Story The Ashes 2009: Australia in England [Day 3: 1st Ashes Test Posted]

[Pakistani Army]

Yeah it's a brilliant story. Good luck.

 

[Griffo]

Really looking forward to an update, your leading story of the month to the best of my knowledge

 

[Left_Hander]

Great win for Australia. Clarke played really well. That close loss will give Australia a good pshycological boost for upcoming games.

 

[surendar]

Congrads for winning the Story of the Month. This thread has been stickied already. Keep up the great story going mate

 

[Pakistani Army]

Yeah congratulations mate..Keep up the good works!

 

[The Mongrel]

Thanks for the award guys.

England v Australia, 5th One Day International, Headingley
England cruise to series win despite devastating White
Cricinfo staff
5 July 2009

England 260 for 7 (48.4 overs) (Flintoff 53, Cook 47, Lee 4-54) beat Australia 259-7 (50 overs) (White 94, Haddin 65, Anderson 2-43) by 3 wickets
Scorecard

A forceful half-century from captain Andrew Flintoff proved enough to lead England to a 3-2 NatWest series as they stumbled to a three wicket win at Headingley. Flintoff's 50 was enough to lead his side to the target of 260 after good innings from top order batsmen Cook, Denly and Pietersen. Earlier, the Australians overcame a shaky start to post 259-7 from their fifty overs - thanks to a breathtaking innings from Cameron White (94) and good support from wicketkepper Brad Haddin (65).

Winning the toss and electing to bat in overcast conditions proved to be a rather daft move by the Australians as they lost crucial early wickets. In form opener Michael Clarke fell victim to James Anderson's swing as a good length ball on off stump found his outside edge to give Flintoff at second slip a simple catch. Looking to increase a sluggish run rate, Phil Jaques took the worst option as he skied a slog outside off stump of Jon Lewis to find the waiting hands for Anderson in the deep for 12. However, the big scalp came with the score at 26 as Anderson again found his range to force Ponting forward - finding his outside edge to give Marcus Trescothick a smart catch as first slip.

Victorian captain Cameron White was joined at the crease by New South Wales captain Brad Haddin the Australians needed to build a solid partnership to recover from a shaky start. White and Haddin provided stability in spades as the two combined for a glorious 124-run stand in 26 overs to set up the Australian innings. White moved past a very convincing half century and was closely followed by Haddin, the only blemish for White on 48 as he attempted to punish a loose delivery from debutant Adil Rashid - only to be dropped by Kevin Pietersen at cover. Rashid would, however, pick up his maiden international wicket as he had Haddin Pushing forward to a good length delivery; Haddin edging the spinning delivery into the gloves of Steven Davies. White was joined by Mike Hussey and the two combined for a 79-run partnership as White moved closer to a maiden one day ton.

However, with the score at 229-4 - White looked to dance down the wicket to Stuart Broad on 94; Broad's extra height gaining extra bounce which flew to Trescothick at slip. With the very next ball, Shane Watson took a suicidal run to allow Flintoff to run out Hussey for a quickfire 34 in 32 deliveries - a vital innings which included just two boundaries to reduce Australia to 229-6. Watson however would redeem himself as he struck 23 in just 12 deliveries to help Australia to 259-7, a decent score considering such a poor start.

The overcast conditions which helped James Anderson to tidy figures of 2-43 soon departed as the English openers came out in pursuit of 260. Despite an aggressive start from Trescothick as he motored to 24, a misguided hook shot from the left handed popped up to Mike Hussey at square leg to give Australia their first victim. After a confident debut at Old Trafford, Kent batsman Joe Denly proved his class again as he posted a poised 41 in 71 deliveries. He and Cook combined for 74 runs before Cook played all around some late swing from Brett Lee which dismantled his woodwork.

