Aussies 'Bothum'ped!
This year's Ashes is gonna be a real close one. England managed to beat the Aussies by 2 runs after being in a comfortable position before the last day and almost managed to make a fool of themselves by nearly allowing the tail-enders to snatch an improbable victory. But it is games like these which still retains my dwindling interest in cricket.
The second test will be considered one of the best ever test matches. With McGrath ruled out due to injury, England played really well in their first innings and then managed to bowl out the Aussies and lead by more than 100 runs. But then, the English batsmen struggled to score runs and it was left to Flintoff to demolish the Aussie attack with sixers in the company of tail-enders.
Set with a target of 282, Australia did not start well and half their batsmen were out even before the score reached 100. Harmison produced a great slower ball to bowl Clarke out on the last ball of the third day and left the Aussies stuttering at 8 wickets down with a 107 runs left to win.
Boycott's mother should have been enough to bowl out the tail and ensure an easy English victory but England nearly managed to pull off an upset defeat on themselves. The bowlers would have to blamed for not sticking to an offside line and hoping for a nick. But they tried to bowl to the body of the batsmen resulting in lots of runs.
With 60 runs left to win, England were given a lifeline when Warne, not knowing where the stumps were hit against them on the backfoot. Apparently, he forgets lots of other things too...like the fact that he is married.
But the final wicket produced the Aussies' best partnership of the innings, the Aussies once again proving their resolute nature and never-say-die spirit. Brett Lee continued to play on even after getting a painful blow on his hand from a fierce Flintoff ball.
Finally, with just 3 runs to wins, Kasprowicz nicked one from Harmison to the keeper who produced a good catch to save England the blushes. The five test series now stands levelled at 1-1.
As always, the English media has started hailing Flintoff as the 'new Botham' for his man-of-the-match performance. The next three tests should produce more memorable moments and only time will tell if Flintoff can do a 'Botham' and win back the Ashes for England!
The second test will be considered one of the best ever test matches. With McGrath ruled out due to injury, England played really well in their first innings and then managed to bowl out the Aussies and lead by more than 100 runs. But then, the English batsmen struggled to score runs and it was left to Flintoff to demolish the Aussie attack with sixers in the company of tail-enders.
Set with a target of 282, Australia did not start well and half their batsmen were out even before the score reached 100. Harmison produced a great slower ball to bowl Clarke out on the last ball of the third day and left the Aussies stuttering at 8 wickets down with a 107 runs left to win.
Boycott's mother should have been enough to bowl out the tail and ensure an easy English victory but England nearly managed to pull off an upset defeat on themselves. The bowlers would have to blamed for not sticking to an offside line and hoping for a nick. But they tried to bowl to the body of the batsmen resulting in lots of runs.
With 60 runs left to win, England were given a lifeline when Warne, not knowing where the stumps were hit against them on the backfoot. Apparently, he forgets lots of other things too...like the fact that he is married.
But the final wicket produced the Aussies' best partnership of the innings, the Aussies once again proving their resolute nature and never-say-die spirit. Brett Lee continued to play on even after getting a painful blow on his hand from a fierce Flintoff ball.
Finally, with just 3 runs to wins, Kasprowicz nicked one from Harmison to the keeper who produced a good catch to save England the blushes. The five test series now stands levelled at 1-1.
As always, the English media has started hailing Flintoff as the 'new Botham' for his man-of-the-match performance. The next three tests should produce more memorable moments and only time will tell if Flintoff can do a 'Botham' and win back the Ashes for England!
posted by Lucas @ 1:45 PM
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