSTON: It was lucky number 7 for Andrew Strauss and his England compatriots as they left the Edgbaston field of play for lunch having dismissed 7 Australian batsmen for just 77 runs in a wonderful morning’s play, which saw the visitors come in on 207 for 8.

England came out this morning knowing that early wickets were required, and turned to the man who’s position in the team looked least assured last week, Graham Onions, to deliver the first over of the morning. What a decision that would prove to be. Onions took two wickets in two balls, accounting for the top scoring Ashes debutant Shane Watson (62) LBW before clean bowling Mike “Mr Cricket” Hussey (0). The game, as they say, was back on. Momentum had shifted.

Two men who have the ability to post a large score accounted for, Australia started to find their feet again with perhaps their best ever big run scorer left, captain Ricky Ponting, creeping closer to his fifty.

England fans roared just after half past eleven, however, when man-of-the-moment Onions produced some fine work on Ponting (38) to nick an edge which was caught by wicket-keeper Prior.

Michael Clarke (29) rode his luck before eventually succumbing to James Anderson’s first wicket of the match, out LBW to a ball which swung in late. This signalled the start of the Anderson show again, as he quickly collected another three wickets – two in a row when he took North (12) caught Prior and Mitchell Johnson (0) LBW – before welcoming newcomer Manou by bowling him for just 8 runs.

The Australian tail looks like it is failing to wag again, for the second match in succession.

England will hope to dismiss Australia for under 250 on a pitch that does not look too uninviting to batsmen. They have improved upon yesterday’s lacklustre bowling performance with some explosive spells. Wickets, when they have arrived thus far, have come in destructive clusters. Australia must hope that either tomorrow’s forecast heavy rain marterialises or they manage to pick up early wickets on a pitch that rewards tight lines – something their bowlers had real trouble with in the first innings a fortnight ago – otherwise this test match could quickly slip away from them.

Onions has 3 wickets for 46 off 12. Anderson has 4 wickets for 64 off 20. One of them could claim five, each has done enough to deserve it. Whichever, if any, does achieve the feat, the England bowlers will remember this morning for two golden Australian ducks under the Edgbaston clouds. Fans who waited out yesterday’s rain have been treated to a fine morning, with two home hat-trick attempts to boot.

[sheem]

England win toss and bat against Australia

LEEDS: England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat in the fourth Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley here on Friday.

England omitted Andrew Flintoff after the all-rounder''s knee injury ruled him out and, in the only change to the side that drew the third Test at Edgbaston, recalled in-form fast bowler Stephen Harmison.

On a frantic morning, the toss was delayed by 10 minutes after England wicket-keeper Matt Prior suffered a back spasm while playing football during a pre-match warm-up.

However, he was subsequently passed fit to play.

England''s selection meant they left out left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom and uncapped batsman Jonathan Trott.

Australia made two changes to their line-up.

Stuart Clark came in for his first Test of the series in place of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz and first-choice wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, who missed the third Test with a broken finger, was recalled with Graham Manou left out.

That meant there was no recall for veteran fast bowler Brett Lee.

England lead the five-match series 1-0 and victory here would see them regain the Ashes.

[sheem]

Australia crush England to level Ashes

LEEDS: Australia thrashed England by an innings and 80 runs as they won the fourth Test at Headingley here on Sunday inside three days to level the series at 1-1 and revive their bid to retain the Ashes.

The result left the Ashes all square ahead of the fifth and final Test at The Oval starting on August 20.

England, who resumed Sunday in the dire position of 82 for five in their second innings, still 261 runs behind Australia''s first innings 445 and facing the prospect of a record-breaking home defeat, were bowled out for 263.

Stuart Broad (61) and Graeme Swann (62) delayed the seemingly inevitable with an eighth-wicket stand of 108 off 79 balls that delighted home fans after the pair had come together with England on 120 for seven,

At lunch, England were 245 for eight, 98 behind, with Swann 56 not out and Stephen Harmison six not out.

But soon after the break Swann on 62, one shy of his Test-best score, was caught behind off left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, who took five wickets for 69 runs in the innings.

Johnson then wrapped up the match in the sixth over after lunch when he clean bowled last man Graham Onions for nought.