Looking to increase the run rate, Denly played an ambitious hook shot off Lee which sailed into the Headingley stands for a maximum; but he met his end with the next delivery as he chopped on a wider delivery from Lee who claimed his third wicket. Paul Collingwood's form didn't improve as he attempted to loft Watson down the ground only to find Shaun Tait for nine as the English fell to 4-139. However, requiring a further 111 runs for a series victory, Kevin Pietersen seemed to lift as Flintoff looked to find some much needed form as the two combined for a partnership of 73 which saw Pietersen punish the attack for a score of 43 in 35 deliveries. Pietersen looked to attack the Aussie pace attack, culminating in his dismissal as he mistimed a drive off Ben Hilfenhaus; the Tasmanian taking a smart return catch to dismiss the cavallier batsman.

Following Pietersen's dismissal, Andrew Flintoff lifted a gear as he took fifteen off Cameron White's third (and final) over to leave him with embarassing figures of 0-31. After passing his half-century to raucous applause from the Headingley crowd, Flintoff departed for a run-a-ball 53 as he sought out Michael Clarke at point after squeezing a full delivery from Bracken off his outside edge. Rashid's first innings in international cricket ended in an embarassing fashion as he fell for three; moving outside his off stump only to see Lee pick up his leg stump - and his fourth wicket. However, Steve Davies and Jon Lewis lead the English to a comprehensive three-wicket victory over the world champions - a huge morale boost ahead of the huge Ashes tour.

Despite the loss, the Player of the Match award went to Cameron White after his sparkling innings, fellow Australian Michael Clarke claiming the Player of the Series award with his 311 runs at an average of 62. Post match celebrations showed just how important the win was for England, though, as the gain much wanted bragging rights ahead of their campaign to regain the Ashes. Australia will have their chance to play themselves into form ahead of the first test match though, with a tour match against Somerset at Taunton.

© Cricinfo

----

The best thing is we now get away from the pajama stuff and into some real cricket.

 

[The Mongrel]

Somerset v Australians, Tauton, 1st day
Rogers dominates on flattest of tracks
The Bulletin by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan at Taunton
July 5, 2009

Australians 393 for 2 (Rogers 163*, Hussey 88, Clarke 80*) lead Somerset yet to bat by 393 runs
Scorecard
How they were out

Starts from all four batsmen who made their way to the flat Taunton wicket helped Australia to a run feast which saw them gain the upper hand against Somerset in the opening day of the tour match at Taunton. West Australian opener Chris Rogers starred against a combination of a good batting wicket and poor bowling as he remained unbeaten on 163* at stumps, helped by half centuries to stand in captain Mike Hussey and unbeaten batsman Michael Clarke.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Somerset looked good early on a wicket that has quickly become known as the flattest in the country - Rogers and opening partner Phil Jaques preferring to take it easy as opposed to attacking early. However once opening bowlers Charl Willoughby and Peter Trego were removed from the attack after very economic spells, the two looked to increase the tempo against Mark Turner, Ian Blackwell and wrist-spinner Mike Munday.

Munday nearly picked up the first wicket of the day as he took the outside edge of Phil Jaques on 43, only for Craig Kieswetter to fumble a catch he should have easily taken. Never-the-less, Ian Blackwell made sure the blunder didn't cost much as Jaques only added one before he was bowled trying to cut the left-arm spinner.

If Somerset thought things were to get easier they were mistaken, as Mike Hussey (captaining for the resting Ricky Ponting) looked to assert himself as Chris Rogers pushed past fifty. The two piled on a 156-run partnership against a struggling attack who were fast feeling the effects of an old ball on a batsman's paradise. Hussey motored past fifty and ended on 88 in just 114 deliveries, and innings which included 13 boundaries, before part-time medium pacer James Hildreth had him playing on for Somerset's second wicket.

Soon after the departure of Hussey, Rogers blazed past his first century of the tour (albeit in his first innings) and was joined by another fiery batsman in Michael Clarke. Clarke himself finished the day on 80 and will be looking towards a century to secure his place in the first test team, while Rogers will be looking for a double century.

Clarke's innings will go a long way in helping the selectors decide the batting line up for the first test. With the top order and the bowling attack relatively well settled, Clarke, Brad Hodge and Shane Watson look set to battle it out for the fifth and sixth batting positions. Earlier, Stuart MacGill and Shaun Tait were preferred to Ben Hilfenhaus - MacGill's selection completing a wonderful comeback considering he will play his first test since 2006.

