Story story COMPLETE

[mattfb]

This is going to be a certain draw unless England declare and Australia bat very fast.

 

[PhilD123]

Yep this will be a draw. I don't think Collingwood's place is at three.

Good work Lee.

 

[Skater]

England declare and take four Australian wickets before the tea break


Ryan Sidebottom took two wickets in two balls to give England a chance of winning​

England captain Andrew Strauss declared their second innings shortly after the lunch break on the fifth day of the fourth Ashes test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with the score on 128/4, setting Australia 213 runs to win. Ian Bell finished on 32 not out and Andrew Flintoff on 10 not out.

Day 5 End of Innings Summary

England 1st innings: 571/6 declared (Bell 214)
Australia 1st innings: 487 all out (Martyn 207)
England 2nd innings: 128/4 declared (Strauss 60)

Australia need 213 more runs to win with 10 second innings wickets remaining

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior took a good catch to get out Michael Hussey off the bowling of Matthew Hoggard on only the second ball of Australia's second innings, for a duck.

Captain Ricky Ponting failed once again after being out Leg Before Wicket off the bowling of Steve Harmison for 5, making Australia 7/2.

A partnership began to develop between Matthew Hayden and Phil Jaques, two players that England had struggled to get out during the Ashes test series. This was changed however when Hayden was bowled out by Ryan Sidebottom for 35. Now Australia were 68/3 shortly before the tea break.

Damien Martyn was out for a golden duck, Leg Before Wicket to Sidebottom, a far cry from his excellent double century in their first innings, leaving Sidebottom on a hattrick.

Jaques and Justin Langer batted through until the tea break.

Day 5 Tea Summary

England 1st innings: 571/6 declared (Bell 214)
Australia 1st innings: 487 all out (Martyn 207)
England 2nd innings: 128/4 declared (Strauss 60)
Australia 2nd innings: 88/4 (25 overs)

Australia need 125 more runs to win with 6 second innings wickets remaining

 

[Skater]

Thrilling finish sees England retain the Ashes


Monty Panesar took 5/28 in the final session​

England went into the final session of the final day of the fourth Ashes test match knowing that six more wickets would see them retain the Ashes.

Phil Jaques was bowled out by Ryan Sidebottom in the first over after the tea break to highten optimism.

When Adam Gilchrist's first ball was caught by Marucs Trescothick off the bowling of Monty Panesar for a duck, England could smell victory.

Jason Gillespie got stuck in to make 20 before he was caught by Andrew Flintoff off the bowling of Panesar. At this point Australia were 140/7. The home team needed 73 more runs to win and England needed 3 wickets to win.

Panesar took the wicket of Nathan Bracken, caught by Trescothick for 2, then he trapped Justin Langer Leg Before Wicket for 37.

The Trescothick and Panesar combination struck again to get out Michael Kasprowicz for 14 and win the match in dramatic style for England.

The final pair failed to bat out the remaining four overs of the session, which would have left the destination of the urn undecided until the end of the final test match in Sydney.

Now, regardless of the result at the SCG, the Ashes are staying with the Poms.

Match Summary

England 1st innings: 571/6 declared (Bell 214)
Australia 1st innings: 487 all out (Martyn 207)
England 2nd innings: 128/4 declared (Strauss 60)
Australia 2nd innings: 156 all out (Panesar 5/28)

England win by 56 runs and retain the Ashes

​

 

[surendar]

Yes, thats one of the dramatic victories.. Infact suprised of Aussies second innings. Keep up the great works Lee

 

[gamerkid22]

Great bowling by Monty and nice presentation by Lee . :happy England winning the Ashes :happy

 

[Skater]

Yes, thats one of the dramatic victories.. Infact suprised of Aussies second innings. Keep up the great works Lee

Great bowling by Monty and nice presentation by Lee . :happy England winning the Ashes :happy

Thanks guys. Positive comments mean a lot to me.

Great to bash the Aussies as well!

 

[mattfb]

Great Ashes win for England. Fantastic bowling by Monty. The presentation is very good. Keep it up

 

[Skater]

Australia in charge after first day of final test

Michael Hussey finished the first day on 198 not out​

The 5th and final Ashes test match has begun at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with supporters allowed entry after problems during the 1st and 3rd ones.

England have only made onechange to their team with Alastair Cook replacing Marcus Trescothick. They have changed their batting order as well with Kevin Pietersen coming in to bat at number three and Paul Collingwood at number four.

England

1. Andrew Strauss (captain)
2. Alastair Cook
3. Kevin Pietersen
4. Paul Collingwood
5. Ian Bell
6. Andrew Flintoff
7. Matt Prior (wicketkeeper)
8. Ryan Sidebottom
9. Matthew Hoggard
10. Steve Harmison
11. Monty Panesar

The pitch would slightly favour pace bowling. The weather was forecast to be sunny for all five days apart from some of the second day, when slight cloud is expected.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the coin toss and elected to bat first.

An opening partnership was building before the dangerous Matthew Hayden was caught out by Alastair Cook off the bowling of Matthew Hoggard for 11.

Michael Hussey passed his half century and Ricky Ponting, desperately out of form during the series, was supporting him well. However, the captain was caught and bowled for 35 in the end.

Day 1 Lunch Summary

Australia 1st innings: 118/2 (31 overs)

Australia lead by 118 runs with 8 first innings wickets remaining

Michael Hussey made an excellent century as Australia batted well during the second session of play. The able Phil Jaques passed fifty to support him as well.

Jaques was finally bowled by Steve Harmison for 55.


Day 1 Tea Summary

Australia 1st innings: 248/3 (64 overs)

Australia lead by 248 runs with 7 first innings wickets remaining

Hussey and Damien Martyn refused to budge during the final session of play, the latter making 50 in the process.

Day 1 Close of Play Summary

Australia 1st innings: 368/3 (96 overs)

Australia lead by 368 runs with 7 first innings wickets remaining

 

[Skater]

At the tea break on the final day of the final Ashes test between Australia and England in Sydney, captains Ricky Ponting and Andrew Strauss agreed that no result was possible and declared the match as a draw, handing the tourists a 2-1 outright series win.

"There was a long, long way to go for both teams in that final session and there wasn't nearly enough time to force a result," said Ponting at the post-match press conference.

"I know it is the Australian way to fight to the very end, but with an important one-day series coming up and the Ashes lost, there was no point in carrying on."

Cricket Australia took the press conference as a chance to announce that New Zealand had been told that they would not be required for the Commonwealth Bank Series.

"New Zealand will not be coming to Australia for the tri-series," said James Sutherland.

"Instead, Australia and England will duel in 5 one-day internationals."

Stay tuned for the CB Series.

 

[Gilly Fan]

Umm, what happened to days 2, 3 and 4? Good story nonetheless.

 

[Skater]

Umm, what happened to days 2, 3 and 4? Good story nonetheless.

Within the 27 days since my last update, I've replaced ICC06 with ICC3. Hence, I've lost the file.

 

[Skater]

Yorkshire batsman Michael Vaughan has passed a fitness test after his long term knee injury kept him out of the Ashes test series.

The result now means that Vaughan is available for the five one-day internationals against Australia. He will take over as captain from Andrew Strauss too.

 

[Karachi Xpress]

Good win for England in the 4th Test! Looks like England are gonna lose this match though!

 

[Skater]

Good win for England in the 4th Test! Looks like England are gonna lose this match though!

You haven't read my latest updates have you?

The 5th test was a draw, the ODIs are coming up soon.