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7 games Australia failed to win (that you probably weren't complaining about recently).
Article by AngryAngy -
South Africa at Melbourne 2008
Australia made 394 in the first innings despite an active Dale Steyn and had South Africa 8/251 in the 2nd; not only did they concede a 50 run 1st innings deficit, but they crumbled in the 3rd and just generally phoned it in for the rest of the match. Although a lot of their woes were caused by Siddle and Johnson bowling exclusively short at Steyn and not at all at Duminy, the injury plague had come for Christmas. Watson had done his back, leaving no all-round option to replace Symonds, who was hobbling around with a knee problem. This was also to be Brett Lee?s last Test. He suffered a stress injury in his foot during the first innings, although he braved the pain to bowl one last spell in the 4th, he could not produce the results as Pat Cummins would later do in 2011.
India at Bangalore 2008
India were 7/232 but not only did Harbhajan get in the runs, but bloody Zaheer Khan as well. I mean, Harbhajan?s batting is one thing, but Zaheer is a pretty lazy batsman even by tailender standards and if you struggle to be rid of him, you are literally just putting the ball up there for him to slash away. Although India in the end didn?t appear overly troubled by an Australian team lacking a certain zip in the pace attack and not using a specialist spinner at all, their inability to work out the tail cost them up to 41 overs that could have been spent in the 4th innings, probably bowling part-time spin, but uh? shut up.
South Africa at Perth 2005
In spite of a first innings deficit, Australia gathered a massive 3rd innings total thanks to 200 from Brad Hodge. With 490 on the board before tea on day 4, the modern pundit tells us that Australia, featuring Warne, McGrath and Brett Lee, would have romped it home. At the end, they were still 5 wickets short of a victory, having been thwarted by the very bloke who was axed after Adelaide for being a bunny. And of course Brad Hodge was promptly booted for making the top order look bad.
Sri Lanka at Cairns 2004
This match lost a session on day 4 due to rain, but Australia still went about making a rather conservative goal of 355 in 85 overs. Still, this was that unbeatable team; McGrath, Gillespie, Kasprowicz, Warne. 85 overs proved not long enough and although he was eventually bowled by the great one, Sangakkara was able to keep Warne out for 3/4 of the innings. Still, that left the tail on their own for the final hour and you can?t argue that the current team would get the benefit of the doubt in that circumstance.
West Indies at St Johns 2003
Both teams found themselves equal after the first innings, for the absurd total of 240. After taking 7 wickets in the first innings, Jermaine Lawson pulled up with a strain and only bowled 6 overs as Langer and Hayden amassed 242 for the 1st wicket. This top class bowling attack of McGrath, Gillespie, Lee, Bichel and MacGill was blind-sided not by Chris Gayle, not by Brian Lara, but twin centuries from Sarwan and Chanderpaul. The chase of 418 was to be the record until Australia failed to defend 414 against South Africa at Perth. If you?re an Australian searching for schadenfreude, then take solace that the once promising Lawson was washed up at the age of 25.
South Africa at Durban 2002
Australia?s 315 in seamer?s conditions was met with only 167 by South Africa. However, Australia then collapsed for 186 to the undermanned South African attack. Nevertheless, they were set a substantial 335. It wasn?t until the 44th over that Australia had their first blow, Kirsten run out by a sharp throw from Martyn to the bowler?s end and just one ball later they went off for bad light. It took the mighty bowling of Mark Waugh to make further dents, dismissing both Gibbs and Smith, who had added another 70 to the total. When McKenzie slogged Warne to Hayden at mid-on, there was a glimmer of hope, but Kallis and Prince dug in for 99 more runs, pushing the game over the edge and keeping McGrath, Lee and Gillespie each wicketless. This was their highest run chase since 1953 and was to remain their highest until Perth in 2008.
England at Leeds 2001
Having lost most of the first day to rain, Australia made no further ado in piling up a 138 run lead with brisk scoring from Ponting and Martyn followed by 7 wickets from Glenn McGrath. Indeed, when the 5th wicket fell, the follow-on was in danger, but Alec Stewart saw them out of that one. They quickly hustled that to 314 and Gilchrist, leading a Steve Waugh-less XI, made a sporting declaration with 110 overs still to play. Alas, McGrath, Gillespie, Lee and Warne had no answers for Mark Butcher, who was unbeaten on 173 when the runs were chased down with about a session to spare. Fortunately, Australia weren?t completely put to shame by it being the only time Mark Butcher was useful.