How they were out

Australians

Phil Jaques b Blackwell 44 (99 for 1)

Missed a cut shot off the back foot

Mike Hussey b Hildreth 88 (255 for 2)

Chopped on with an uncertain push outside his off stump

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is assistant editor of Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

----

 

[kookaburra69]

Great start by the Aussies,huge total coming up i think.

 

[The Mongrel]

Somerset v Australians, Tauton, 2nd day
Rain threatens to halt Aussie charge
The Bulletin by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan at Taunton
July 6, 2009

Somerset 132 for 3 (Langer 39*, Tait 2-26) trail Australians 637 for 5 dec. (Rogers 215, Clarke 146, Munday 3-162) by 514 runs
Scorecard
How they were out

Overcast conditions didn't prove enough to halt the Australian charge as they posted an imposing 637-5 declared before picking up three wickets before stumps of day two of their tour match against Somerset. Resuming at 392-2, the Aussies moved past 600 thanks to a double century to Chris Rogers, a ton to Michael Clarke and a quickfire 75* from Shane Watson

Rogers sat on 163* overnight alongside Clarke on 80*, the two adding to their 143-run stand to move to prominent milestones. Clarke passed his century early in the day, whilst Rogers would pass his double ton not long after, eerily reminiscent of the double ton he scored last Ashes tour for Northamptonshire (although this time he was playing for Australia instead of against them).

However, leg-spinner Mike Munday proved to be the only shining light in the Somerset bowling attack as he picked up both Rogers nd Clarke within six overs. Rogers pushed forward and was beaten by spin to be adjudged leg before for 215, whilst Michael Clarke got a thin outside edge to be dismissed for 146. Munday's wicket of Rogers broke up a marathon 242-run partnership, ending Rogers innings of 215 from 348 deliveries including 24 fours and a six.

The two men competing for a test spot, Brad Hodge and Watson, joined each other at the crease and combined for a partnership of 75 with Watson looking the more impressive as Hodge scratched around in an innings of 37 which only included the one boundary. He became Munday's third victim as James Hildreth snaffled a sharp chance at bat pad to deal a severe blow to the Victorian's test prospects.

Watson, however, was not to be fazed by the pressure surrounding his knock as he bludgeoned the attack at almost a run a ball to move to an unbeaten 75 in just 85 deliveries before the declaration, and innings which included ten boundaries against a weary Somerset attack. Charl Willoughby and Peter Trego, the economical bowlers on day one, had a change of fortunes as both conceeded over a hundred without taking a wicket - the veteran Willoughby conceeding figures of 0-140. Young seamer Mark Turner was embarassed as he was dispatched for 156 in 33 wicketless overs, whilst Mike Munday redeemed himself with figures of 3-162.

With an imposing total ahead of them, Somerset openers Neil Edwards and Matthew Wood needed to just bat for as long as they could - both men starting well as they added 43 for the first wicket. Shaun Tait's first ball, though, spoiled the good Somerset start as he struck Wood in front for 24 with a searing yorker. Soon after, Edwards also fell for 24 as he mistimed a drive off Tait to give him a simple return chance.

With Australia looking to drive the nail into the Somerset coffin, an hour long rain delay hit which allowed former Australian opener Justin Langer and James Hildreth a much needed break. The two looked confident against a returning MacGill who was largely unimpressive with a newer ball. However, with just three overs to stumps, Hildreth was dismissed to a short of a length corker from Stuart Clark - Hildreth's angled bat seeing the ball hit the stumps as he departed for 29. Nightwatchsman Peter Trego survived a close shout off the last ball of the day as the Australians were certain Clark had found his outside edge - the all-rounder surviving to be unbeaten on three at stumps alongside captain Langer on 39*.

