It looks like there simply is not enough life in this wicket to force a result. But who knows a few balls keeping low could change everything. Perhaps Ponting really will make a sporting declaration way behind England (I do not believe it). I think only a very good bowling performance can get a result here the batsmen can only guarantee the draw. Lets just hope it´s tight and heart-attackingly exciting like last time.

The only concievable result at this stage is a draw, but I thought that session was incredible important in deciding the course of the next two days.

Had England struck early, they would’ve had a lead of around 180 odd, batted for the rest of the day, build a lead of 380, and set the Australian’s a 5th day task to save the game.

The game is still delicately poised, quick wickets can turn the game once more, but at this stage you’d expect a draw.

No idea, Kathy, only have my little radio. If Warne was getting nothing off this pitch, you can’t ask for miracles from GiLo and they are all doing their best. I’d love to see Monty have a go too. Anyone for Chardonnay, folks? Cheers.

Have to be in the office in 3 hours so perhaps another glass of Chardonnnay is not a good idea. The TMS crew have come up with a new invention - the GM - genuine maiden, where the batsman plays every ball. How can I complain if the Aussies get no runs?

Dang! There goes Warne’s ton.

Hoggard!

They’ll be celebrating in the dales tonight!

I’ve been reading some comments on TMS, and I’m a bit taken aback at some of the comments made about Ashley Giles. I think people have forgotten that if McGrath hadn’t dropped Pietersen, we wouldn’t BE in this position. The boys are human, it happens *on both sides* even at the top level, it’s part of what keeps the game exciting.

Clearly, Giles moved past it and caught Clarke and claimed Gilchrist’s scalp. He’s made up for it - it’s time for people to let it go. Warne dropped the Ashes b/c it was the fifth and final test, and Australia needed to win - there was no time to make up for it. This early in the series, England still have plenty of time to make their own luck.

Having said all that, let me say that it’s nice to see Straussy make it into the 30s, at last. May he join the ranks of England’s centurions in this series - though he has a long way to go to catch Colly!

England wasted a good chance of getting Aus down… esp when they had Hayden and Martyn early on Day 3. From there on, it was a well planned slow march by Australia to ensure a draw. Virtually no chance of a result now. But at least the English batsmen are back in form!

5th day - England 5/77 - If they are skittled, how could they possibly have lost this match from the position they were in?

Collingwood must be mighty pee’d off - he made 200 now he’s batting to save the match. That’s what is called “chocolates, to boiled lollies”…

If Jones and Collingwood save this….. if if if

It has been a Test of English doughtiness — Hoggard, Collingwood… hopefully Jones too. Maybe a Giles century.

Don’t forget when comparing the run rates, England had only lost 3 wickets, yet still continued to score at just over 3. Australia managed this with a couple of periods of consolidation. There is no excuse for batting nearly two days and not scoring 600!

As I type, England 6 down! 6 for 94. Lee…you beauty! Jones gone! Woohoo!

Its 98/7 and Australia must be sniffing another win.. this one is remarkable….if they can pull it off..

I believe I made the point earlier that England should have batted into the third morning — the fifth day effect is precisely what I had in mind.

Very true, Stu — but they’d have a much better chance of winning in Melbourne or Sydney, especially with the batting and bowling getting progressively more acclimated to local conditions. They should’ve focused on putting this match out of Australia’s reach first; that might even have created more pressure on the Aussies and eliminated the need to bat twice. I can’t imagine Gooch or Atherton declaring as early as they did. Looks like England’s only hope now is a phenomenal bowling display. Only problem is, the only spinner they have right now is Ashley Giles.

Re the declaration — come on you guys, hindsight is 20-20. Everyone was very happy with Flintoff’s declaration at the time.

Great last-wicket stand!

I hope I’m wrong too. But we need 168 off 36 overs. On a fifth day pitch.

Gee those English must be wishing they had Monty Panesar now.

Umm, actually, I wasn’t happy with the declaration even at the time….

Caroline — Warnie’s clearly not the wittiest sledger.

God, I’ve got no idea what’s going to happen here.

Sherminator - he looks a bit like that character from American Pie.

scott, you’re australian aren’t you? lol funny…because i thought and still think we’ll do it easy

I’m old, Harry. I can remember the musty nightmares of 1981, 1985, 1986/87 and 2005. I never think its over till its over.

The difference between Australia and England….in my opinion is not Warne….
ONE AND ONLY RICKY PONTING…..KEEP GOING PONTING

Well done, numb-nuts; you put the mozz on him.

Will there be a change of result now that Ponting has gone..Martyn too is gone probably out of Australian team I guess

I was calling Cricket Freak numb-nuts, by the way…

Google ‘the mozzman prophecies’ and all will be revealed.

When was the last time you saw a seven in a Test match? Last time I saw one was Pakistan vs Australia at the MCG in 1981/82. Pakistan racked up 500.

1981… all manner of dreadful things happened that year.

160 for 4.. yes, I’d say Australia should win from here.

i give up..australia dominate england…and pull off an incredible win..
South africa dominate india and win 4-0..
Pakistan dominate west indies and win the test series 2-0..
the uncertainty in cricket has just disappeared…almost a non-entity now..

Wats next ? the only surprise..bangladesh beat zimbabwe in a series i am not sure,even the cricket crazy bongs are watching..
:-/

These Indian are crazy… Two cricketing countries playing and the maximum comments come from the Indian sub continet and the Indians havent won anything on the world stage since 1986 world series…

India was never good in cricket and want to beat the Ozzys… go fish !!!

If only Aussies had played an injured Mcgrath in 2005 Ashes 2nd test, we wudn’t have had to go thru all this rubbish of England being better than Aus for more than a year. I hope all such trash talk has been put to rest once and for all.

:))
seems like the only way to stop the aussie juggernaut..
kill them !

So can someone explain what Ponting got Man of the Match for?

err..cos he’s aussie..and they won..

Well, his 142 and 49 probably won the game for Australia.

Collingwood was just unlucky.

and thats the problem the english,the windies and the indians have..plain “unlucky”..
We never hear the aussies say that,do we ??
‘unlucky..’
‘luck of the dice didnt go our way..’
etc..
simple..
india hasnt won a world cup/test series or any major tournament for a long time..
the windies..havent either..
and..the english..havent..ever..
Q.E.D..

Excellent anti-mozzing, Wicky. people need to know how to keep a lid on these things.

It’s very rare to give a man of the match award to someone on the losing side. And I reckon Ponting’s *captaincy* was as much matchwinning as his batting.

You Poms must be feeling rotten, but console yourself that this was a very high standard game. In particular, the Aussies bowled unbelievably well today (and not just Warne - the quicks were brilliant too). I wouldn’t blame your batsmen too much.

I’d sack your team management, though - it was entirely predictable that you’d suffer on this wicket from the lack of a spinner who can actually turn the ball, And your pre-series preparation seems to have been awful.

12 nukes. Or bring back Monty. Whichever is easier.

Poor Straussy, that was a sh*t decision, his bat wasn’t within miles of that. Good morning, Steve Bucknor, feel free to join us in THIS world, not your fantasy one.

And Geraint dropping Anderson, well. We knew that was coming. Chris Read can keep and bat, bring him back.

I also think Strauss, following Ponting’s lead, wouldn’t have declared till over 600, looking at his declaration at Lord’s against Pakistan this summer. An extra 50 runs…but we shouldn’t have needed them.

But it does show something about the teams’ characters…yesterday, Clarke said he thought Aus could win. I laughed up my sleeve, as we were 59-1, looking to be cantering along to a reasonable score of 250+. Give the Aussies (and Colly) a challenge, and they’ll put two fingers up at you and show you they can win. They relish being the underdogs. Show the English so much as a *hint* things won’t go their way, and their chins start to wobble.

As I said in my blog entry:

Come on, England. You’re in the country whose national motto is “Give blood. Play rugby.” They invented Aussie rules. Do you really expect a gentleman’s game? Do me a favour.The Aussies respect nothing more than grit, raw passion, straightforwardness and resilience. Show them that, win or lose the toss, and we’ll have a series worthy of last summer. Show them indecision, defensiveness and caution and you’ll be taken apart faster than one of the swimmers in “Jaws” - except it won’t be as painless.

*Kisses back of own hand in self-congratulation at one’s own prescience*

I wonder if they left the urn in the Aussie’s dressing room on their way out…

Watching the game yesterday I felt that England would rue leaving out an attacking spin bowler like Panesar.

Today I just marvelled as the English team batted themselves to defeat, and then had not Panesar to take advantage of the turning wicket.

Its no use dropping Giles for Panesar with the series pretty much over now. The selectors must shoulder the blame. And to think Giles was prefered for his batting and fielding over Panesar.

Despite this I think Collingwood was probably unlucky to not win Man of the Match, but at the moment the English team is giving new definition to the term “all-rounder” .. basically players that can’t bowl or bat.

To jeremy: seems a bit extreme to me. I recall Englands crowing 18 months ago, and it was as bad as any Australia crowing so go eat crow!

Utterly embarassing. Is this 1993, and are Hick and Ramprakash are back in the side?

There is not a single redeeming feature about today’s defeat. The fact England set out to avoid defeat, invited the defeat. If we went down fighting, slugging it out with Australia toe-to-toe, then fine.

The Giles / Read selection issues are minor. Clearly Monty would get the nod etc. However the spotlight should be on the leadership of this squad. This not the 2005 team, nor the attitude the one the Ashes. Fletcher is still there, but Vaughan is not. Vaughan would have lead this team very very differently - and today we saw his value and contribution to the 2005 victory, by its absence in 2006-2007.

Fletcher, has revealed himself as a stubborn, negative, defensive leader - complemented by Nasser Hussain, illuminated and set free by Michael Vaughan, and left completely unchecked by Fred. Today’s approach was a perfect illustration of how England lost the Ashes for nearly 20 years. Spineless, negative cricket = defeat (1989-2005). Positive, attacking cricket = victory (2005). Embarassing - have we learnt nothing?

Thank you Jim: I was wondering if Vaughan would have captained differently today. Good to have it confirmed by probably a more objective source.

Time has come for someone to be gracious enough to resign. It was that bad. And that person has to be Duncan Fletcher.

I cannot believe that he stuck with the same bowling line up after Brisbane.

England have to start playing like a team again. Someone should have gone onto the pitch and told the batsmen to get some runs. Where is the leadership. We have to pick the BEST players for their jobs, not just incase. If they fail, then they fail, but at least England are attacking.

It is not really the time to do it mid series, but the side has to change. Different coach, captain, keeper and bowlers. Let Flintoff do what he does best, i don’t think he is a world class captain.

Please Duncan, do the right thing and p off, and come on England, show some of that fight that is there somewhere.