The Ashes 2006/07: The Adelaide Test Thread - Day Four

[Rachael]

The Ashes 2006/07: The Adelaide Test Thread - Day Four. Australia trail by 239 runs with 5 wickets remaining in the 1st innings.

Australia 1st innings				R	M	B	4s	6s	SR
	JL Langer	c Pietersen b Flintoff	4	9	8	1	0	50.00
	ML Hayden	c Jones b Hoggard	12	57	30	1	0	40.00
	RT Ponting	c Jones b Hoggard	142	353	245	12	0	57.95
	DR Martyn	c Bell b Hoggard	11	42	33	1	0	33.33
	MEK Hussey	b Hoggard	91	298	212	7	1	42.92
	MJ Clarke	not out	30		44	4	0	68.18
	AC Gilchrist	not out	13		17	1	0	76.47
	    Extras	(lb 2, nb 7)	9					
								
	    Total	(5 wickets; 97 overs)	312					

To bat SK Warne, B Lee, SR Clark, GD McGrath 

Fall of wickets1-8 (Langer, 1.6 ov), 2-35 (Hayden, 12.6 ov), 3-65 (Martyn, 22.2 ov), 4-257 (Ponting, 82.6 ov), 5-286 (Hussey, 90.4 ov)

							
	 Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ	
	 MJ Hoggard	27	2	76	4	2.81	
	 A Flintoff	22	4	74	1	3.36	(5nb)
	 SJ Harmison	13	4	46	0	3.53	(2nb)
	 JM Anderson	14	2	49	0	3.50	
	 AF Giles	16	2	45	0	2.81	
	 KP Pietersen	5	0	20	0	4.00

[Ernest]

I don't believe in forcing the follow on as a rule, but in this stage of the match should England get the remaining five wickets cheaply, then they have to enforce the follow on to win, I doubt Australia could accumulate enough runs to worry England on day 5.

Can England get the 5 wickets early on?, Flintoff will probably strike early - Harmison is due wickets, he can't keep bowling at the pace he does, and stay wicketless.
That's not counting what Hoggard might contribute again, I can't say I like the idea of an opening bowler having the keeper stand up to him bowling.

The game looks like a draw, but if England take chances when they come - who knows.

I can't see a way Australia can win this game, no way comes to mind, so it's like the opposite of the Gabba, an England win, or Australia toughing out for a draw.
The England bowlers will be fresh - the Aussie batsmen have to start over, the game can't be said to be dead unless no further wickets have fallen by lunch.

[Quagmire]

Looks like a draw. Well batted Collingwood, Pietersen, Ponting and Hussey. We have seen some great batting already in the series.

[Django]

Clarke and Gilly are more than capable batsmen and even Lee and Warne can bat a bit. The wicket is placid and if these four do bat well, they can take Australia to around 700 and then leave England to bat about 75 overs on day 5 to save the match. This should not be difficult for England on this pitch. But you never know, given England batsmen’s vulnerability against Warne in the past.


The other scenario is that Ponting declares as soon as the follow-on is avoided and then takes a chance at dismissing England cheaply in the second innings so that Aussie are left to chase not that many in the final innings. Again with McGrath not fit, Ponting is unlikely to declare behind England, particularly after the way England batted in the first innings.


England can dismiss Australia within the morning session of day 4 and then score at a brisk rate to set Australia a challenging target on the fifth day. On this pitch, Australia should bat out the whole of day 5 to ensure a draw. But again you never know…..

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Quagmire

Looks like a draw. Well batted Collingwood, Pietersen, Ponting and Hussey. We have seen some great batting already in the series.

I don't care if it is a draw - this is how IMO cricket should be played, the batting has been a treat from both sides, and it's now a good contest.

[south beds mikey]

I agree. After the shambles in Brisbane a good solid draw is a decent result. That would be 1 down with 3 to play. Crucial to remember we hold the ashes so a drawn series is good enough for us. I also agree about the standard of the cricket. With the exception of Warne and Giles bowling outside leg stump its benn enthralling stuff.

[south beds mikey]

Just a quick point about the 3rd umpire decision on the Hussey run out on day 3.

Channel nine contionously freezed the frame with the bat over the line and bails in the air but at no point stopped for any length of time on the frame where Hussey was short. I was appalled to hear the 3rd ump only sees the same pictures as us. Therefore in a tight situation as yesterday the host broadcaster can put a pretty big spin on things. Also why is the 3rd ump not neutral? This means we had a situation where an AUSSIE broadcaster showed a favourable freeze frame to an AUSSIE 3rd ump who found in favour of an AUSSIE batsman.

I'm sure theres a connection but what can it be?

[Trigger]

Originally Posted by south beds mikey

I'm sure theres a connection but what can it be?

So what yu sayin South Beds?, burp sorry , Mike at the Nags head has been watering the beer again.

[south beds mikey]

Hoggy round the wicket, Has he dones this before?

[Ernest]

Good question - I can't remember to be honest.