Opinion
The English were demolished for the second time in the series in the second Test match despite their best efforts and changed team.
Although Monty Panesar picked up vital wickets at crucial times in the match, he was left out to include another all-rounder, Tim Bresnan, for the third Test. The Australian side was unchanged from their win at the Adelaide Oval and they were edging closer towards their goal, reclaiming the Ashes.
Alastair Cook’s form when it came to calling the coin toss was starting to infuriate the English fans, Australia winning the toss and deciding to bat first for the third time in a row. England got off to a good start, running out Chris Rogers in the second over, but everybody knew that the real danger man was stuck at the other end.
Michael Clarke and Shane Watson didn’t hang around for too long either, but David Warner kept a cool head and continued to carry his side past the 100 mark, scoring a 50 along the way as well. He didn’t do all the work on his own though. He was joined in the middle by a young Steve Smith, who was still trying to find his feet on the international stage.
But after Warner’s dismissal on 60 and with Australia’s middle order to follow, some worry crept in. There was no need to be concerned as experienced campaigner Brad Haddin came to the rescue as he and Steve Smith put on a 124-run stand to guide Australia to score of 267.
Haddin reached his fourth half-century of the series and destroyed the hopes of the English. After his dismissal, Steve Smith took care of the rest by reaching the three-figure mark and helped his side to a first innings total of 385. It wasn’t a 400 or 450 lead like in the first two Tests, but it was still enough to put the English off.
Cook’s form at the toss certainly didn’t spill over to his batting performance. The openers stunned the Australian attack by putting on an 85-run opening stand, Ryan Harris providing the breakthrough by dismissing Michael Carberry.
After that wicket, Cook kept his head high, although the top order was dropping all around him. His score of 72 was the only thing that the English could hold onto and when he departed with England’s score on 136, nobody else stood up and took ownership of the rest of the England innings. The rest of the batting line=up could only scrape together a total of 251 and Australia was happy to go out and extend their lead even further.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Australia didn’t back down and took the 134 deficit in their stride. Chris Rogers got lucky after being put down in the slips courtesy of England’s captain. Rogers and Warner grabbed the opportunity with both hands and really took the English to the cleaners by constructing an enormous 157-run opening stand.
Rogers was the first to fall, however that made way for Australia’s inconsistent number three, Shane Watson. Watson cemented his spot at the top of the order by scoring a marvelous hundred at an impressive strike rate of 95. David Warner also didn’t shy away from the occasion and also made a century.
With Australia’s lead sitting nicely on 435, George Bailey had full licence from his coaching staff to have a go at the England bowlers. The rookie equalled Brian Lara’s record of scoring 28 runs in a single over after some decent slogging against James Anderson. The young man showed that he wasn’t going to let reputation intimidate him. Australia piled on the runs to reach a total of 369. That gave the English another monstrous target of 504 runs to chase down. The urn looked set to return to Australian soil.
England’s second innings couldn’t have got off to a worse start. Their captain was sent back on his first delivery that he faced off Ryan Harris’ bowling. England were in disarray and the Aussie crowd were already believing that the Ashes would be theirs by stumps on Day 4.
Carberry got stuck in and made a gritty 31, only to be dismissed by the century-maker Shane Watson. The English were playing for a draw, but the free-scoring Kevin Pietersen got out after going for one too many big shots over long on. With England’s total only 121, there still was a lot to do for them to salvage a draw. Newcomer Ben Stokes accompanied Ian Bell at the crease and the two of them provided some resistance.
Peter Siddle presented the breakthrough by getting the outside edge of Ian Bell’s bat with his tally on 60. It was up to Stokes to take control of the English batting line-up and it was a big ask against the finest bowling attack in the world. With all his partners falling around him, Ben Stokes produced a tremendous knock, showing real determination.
He scored an incredible maiden Test century but was dismissed with his side still needing 168 to ensure victory. As he walked back to the pavilion, people took notice of this youthful redhead who was sure to set the world on fire in the years to come. The Australians only took five overs to take the remaining three wickets that were on offer. Being bowled out for 353, and losing by 150 runs, England had lost the Ashes.
The Aussies pulled it off. It was an unbelievable achievement for the baggy greens. They showed the world that they were a force to be reckoned with and got one over their old enemies. Australia retained the Ashes and the urn was theirs to hold after it was claimed for so long by the motherland.
England acknowledged that they were completely outplayed by their rivals and gave the Australians praise where they deserved it. It was back to the drawing board for the English as they attempted to avoid humiliation in the next Test. The Australians, on the other hand, wouldn’t want to change a thing, seeing as they hadn’t set a foot wrong in this Ashes so far.
Steve Smith picked up the man-of-the-match award after scoring a hundred in the first innings and picking up a wicket at a crucial time for his side.
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