Story The Ashes 2005

[Bumble is God]

The 2005 Ashes - Lords - Slow Strauss pegs back Aussies

"And welcome to the start of the 2005 Ashes. Obviously, England are desperate to win it, and end the Aussies amazing 16 year run. It won't be easy though, with the Aussies possesing talents such as Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. Well, he we are, and Michael Vaughan has the coin." bellowed Michael Atherton into the microphone

"Heads!" shouted the England captain

"It is a heads" said the Match Referee

"What do you want to do Vaughny?" asked Athers

"Err ... i think we'll have a bat, it looks like a good pitch to bat on, hopefully we can get somewhere around the 300 mark."

England

Marcus Trescothick
Andrew Strauss
Michael Vaughan (c)
Ian Bell
Kevin Pietersen
Andrew Flintoff
Geriant Jones
Ashley Giles
Simon Jones
Matthew Hoggard
Steve Harmison

Australia

Justin Langer
Matthew Hayden
Ricky Ponting (c)
Damien Martyn
Adam Gilchrist
Simon Katich
Brad Hodge
Shane Warne
Jason Gillespie
Staurt McGill
Glenn McGrath

As you can see, Australia go in with no Michael Clarke, or even Brett Lee, going for two spinners. Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick came out to tremendous applause from the whole ground. Neither McGrath nor Gillepsie could find a gap in England's defences, and not wanting to turn to spin that early, Ponting gave himself and Matthew Hayden two overs each before bringing on MacGill and Warne. However, not even the legendary leg spin of Stuart MacGill ... wait a minute, i mean Shane Warne, was able to find a way past the two openers and soon before Lunch, Marcus Trescothick raised his bat in recognition of his half century, and England went into lunch at 83-0.

However, Ponting brought McGrath back into the attack after lunch, and the great fast bowler knocked out all of Trescothick's three stumps and the opener was out for 56. This brought England captain Vaughan to the crease but he fell for just 18 gloving a bouncer off Gillepsie to Gilchrist. Strauss made his fifty in style by smashing Warne straight back down the ground for 6. Ian Bell became the first duck of the series by nicking Warne to Gilchrist and England had fell to 130-3. Strauss and Pietersen remained strong and went into tea on 174-3.

Debutant Kevin Pietersen hit his first fifty in International Test Cricket before getting a leading edge straight to slip just two runs later. The Aussies took the new ball, but Strauss and Flintoff just used it to there advantage and no more wickets fell before the end of play. Andrew Strauss had stuck in there and finished the day on 93* not out and Flintoff 37* not out with England 261-4. Is Strauss the only player ever to bat throught the whole day and not hit a century?

Man of the Day - Andrew Strauss for his 93* not out

 

[Bumble is God]

The 2005 Ashes - Lords - Australia collapse after England's tail sting them

Andrew Strauss hit exactly seven off the first over of the day to bring up his century, off a massive 282 balls. Flintoff soon accelarated and made his fifty, but his big hitting cost him when he miss read the googly and was bowled by Warne. Jones made a nice 32 before being caught bat-pad off Stuart MacGill. Giles faced one over before lunch, and in it he smashed Shane Warne for a massive six over mid wicket and England were 382-6 at Lunch on the second day.

Strauss fell shortly after lunch, gloving Warne through to Gilchrist and the opener was finally out for 136 off 375. Australia were looking to rap up the tail end nice and quickly, but Ashley Giles and Simon Jones had other idea's. They put on a fantastic partnership of 77 before Warne got his revenge on Giles and caught and bowled him for 43. Jones added just two before falling victim to Stuart MacGill for 37. Hoggard and Harmison added just ten before Harmison was out LBW to Gillespie and England were all out for a massive 453 with 26 minutes left before Tea. Despite getting a few edges the Australian openers managed to survive until tea.

Harmison got the early break through England were looking for thanks to a fantastic catch from Ian Bell to get rid of Justin Langer for just 10. This brought the Aussies captain to the crease, but similar to his counter part he didn't last long, with Harmison trapping him LBW first ball for a golden duck. Unfortunatly Harmy didn't get his hat-rick. Hayden looked well set on 49, about to make his half century, but after just 24 overs Simon Jones got the ball reverse swinging and bowled him. Later in that same over Damien Martyn flashed at a short and wide ball and got a top edge straight to gully for 8 and Australia had collapsed to 70-4. "The Best wicket-keeper batsman in the world" Adam Gilchrist made just nine before Hoggard got him to nick on through to Geriant Jones. Katich and Hodge made it through to the end of the day were Australia were 99-5, with England having a lead of 354.

Man of the day - Simon Jones for his 37 and 2-18

 

[Jakester1288]

Top stuff, keep it up!

 

[Jaztheman]

It's a very good start, not that many errors either for a writing story which is a pleasure. You make your updates flow nicely and its a very easy read.

Strauss batted slowly, but the future captain certainly led from the front. England are so far ahead it's uncanny and obvious they will mess up, though with Jones in the team they shouldn't. Australia have it all to do.

 

[Bumble is God]

Thanks guys. To let you know, i'm playing this on ICC 2009.

I'll also upload the scoreboard at the end of each test.

I'll update this sometime later tonight.

I loved Simon Jones before he got injured. I wish he would come back. :crying

 

[Hooper]

So is this your 3rd or 4th account now?

Stick with the one name mate.

 

[Bumble is God]

What do you mean?

 

[OffCutters]

Its his first one, just that he uses the same size font as those other two people who wrote about the Ashes.

 

[Bumble is God]

Is that what this is about? Me using a different sized font?

 

[Bumble is God]

England jubilant despite Gilchrist ton

Australia lost all there remaining five wickets early on in the morning, adding just 35 overnight. Hodge fell first ball to Simon Jones, and Giles got two and Hoggard got the rest and Australia were all out for 134. Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer came out needing a big partnership, but it wasn't to be. Langer edged Flintoff to Trescothick in the slips for just five runs. Hayden and the captain Ponting persevered and at lunch the Kangeroos were 37-1.

Ponting fell short again, with Hoggard removing the Australian captain with the third ball after lunch LBW for 8. Hayden and Martyn looked good before Martyn chopped a short and wide one off Flintoff straight to Ian Bell at gulley and was out for 28. Hayden looked well set before he was bowled by Jones with the last ball before tea for 42.

In this situation, many would play defensive, sensible shots. Not Adam Gilchrist. He romped to his 50 off just 55 balls, and despite England's best efforts they couldn't stop the left-hander reaching his century with the last ball of the day. There were some problems at the other end however with Katich falling for just ten to Simon Jones. Hodge hit just seven before the end of the day, but he faced 59 balls. At the end of day 3, Australia were 247-5 - England 71 runs ahead.

Man of the day - Adam Gilchrist for his unbeaten 101*

 

[Jaztheman]

Australia are getting back into the match very slowly but will have to make sure their lower order bat sensibly with Gilchrist, who is the last hope for Australia. England still very much in control.

Good writing, flows well and the story is looking good.