How they were out

Australians

Phil Jaques b Blackwell 44 (99 for 1)

Missed a cut shot off the back foot

Mike Hussey b Hildreth 88 (255 for 2)

Chopped on with an uncertain push outside his off stump

Chris Rogers lbw b Munday 215 (497-3)

Pushed forward tentatively and was plumb in front against a turning delivery

Michael Clarke c Kieswetter b Mundary 146 (520-4)

Fooled by some prodigious turn from Munday which took the outsde edge to give the keeper an easy catch

Brad Hodge c Hildreth b Mundary 37 (595-5)

Straighter ball crashes into inside edge and fires to bat-pad

Somerset

Matthew Wood lbw b Tait 24 (43-1)

Beaten by pace as a yorker catches him in front of middle

Neil Edwards c & b Tait 24 (60-2)

Mis-timed drived lobs back to bowler

James Hildreth b Clark 29 (119-3)

Angled bat away from body rockets back onto stumps

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is assistant editor of Cricinfo

? Cricinfo

----

 

[The Mongrel]

Somerset v Australians, Tauton, 3rd day
Tait stars as match peters out to a draw
The Bulletin by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan at Taunton
July 7, 2009

Somerset 341 (Langer 95, Tait 7-96) and 98-1 (Edwards 46*) drew with Australians 637 for 5 dec. (Rogers 215, Clarke 146, Munday 3-162)
Scorecard
How they were out

An awe-inspiring display of fast bowling from Aussie speedster Shaun Tait lit up a dreary County Ground in Taunton as Australia and Somerset played out a draw. Tait, who struggled in the one day series, was in exceptional touch as he claimed 7-96 against a Somerset batting lineup who struggled with the searing pace they had to face.

Unbeaten overnight batsmen Justin Langer and Peter Trego resumed with the score at 123-3, the nightwatchsman Trego proving an irksome force as he picked off runs at will against a wayward Aussie attack. But ater a 100-run partnership, Tait picked up his third wicketof the innings as his reverse swing was too much for Trego's defences. Keen to impress, youngster Robin Lett joined his captain at the crease and looked comfortable against the Australians.

Langer continued his good form from yesterday evening as he looked toward a century against the side he played over one hundred test matches for, but it was heartbreak for him as he played inside the line of a Stuart Clark delivery to lose his off stump. Ever aggressive Ian Blackwell came and went for 24 as he attempted to tickle MacGill around the corner, only to allow Brad Haddin the chance to snaffle a sharp chance.

However, the Somerset innings quickly went down hill at the hands of Shaun Tait and the new ball. Lett shouldered arms to the first ball of the 102nd over to be bowled for 48, whilst Mike Munday was caught on the crease against his first ball to be Tait's fifth victim. Whilst he missed out on the hat trick, Tait would still clean up Turner and Willoughby to finish with 7-96 allowing Australia to enforce the follow on to give their bowlers another chance for just over a session.

Despite being offered a chance to take the light, Somerset batted on fo the last forty minutes of the match to lose just one wicket on their way to 98 - Shane Watson picking up Matt Wood whilst Neil Edwards and Langer got starts on their way to an unbeaten 46 and an unbeaten 31 respectively.

Tait's seven-wicket haul overshadowed quite brilliant innings from Langer, Trego and Lett - however all the Australian players seemed to gain some much valued form ahead of the first test at Lord's on Thursday. "It was really good to get a bit of a run against some good opposition," the match-winning Tait said following the match. "All the guys got a crack at playing themselves into form after a really disappointing one day series, while guys like [Chris] Rogers and [Stuart] Clark were able to join the squad and play pretty well.

"We were unhappy how the tour went to start with so we really want to prove how good we can be. Our batting was awesome over the last few days, and I reckon our bowling is getting to the stage where we can really cause England some headaches.

"There's just a really good feeling in the squad."

The first Ashes test begins on Thursday, July 16 and Cricinfo will be there to give you ball-by-ball updates.

