Story Ashes 2006/7 [c2005] Warm-up OD Game

[tjh1989]

Victoria v England
Tour Match, 2006
Melbourne MCG, Melbourne, Victoria
8,9,10,11th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)
Lunch 1:00pm

England have made a decent start to this match with a openign stand of 98. Everythign was lookign rosey at thsi point but a Lbw against Trescothick changed this with him departing with 2 overs before Lunch. Things worsened for Engladn with Strauss going in the last over as wel to warne although his dismissal was down to a pour shot possibly brought on by his lack of runs for a few overs. However to batsmen ahve been replaced by good bastmen and therefore a next good session coudl put them in a god position.

D.Gower- England woudl have preferred to have goen in no wickets down but it wasn't to be, now Vaughan and pietersenm have got to make sure they are there fore tea and hoepfully the close of play.

 

[tjh1989]

Victoria v England
Tour Match, 2006
Melbourne MCG, Melbourne, Victoria
8,9,10,11th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)
Lunch 1:00pm
England 223-4 (57 overs)

Despiet the loss of another two wickets in this session England find them selves in a dectn position at 223 for 4. Micheal Vaughan has top scored so far with his 69not out. Hes was joined at the crease by Flintoff after Collignwood and Pietersen both went early. Pietersen went first padding one away that went sraight on and woudl have hit the stumps, he was then joined by Collignwood who pushed at oen adn edged it to a well positioned 3rd slip.

D.Gower- With the tail so close England have got to make sure they dont lose wickets if they do they could fidn themselves in trouble.

 

[GrayNicolls]

Great presentation mate and a good story. England are doing well. I don't know how you people are so patient at cricket 2005 I get really impatient on it and get all out for 50!

 

[tjh1989]

Victoria v England
Tour Match, 2006
Melbourne MCG, Melbourne, Victoria
8,9,10,11th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)
End of Day 1
England 299 (80.3 overs)

England slumped to 299 all out after a terrific bowling performance by Harvye who claimed 5 for 53. Vaughan fell straight afetr the tea session with out adding to his score which brought the out- of -form Jones to the crease. His visual lasted just 19 balls for a mere 6 runs before he departed. As a result Flintoff found himself with the tail, however he carried on smashing 3 6's in an innings of 57. Flintoff coincidentyl was the last wicket t fall after he was caught at cover.

D.Gower-Another pour batting performance by England. So many starts whcih should have been converted. However there were alot of positives and they have definetly got a hand in this game.

A.Flintoff- I seem to end up with the tail alot nowadays and so i was quiet use to battign with them. Me and Hoggy added 30 odd and he batted very well. I was disappointed to have got out when i did beucase i think if we had lasted the day out we cud have sneeked another 30 runs possibly.

I Harvey- The pitch is definetly favouring medium pace at the moment. I think everyoen expected a flat wicket but nto as much up and down movement which help with alot of the LBW's. Warne bowled very well again and applied pressure. Th eovercast conditiosn defientyl aided the swing.

Victoria are 299 runs behind

 

[tjh1989]

Victoria v England
Tour Match, 2006
Melbourne MCG, Melbourne, Victoria
8,9,10,11th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)
End of Day 2
Rain Delays Victoria

Victoria watched as an entire day was lost to the weather seen throughout melbourne today. The rain which started as the batsmen prepared to see the first over lasted throught the day and may have hampred any chances of a result in this match.

D.Gower - Day lost is really bad in any match but now this match seems to be heading towards a draw unless Victoria put the foot on the gas.

Victoria are 299 runs behind

 

[usy]

oh damn the rain, anyway great story. enjoyed it so far.

 

[tjh1989]

Victoria v England
Tour Match, 2006
Melbourne MCG, Melbourne, Victoria
8,9,10,11th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)
End of Day 2
Victoria 89-3 (29 overs)

England Started there bowling well with 3 wickets taken in the mornign session. Harmison starred with the ball taking 2 bgi wickets. On ein his 2nd ball of hsi firts spell. Unliek the Skiddier bowlers harmison has got real bounce from the wicket and has threatened with a suberp bouncing delivery which saw the opener fall who was caught in the slips. For Victoria Hodge as looked threatenign with boundaries frequentyl score by him. The next session is vital to both whoever gets it will have the upper hand. more wickets for England though looks liekly.

D.Gower - England have done what they woudl have hope to have done, take wickets. Hodge is the bgi wicket and if he goes England could look about a reuslt after al.

Victoria are 210 runs behind

 

[kookaburra69]

you have really improved your persenration and it looks great,good work

 

[usy]

Hodge has played very good here, England need some quicks wickets now.

 

[tjh1989]

Victoria v England
Tour Match, 2006
Melbourne MCG, Melbourne, Victoria
8,9,10,11th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)
Tea Day 3 3:40pm
5 wickets in the session aid England
Victoria 158-8 (58 overs)

England made a terrific start in this session with 5 wickets falling. A.Flintoff was the Star with 2 wickest in his return spell. Warne fell for a Golden Duck and htigns soon looekd ominous. Hodge fell to a top edge sweep and this set of the collapse. Flintoff eventually removed 3 batsment for a mere 6 runs. England now need to wrap this innings up before tiem is lost and a result made a furthe runcertainty.