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Article by AngryAngy -
South Africa at Melbourne 2008
Australia made 394 in the first innings despite an active Dale Steyn and had South Africa 8/251 in the 2nd; not only did they concede a 50 run 1st innings deficit, but they crumbled in the 3rd and just generally phoned it in for the rest of the match. Although a lot of their woes were caused by Siddle and Johnson bowling exclusively short at Steyn and not at all at Duminy, the injury plague had come for Christmas. Watson had done his back, leaving no all-round option to replace Symonds, who was hobbling around with a knee problem. This was also to be Brett Lee?s last Test. He suffered a stress injury in his foot during the first innings, although he braved the pain to bowl one last spell in the 4th, he could not produce the results as Pat Cummins would later do in 2011.
India at Bangalore 2008
India were 7/232 but not only did Harbhajan get in the runs, but bloody Zaheer Khan as well. I mean, Harbhajan?s batting is one thing, but Zaheer is a pretty lazy batsman even by tailender standards and if you struggle to be rid of him, you are literally just putting the ball up there for him to slash away. Although India in the end didn?t appear overly troubled by an Australian team lacking a certain zip in the pace attack and not using a specialist spinner at all, their inability to work out the tail cost them up to 41 overs that could have been spent in the 4th innings, probably bowling part-time spin, but uh? shut up.
South Africa at Perth 2005
In spite of a first innings deficit, Australia gathered a massive 3rd innings total thanks to 200 from Brad Hodge. With 490 on the board before tea on day 4, the modern pundit tells us that Australia, featuring Warne, McGrath and Brett Lee, would have romped it home. At the end, they were still 5 wickets short of a victory, having been thwarted by the very bloke who was axed after Adelaide for being a bunny. And of course Brad Hodge was promptly booted for making the top order look bad.
Sri Lanka at Cairns 2004
This match lost a session on day 4 due to rain, but Australia still went about making a rather conservative goal of 355 in 85 overs. Still, this was that unbeatable team; McGrath, Gillespie, Kasprowicz, Warne. 85 overs proved not long enough and although he was eventually bowled by the great one, Sangakkara was able to keep Warne out for 3/4 of the innings. Still, that left the tail on their own for the final hour and you can?t argue that the current team would get the benefit of the doubt in that circumstance.
West Indies at St Johns 2003
Both teams found themselves equal after the first innings, for the absurd total of 240. After taking 7 wickets in the first innings, Jermaine Lawson pulled up with a strain and only bowled 6 overs as Langer and Hayden amassed 242 for the 1st wicket. This top class bowling attack of McGrath, Gillespie, Lee, Bichel and MacGill was blind-sided not by Chris Gayle, not by Brian Lara, but twin centuries from Sarwan and Chanderpaul. The chase of 418 was to be the record until Australia failed to defend 414 against South Africa at Perth. If you?re an Australian searching for schadenfreude, then take solace that the once promising Lawson was washed up at the age of 25.
South Africa at Durban 2002
Australia?s 315 in seamer?s conditions was met with only 167 by South Africa. However, Australia then collapsed for 186 to the undermanned South African attack. Nevertheless, they were set a substantial 335. It wasn?t until the 44th over that Australia had their first blow, Kirsten run out by a sharp throw from Martyn to the bowler?s end and just one ball later they went off for bad light. It took the mighty bowling of Mark Waugh to make further dents, dismissing both Gibbs and Smith, who had added another 70 to the total. When McKenzie slogged Warne to Hayden at mid-on, there was a glimmer of hope, but Kallis and Prince dug in for 99 more runs, pushing the game over the edge and keeping McGrath, Lee and Gillespie each wicketless. This was their highest run chase since 1953 and was to remain their highest until Perth in 2008.
England at Leeds 2001
Having lost most of the first day to rain, Australia made no further ado in piling up a 138 run lead with brisk scoring from Ponting and Martyn followed by 7 wickets from Glenn McGrath. Indeed, when the 5th wicket fell, the follow-on was in danger, but Alec Stewart saw them out of that one. They quickly hustled that to 314 and Gilchrist, leading a Steve Waugh-less XI, made a sporting declaration with 110 overs still to play. Alas, McGrath, Gillespie, Lee and Warne had no answers for Mark Butcher, who was unbeaten on 173 when the runs were chased down with about a session to spare. Fortunately, Australia weren?t completely put to shame by it being the only time Mark Butcher was useful.
More...
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