Doive said:
So, any of you following the current series, supporting either side, have a prediction on the final outcome? Let's make this the thread for anyone wanting updates on the current series.
Well, as the discussion seems to have died down here, I'll give a quick update here for what you've all missed:
1st Test; Brisbane - Australia started brightly, Peter Siddle taking a hat-trick in his six wicket showing, but England fought back for a well deserved draw, powerhouse innings from Andrew Strauss (110); Alistair Cook (235*) and Jonathan Trott (135*) caused records to fall and momentum to leave in the hands of the tourists.
2nd Test, Adelaide - Shane Watson (51); Brad Haddin (56) and Mike Hussey (93) were the only Australian bats to show up, as Trott started the rot with a superb run out of Simon Katich, who would later injure his Achilles tendon and be ruled out for the remainder of the series. To recover from 2-3 and 96-4, Australia may have felt lucky to be all out for 245. That was until England came to bat.
A small hiccup later, when Strauss was removed for 1, Cook took over and continued his rich form, with 148, with support from Trott (78). Kevin Pietersen came in to finish the job, with his own test-best 227 and a little help from Ian Bell (68*) Final score 620-5, declared.
Australia came back to bat and determined innings from Katich (43); Watson (57); Clarke (80) and Hussey (52) left them with a score of 304. England win by an innings and 71. 1-0.
3rd Test, Perth - Western Australia has been the happy hunting ground of the recalled Mitchell Johnson and the in form Mike Hussey for a few years now, so no wonder they got in on the act. Hussey (61) and Johnson (62) set the tone for a tail that wagged. From 69-5, Australia mounted a spirited comeback, ending on 268, three wickets each for Jimmy Anderson and Chris Tremlett.
Strauss (52) and Cook added 78 fort he first wicket, but the remaining nine fell for just 111. Only Ian Bell added any resistance, with 53, before Johnson took his impressive 6-38. In the second innings, Shane Watson added 95 and Hussey's rich form continued, taking the lead for the most runs scored in the series, with his knock of 116. Australia 309 all out - a lead of 390.
England promptly tipped their caps and said "see you after Christmas", being dismissed for only 123. 1-1
4th Test, Melbourne - The MCG has the potential to be filled with 90,000 baying Australians, but after day one of the test match epitomised the series for Australia, the crowd ratio of Barmy Army supporters to Aussie fans has greatly improved. Australia were dismissed for 98, Tremlett taking 4-28 and Anderson 4-44, with Matt Prior taking 6 catches behind the stumps.
The response was punctuated by the occasional flurry of wickets, but Strauss (69); Cook (82) and a magnificently detached 168* from Trott eased the visitors in front. A cameo from Kevin Pietersen (51) cost Ricky Ponting 40% of his match fee, as he remonstrated with the umpires, after a perceived inside edge was not picked up by TV replays. Pietersen was removed a few balls later, with 2 more runs added, so karma states that he probably was out.
No matter, as Trott carried on, with Matt Prior, who was brought back to the crease, after Umpire Aleem Dar double checked on a wicket decision, then overturned it, as the ball bowled was a no-ball. Prior went on to make 85 and England a marvellous 513 - a lead of 415.
Having posted their worst performance at the MCG, Australia bettered that, by the close of day 3, moving to 169-6, only Watson managing to get past 50. With Ryan Harris sidelined due to a stress fracture of his ankle, while bowling, England are likely to require 3 more wickets to seal the win and a 2-1 lead, which will mean retention of the ashes for the first time in 24 years. Quite a few Australian cricketers may well be playing for their international careers and even Ricky Ponting might find the door of international cricket closed to him, save that there really is no-one else that Australia can call on to replace him. Who could possibly stop the rampant English now?
Certainly worth turning on Test Match Special tonight and seeing if we can get the job done by lunch.
