Yyyyeooooooooooooorageueueeeezqhhhhhhhhhhhhquiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeh!

Tuesday 7 December 2010

We did it!

[Original comments]

Jayne December 7, 2010 at 7:58 AM

Yippeeeee, it has all been worthwhile (so far)! Just don't get carried away and start dancing with those strange looking morris dancers!

Glenn December 7, 2010 at 9:24 AM

Superb stuff.... woke up early this morning thinking I would catch the climax, but checked the BB and saw it was all over - at least I could roll over and go back to sleep with a smile on my face... how many innuendos in that?? ;o

At the very least you've now seen England beat the Aussies in the Ashes in their own back yard - doesn't get much better than that :)))

It's all down to the weather

Monday 6 December 2010

More rain overnight in Adelaide but at 7am it's currently dry and quite clear. But unfortunately we have one of those odd-looking skies which makes you think the next storm cannot be too far away. From my perspective England did everything right again yesterday (with the possible exception of an off day from Jimmy Anderson). You had to expect some sort of Aussie fightback with the bat, as it's still a very good pitch and their players are fighting to save both the Test and, in some cases, their careers. Clarke's unbelievable dismissal just before the close to KP (Test bowling average around 150) was a hammer blow for Australia. It's "only" one wicket, but I have written before about the thin margins between success and failure in top level sport. Going into the final day only 3 wickets down and Clarke 80 not out would have given them what looked like a fighting chance, whereas now the long Aussie tail is looming large in England's sights. The only reason England will not win this Test on Day 5 will be the weather or some truly exceptional batting, of which the former is likely to prove the greater threat.

Almost there

Monday 6 December 2010

Are they human - or Morris dancer?

Adelaide Day 4: Australia 245 & 238 for 4, England 620 for 5 declared. Australia are 137 runs behind with 6 wickets remaining. Contrary to last night's consensus that England would declare overnight, Strauss decided to bat on this morning with the objective of scoring some quick runs against the demoralised Australian bowling attack. It was a strategy which paid handsome dividends as England were able to add a further 69 runs in only 9 overs, thus extending their lead to a massive 375. Ian Bell again batted beautifully - what a class act he has become in the last 12 months. As expected, there followed a much better second innings performance by Australia, with Watson and Clarke in particular batting very well. But England did indeed chip away at the Aussie wickets, the highlight being Swann's double to pick up Katich and Ponting in quick succession. KP's unexpected cameo with the ball at the very end may well prove decisive as he bagged the vital wicket of Clarke. (It was so unexpected by me that I had already left the ground to avoid the crowds, but the resultant cheer left me in no doubt what had happened). What was noticeable from my more elevated position in the Chappell stands was the consistent excellence of England's fielding. The catching and ground fielding has been light years better than Australia's. Very impressive. Prediction for Day 5 (assuming no rain): England to win in mid-afternoon by 9 or 10 wickets. If there is rain, it's anyone's guess. Either way, Australia continue to look in disarray and will most likely make wholesale changes to their team for the next Test in Perth.