How they were out

Australians - 1st innings

Phil Jaques b Blackwell 44 (99 for 1)

Missed a cut shot off the back foot

Mike Hussey b Hildreth 88 (255 for 2)

Chopped on with an uncertain push outside his off stump

Chris Rogers lbw b Munday 215 (497-3)

Pushed forward tentatively and was plumb in front against a turning delivery

Michael Clarke c Kieswetter b Mundary 146 (520-4)

Fooled by some prodigious turn from Munday which took the outsde edge to give the keeper an easy catch

Brad Hodge c Hildreth b Mundary 37 (595-5)

Straighter ball crashes into inside edge and fires to bat-pad

Somerset - 1st innings

Matthew Wood lbw b Tait 24 (43-1)

Beaten by pace as a yorker catches him in front of middle

Neil Edwards c & b Tait 24 (60-2)

Mis-timed drived lobs back to bowler

James Hildreth b Clark 29 (119-3)

Angled bat away from body rockets back onto stumps

Peter Trego b Tait 55 (219-4)

Beaten by reverse swing and pace

Justin Langer b Clark 95 (258-5)

Misjudged the line and lost his off stump

Ian Blackwell c Haddin b MacGill 24 (308-6)

Cheeky shot down leg side straight into the keeper's gloves

Robin Lett b Tait 48 (327-7)

Shouldered arms to a length delivery ... bad move

Mike Munday lbw b Tait 0 (327-8)

Too good a ball first up, swinging in and striking him plumb

Mark Turner b Tait 0 (327-9)

Chopped on after a wild swipe outside off

Willoughby b Tait 12 (341-10)

Swinging yorker proves too much for the tailender

Somerset - 2nd innings

Matthew Wood b Watson 17 (56-1)

Somehow missed a length ball - played all around it

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is assistant editor of Cricinfo

? Cricinfo

----

 

[King Pietersen]

This is cracking stuff. Love the presentation. KUTGW !!

 

[kookaburra69]

Awesome bowling from Tait!!!

 

[The Mongrel]

The Australian Test Squad

RICKY PONTING (35 years old) (Right-hand bat)

MATCHES: 137
INNINGS: 234
RUNS: 12693
AVERAGE: 62.22
100s: 45
50s: 49
H.S.: 257

OVERS: 101
RUNS: 270
WICKETS: 6
AVERAGE: 45.00
RpO: 2.67
5WI: 0
10WM: 0
BEST: 1-0
SR: 101.00

PHIL JAQUES (30 years old) (Left-hand bat)

MATCHES: 20
INNINGS: 38
RUNS: 1361
AVERAGE: 36.78
100s: 1
50s: 11
H.S.: 186

OVERS: 0
RUNS: 0
WICKETS: 0
AVERAGE: 0.00
RpO: 0.00
5WI: 0
10WM: 0
BEST: 0-0
SR: 0.00

CHRISTOPHER ROGERS (32 years old) (Left-hand bat)

MATCHES: 25
INNINGS: 48
RUNS: 2177
AVERAGE: 49.48
100s: 3
50s: 14
H.S.: 183

OVERS: 0
RUNS: 0
WICKETS: 0
AVERAGE: 0.00
RpO: 0.00
5WI: 0
10WM: 0
BEST: 0-0
SR: 0.00

MICHAEL CLARKE (28 years old) (Right-hand bat / left-arm orthadox)

MATCHES: 55
INNINGS: 89
RUNS: 3789
AVERAGE: 47.96
100s: 9
50s: 14
H.S.: 206

OVERS: 258
RUNS: 791
WICKETS: 26
AVERAGE: 30.42
RpO: 3.07
5WI: 2
10WM: 0
BEST: 6-9
SR: 59.54

MICHAEL HUSSEY (34 years old) (Left-hand bat)

MATCHES: 42
INNINGS: 72
RUNS: 3997
AVERAGE: 64.47
100s: 12
50s: 22
H.S.: 182

OVERS: 21
RUNS: 86
WICKETS: 1
AVERAGE: 86.00
RpO: 4.10
5WI: 0
10WM: 0
BEST: 1-19
SR: 126.00

BRAD HODGE (34 years old) (Right-hand bat / right-arm off-spin)

MATCHES: 25
INNINGS: 44
RUNS: 1800
AVERAGE: 48.65
100s: 5
50s: 6
H.S.: 203*

OVERS: 52
RUNS: 170
WICKETS: 4
AVERAGE: 32.94
RpO: 3.27
5WI: 0
10WM: 0
BEST: 1-1
SR: 78.00

SHANE WATSON (29 years old) (Right-hand bat / right-arm fast medium)

