Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Ryan Harris is mobbed by teammates after dismissing Jonathan Trott. Source:AFP
AUSTRALIA tightened its stranglehold on the third Test, seizing the vital wickets of Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook, as England went to lunch at 4-114 on the third day at Old Trafford.
After their much improved first innings of 7-527 declared, suddenly, the Australians had given themselves a wonderful chance to keep the series alive. A dramatic turnaround for a team pilloried, quite rightly, after losing its past six Test matches.
Both in the way they batted, and the manner the Australian bowlers broke the resistance of the England top order, the tourists seemed a team transformed.
While Peter Siddle had led the way on with two late wickets on day two, fellow pacemen Ryan Harris and Mitchell Starc did the damage early on day three.
With England resuming on 2-52, Trott had ambled to five from 32 balls, and looked set for a typically long stay. But Harris found the edge with a lifting ball and Michael Clarke completed the dismissal with a neat catch at second slip.
Follow all the action from Old Trafford in our Match Centre, featuring video of every wicket and boundary, and get the best reaction and analysis in our live blog.
Cook then looked set to build a big stand with the South-African born Kevin Pietersen, as the pair put on 46. But the England captain's 234 minute stay ended when he popped up a short ball from Starc and was brilliantly caught by the diving Brad Haddin for 62.
That effort was symbolic of the Australian's improvement here, given the veteran gloveman Haddin had been harshly criticised for some missed chances at Lord's.
As has often been the case in Ashes series here, Pietersen, who entered the match despite a strained calf, again looked the key to England's chances of a revival. He was 33 not out at lunch, with the in-form Ian Bell 4.
At both Trent Bridge and Lord's, the Australian bowlers failed to take full advantage of a good starts. Although the fast bowlers had claimed the first four wickets, Australia's hopes on the final days here could rest with off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The brown pitch was slowly crumbling, but still providing some bounce. For Lyon, that means conditions were likely to become even more inviting than they had been for England's Graeme Swann, who took his 17th five-wicket haul - 5/157.
Step forward Lyon, who was dropped for the first two Tests of the Ashes series in favour of youngster Ashton Agar; and who is still looking for the match-winning performances to cement his place as Australia's first premier spinner of the post-Warne era.
Lyon bowled well, but without luck, early in England's first innings. He had 0-24 from 13 tight overs by lunch.
Other than some stout English resistance, Australia's greatest threat appeared to be the weather. For a second day, light showers cleared in time for play to begin. But rain is forecast for Sunday and Monday.
Australian had built a dominant position on the back of Michael Clarke's excellent 187. Chris Rogers (84), Steve Smith (89), Brad Haddin (65 not out) and Mitchell Starc (66 not out) all made significant contributions to what was, by far, Australia's best batting of the series.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Aussies tighten stranglehold on Test
Dengan url
http://sportlivestyle.blogspot.com/2013/08/aussies-tighten-stranglehold-on-test.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Aussies tighten stranglehold on Test
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Aussies tighten stranglehold on Test
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar