January 5, 2007
The Last Rites
"And that should ensure that those here today get a long afternoon to explore the city's attractions."
Those words from the Cricinfo commentator, as McGrath claimed Pietersen caught behind to send England plummeting to 6/114, signalled the last rites in this Ashes clean sweep.
Indeed, it would seem that I'll have to be quick in completing this blog entry - Symonds has just run Panesar out for a duck! So much for Monty's promotion to number 7 last night. Three wickets remaining, England are only 12 ahead. It can't last much longer.
Thanks to the generosity of a friend of mine who works for Cricket Australia, my son and I were able to spend yesterday at the Test. And it turned out to be a very absorbing day's cricket.
When Hussey fell early to leave Australia at 5 for 190, the scoreboard may have led one to believe that the match was evenly poised. However, Australia's tail has considerably more flair and fight than England's. Exit Hussey, enter Gilchrist who batted beautifully before being strangely adjudged caught behind by Billy Bowden for 62. Gilly clearly missed the ball and as someone in the crowd yelled, "Gilly walks when he's out!"
The match winning innings was that of Shane Keith Warne (71). He signalled his intention to dominate the bowling by hitting the first two balls he faced, from Panesar, for four and six! After Gilchrist's unlucky departure, Stuart Clark gave Warne wonderful - if unorthodox - support so that Australia were finally able to post a lead of 102. So their last five wickets added 203!
Hang on, another one's gone - Read caught in the slips by Ponting off Lee. That's 8/122 now.
Back to yesterday's play...
Nine now! Mahmood bowled McGrath!! 9/123. I guess I've still got the ten minutes for the change of innings before the Aussies knock off the meagre target.
Now, where was I? Oh yes, the start of England's innings yesterday. It was good to see Lee back in wicket-taking form. The Stuart Clark show kept rolling along - Australia are going to be very well served by him over the next few years. I thought Ponting's field placements towards the end of the day were excellent. Crucially, his bowlers were able to bowl to them and made it very difficult for the English batsmen to score singles. A superb lesson in building pressure. What a contrast to England's field placements earlier in the day!
And, finally, what a wonderful finish to the day. Flintoff stumped Gilchrist bowled Warne. I've been fortunate enough to see Warne take many wickets at the SCG over the years and it was a delight to see him weave his magic one last time.
Posted to Cricket by Keith Pitty