MATCHES: 9
INNINGS: 14
RUNS: 483
AVERAGE: 43.91
100s: 1
50s: 3
H.S.: 103

OVERS: 188
RUNS: 603
WICKETS: 13
AVERAGE: 46.38
RpO: 3.21
5WI: 0
10WM: 0
BEST: 3-102
SR: 86.77

CAMERON WHITE (25 years old) (Right-hand bat / legbreak googly)

MATCHES: 5
INNINGS: 7
RUNS: 209
AVERAGE: 34.83
100s: 1
50s: 0
H.S.: 122*

OVERS: 65
RUNS: 252
WICKETS: 8
AVERAGE: 31.50
RpO: 3.88
5WI: 0
10WM: 0
BEST: 3-27
SR: 48.75

BRAD HADDIN (31 years old) (Right-hand bat / wicketkeeper)

MATCHES: 21
INNINGS: 35
RUNS: 1112
AVERAGE: 37.07
100s: 2
50s: 5
H.S.: 142*

CATCHES: 49
STUMPINGS: 3

TIM PAINE (24 years old) (Right-hand bat / wicketkeeper)

MATCHES: 0
INNINGS: 0
RUNS: 0
AVERAGE: 0
100s: 0
50s: 0
H.S.: 0

CATCHES: 0
STUMPINGS: 0

BRETT LEE (32 years old) (Right-hand bat / right-arm fast)

MATCHES: 85
INNINGS: 97
RUNS: 1547
AVERAGE: 19.83
100s: 1
50s: 7
H.S.: 105

OVERS: 3103
RUNS: 10671
WICKETS: 324
AVERAGE: 32.63
RpO: 3.41
5WI: 8
10WM: 0
BEST: 5-26
SR: 57.46

STUART CLARK (33 years old) (Right-hand bat / right-arm fast-medium)

MATCHES: 32
INNINGS: 36
RUNS: 301
AVERAGE: 10.03
100s: 0
50s: 0
H.S.: 40

OVERS: 1331
RUNS: 3635
WICKETS: 135
AVERAGE: 26.93
RpO: 2.73
5WI: 4
10WM: 0
BEST: 6-29
SR: 59.16

BEN HILFENHAUS (26 years old) (Right-hand bat / right-arm fast-medium)

MATCHES: 15
INNINGS: 24
RUNS: 243
AVERAGE: 24.30
100s: 0
50s: 0
H.S.: 42*

OVERS: 840
RUNS: 2360
WICKETS: 77
AVERAGE: 30.65
RpO: 2.81
5WI: 2
10WM: 0
BEST: 6-23
SR: 65.45

SHAUN TAIT (26 years old) (Right-hand bat / right-arm fast)

MATCHES: 26
INNINGS: 29
RUNS: 243
AVERAGE: 11.05
100s: 0
50s: 0
H.S.: 31*

OVERS: 913
RUNS: 3257
WICKETS: 101
AVERAGE: 32.25
RpO: 3.57
5WI: 3
10WM: 0
BEST: 6-84
SR: 54.24

STUART MACGILL (38 years old) (Right-hand bat / legbreak googly)

MATCHES: 40
INNINGS: 45
RUNS: 347
AVERAGE: 10.21
100s: 0
50s: 0
H.S.: 43

OVERS: 1701
RUNS: 5387
WICKETS: 198
AVERAGE: 27.21
RpO: 3.17
5WI: 12
10WM: 2
BEST: 8-108
SR: 51.55

CULLEN BAILEY (24 years old) (Right-hand bat / legbreak googly)

MATCHES: 0
INNINGS: 0
RUNS: 0
AVERAGE: 0
100s: 0
50s: 0
H.S.: 0

OVERS: 0
RUNS: 0
WICKETS: 0
AVERAGE: 0.00
RpO: 0.00
5WI: 0
10WM: 0
BEST: 0-0
SR: 0.00

 

[Gilly Fan]

Nice work on the squads mate. Good work!

 

[plympilgrim]

nice work, wat happened to dan cullen what a player