D.Gower - A results in this game has been made possible as long as this tail is wrapped up. If they bat for a little to logn and remove some pressicous rusn England could fidn themselves with a lack of rusn and time. It will be interestign to see what England's tatcis will be.

Victoria are 141 runs behind

 

[tjh1989]

Victoria v England
Tour Match, 2006
Melbourne MCG, Melbourne, Victoria
8,9,10,11th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)
End of Innings
Final pair add fifty in defiant stand
Victoria 232 (73.2 overs) (16 overs overs)

Englands hopes of wrapping up the tail were dashed after 74 rusn were added after tea. Rummans finished 53 not out and this innings was undoubtably as good ro even better than flintoffs simular innings. Panesar manged to get the last wicket and he finished with 2 for 45 but Flitnoff still had the best figures of 3 for 29. With a lead fo just 67 and the end of the dya nearign will England attack, or just bat for the time and practice.

D.Gower - This pitch as played nothin liek any one of us woudl have thought. Since day 3 began the ball ahs been high and low and this has caused problems. England cannot loe this gaem nwo unless they throw away wickets and leav ea total liek 150 to chase, however you must remember the inningsof 73 last week andtherefore it is a possibilty.

England lead by 67 runs

 

[tjh1989]

Victoria v England
Tour Match, 2006
Melbourne MCG, Melbourne, Victoria
8,9,10,11th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)
End of Innings
England make a nervey declaration depsite losign 6 for 98
England 98-6 Dec. (16 overs overs)

England made there intensions clear with them hittign 98 of just 16 overs. Despite losing 6 wickets it was clear there was only one intension, quick runs. This waslargely achieved by Pietersen who hit a magnificant 67. For Victoria Lewis starred with 4 wickets and warne with 2. The delcaration came early on day 4 and the total of 165 set, its gettabel but will Victoria be anle to achieve it.

D.Gower - An amazing innings with runs and wickets. Pietsern performed extremely well and now England have just got to make sure the runs dotn coem easily. The pitch seems fine and therefore 165 is a chasable total but with a wearing pitch adn the bowling attack facign them is it possible?

K.Pietersen - Well after the Victoir 1st Inninsg we knew we could win it as long as rsn came quickyl so we decided on a total of 150 andit had to be done before lucnh on day 4. But we lost wickets quick so i thought i had nothin to lose btu go for it so i did and luckily it paid of.

Victoria require 166 runs from Aprox. 80 overs

 

[tjh1989]

Victoria v England
Tour Match, 2006
Melbourne MCG, Melbourne, Victoria
8,9,10,11th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)
End of Innings 2:08pm
England Triumph after 6 for 22 by Panesar
Victoria 235 (26.2 overs overs)

England recorded their first victory of the tour with a 30 run win over Victoria. Victori set the tone of their inninsg smashign frequent bals for six and four. However the terrific bolwign of Panesar ensured an England victory. However it wasn't untill the introduction of Collingwood that steady the English nerves with himself pickign up 3 for 34. M.Elliot top scored with 38 but was offered little support. England nwo head to play Queensland before their Ashes sereis begins.

Post match interviews:

M.Atherton - Another superb innings of cricket. However for a Victoria fan it wasn't. They came close but couldn't handle the pressure Panesar applied. Collignwood came through the ball likewise and help ensure an England victory. But the Man of the match award goes to Panesar for his 6 for 22.

M.Panesar - Thanks, the ball seemed to be coming otu well and i was gettign it in the right areas. For soem reason the Victoiran Batsmen seemed to target me so i put the field back and we manged to pick up a few that way. Colly help out amazignly and i think he was the deciding factor in this innings.

Back in the studio

D.Gower- Well there you go England finally pull of their first tour game win. Although, you coudl say it was a bit to close for comfort.

I.Botham- Yes i woudl agree and as well, Hoggard, he bowled terribly in tis match. In this second innings he and his fellow pacemand Harmison took zero wickets whcih is shocking. I think England have also got to rethink their selection of Plunkett who hasnt performed for a while now. And then theres G.Jones, not the ebst keepign displayed nor the battign disply either he needs some runs quickly.

England win by 30 runs

 

[tjh1989]

Ashes Tour Australia Schedule and Results :

29th Oct Tour Match- Prime Ministers XI v England at Perth- England Drew with Prime Ministers XI

3rd Nov Tour Match- South Australia v England at Adelaide- South Australia won by 7 wickets

8th Nov Tour Match- Victoria v England at Melbourne- England won by 30 runs

15h Nov Tour Match- Queensland v England at Brisbane
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[tjh1989]

Queensland v England
Tour Match, 2006
Brisbane GABBA, Brisbane
15,16,17,18th Nov (4-day Match)

Umpires: TP Laycock and PD Parker
Toss: England (Bat)

England head to Brisbane fro their final tour match before the first Ashes test. Engladn are without Vaughan who is rested with soreness in his knee as well as Flintoff who is rested with simular discomforties in his ankle. England won the toss and chose to field which seems the best decison becuase the pitch looks good and should play good. However, with the hot sun baking down on it it could flattened and raise soem issues over the choice to bat. Strauss takes over and will hoep to repeat hsi feat of the first test with a huge first innings score and close game.

D.Gower- England recorded their first victory of the tour and now they will hoep to build on this before the first Test. Strauss has led well in th epast and he shoudl do a good job. For Queensland it will be interesting to see hwo Symonds and Kasprowicz play and hwo it could effect thier selection