The "Pad First" View of the Third Ashes Test
After their first loss at Lord's for 75 years, the Australians set their sights to Edgbaston, the site of one of England's greatest Test victories in 2005. But can the tourists level the series?
Match Summary:
The Third Test at Edgbaston got off to an ominous start for the Australians when opener Phillip Hughes released a Twitter entry stating he'd been dropped for Shane Watson before the announcement of the team, and Brad Haddin broke a finger in the warmups, handing Graham Manou a Test debut. Despite these inital setbacks, and large amounts of rain on Day 1, the tourists got off to a good start, closing play on the at 1/126 after only 30 overs, with Shane Watson unbeaten on 62. Unfortunately, Watson was unable to add to his overnight score, being struck in line by Graham Onions on the first delivery on Day 2, and this started an Australian collapse. Mike Hussey followed Watson the very next delivery, shouldering arms and losing poles, and another 5 Australians were dismissed in the first session, which yielded only 77 runs. The Australians were finally dismissed for 263, thanks to very handy contributions from the final 3 batsmen. James Anderson took five wickets, and Graham Onions four. England got off to a poor start, losing Alastair Cook in only the second over without him troubling the scorers. But thanks largely to skipper Andrew Strauss (69), and on the 4th Day (the 3rd Day was totally washed out) Second Test hero Andrew Flintoff (74), England flew past the Australian total to be dismissed for 376. Flintoff and Strauss were supported well by a lucky Ian Bell, the in-form Matt Prior, and lower order batsman Stuart Broad in a good recovery after being 4/159 at lunch on Day 4. The Australian pacemen Ben Hilfenhaus (4/109) and Peter Siddle (3/89) both performed very well, while debutant wicketkeeper Graham Manou impressed with three catches.
Although not as dominant as in the first innings, the Australian openers Katich and Watson put on a 47 run partnership before Katich was dismissed caught at the wicket off Graham Onions. Captain Ricky Ponting followed Katich back to the pavilion not long after when he was bowled by one of the deliveries of the series from Graeme Swann. The Australians closed Day 4 at 2/88, still 25 runs adrift of the English score. This set up a tantalising final day and the possibility of an unlikely English victory, due to all the rain that fell at Edgaston over the 5 days of the match. But, although the final day was an entertaining one, a draw was always going to be the most likely result. Half centuries to overnight pair Shane Watson and Michael Hussey (finally) was succeeded by a brilliant 185-run stand between Michael Clarke (103*) and Marcus North (96). Only a brilliant catch from fielding demon Jimmy Anderson could prevent North from reaching a ton, leaving Clarke and Graham Manou to bat out the rest of the day and ensure the Australians go to Headingley only 1-0 down.
Player Ratings:
Australia:
- Ricky Ponting (c): 5
38 & 5. Became Australia's highest Test runscorer in the first innings, and looked really good until getting drawn into a false pull shot by Graham Onions. Got a great rock from Graeme Swann in the second innings, but still hasn't lived up to his promise after making 150 in the First Test.
- Simon Katich: 6
46 & 26. The only Australian wicket to fall on the rain-reduced Day 1, Katich made some handy runs but got fired LBW off Graeme Swann, and was drawn into a false shot by Graham Onions in the second innings. Is making starts but isn't capitalising.
- Shane Watson: 7.5
62, 0/23 off 3 & 53. Undid all his good work from his Day 1 half-century by being dismissed on the first delivery of Day 2, LBW to Onions. Then proceeded to bowl without pace, venom or comfort in his three overs in England's innings, but made some runs again in the second innings. Did look good in both half-centuries, but still shouldn't be opening, and has to lift in his bowling seeing as one of the reasons for his selection was adding another option to the Australian bowling attack.
- Mike Hussey: 6.5
0 & 64. After a horror dismissal in the first innings, Hussey finally made some runs and will be looking to continue on at Headingley.
- Michael Clarke: 8.5
29 & 103*. Looked to start a first innings fightback for the Aussies before being struck in front by Anderson. Played another brilliant rearguard innings in the second, with an unbeaten hundred ensuring a draw.
- Marcus North: 8
12 & 96. Looks surprisingly scratchy after a really good First Test hundred. Chased a wide one in the first dig. Made up for a poor showing in the first innings, making 96 in a great partnership with Michael Clarke. Was very unfortunate not to reach three figures.
- Graham Manou: 7.5
8, 3 catches & 13*. Unlucky to get an absolute jaffa in his first Test innings from Jimmy Anderson, but made up for it with his keeping, being extremely tidy and taking three catches in England's innings.
- Mitchell Johnson: 5.5
0 & 2/92 off 21. Is damn lucky to be there, and he played like it. Left one first ball a la- Mike Hussey, LBW to Anderson, and then proceeded to fade away after a promising start with the ball, again conceding more than 4-an over.
- Nathan Hauritz: 5
20* & 1/57 off 18. With help from Siddle and Hilfenhaus, dragged the Aussies up to 250 with the bat in the first innings. Bowled tight without being overly threatening, but did get the important wicket of Andrew Flintoff with a good delivery.
- Peter Siddle: 5.5
13 & 3/89 off 21.3. Bowled with venom and purpose but was still expensive in England's innings, despite taking three wickets.
- Ben Hilfenhaus: 7.5
20 & 4/109 off 30. Made a useful lower order contribution in the first dig, and backed it up with another fantastic bowling performance, taking 4/109 off 30 overs.
England:
- Andrew Strauss (c): 7
69. Is still the highest runscorer in the series, and looked good on Day 2 in making a half century, but got himself out with a loose cut shot on Day 4 and failed to capitalise on a great start.
- Alastair Cook: 2
0. Cook's susceptibility to the wide delivery was exposed by Siddle in the first innings.
- Ravi Bopara: 3.5
23 & 0/44 off 8.2. Bopara just doesn't look comfortable at number 3 in the batting lineup, and it is lucky for England that Strauss and Collingwood are in such good form and being able to rectify his mistakes. Should never bowl again in Test cricket.
- Ian Bell: 7
53. Despite having numerous lives with LBW shouts, Bell put pressure on Kevin Pietersen's place in the side with a half-century on his home ground. Does look to play across his front pad a lot and was dismissed in that fashion after surviving three LBW shouts.
- Paul Collingwood: 4
13 & 0/8 off 2. Got dismissed flashing at a wide one after some good lead up bowling from Hilfenhaus.
- Matt Prior: 8
3 catches & 41. Still keeping surprisingly well, and batting in his customary aggressive fashion and forming a good lower-middle order partnership with Flintoff, but again got himself out playing a silly shot.
- Andrew Flintoff: 7
0/58 off 15, 74 & 0/35 off 15. Is without a doubt carrying a serious injury. Looked extremely stiff bowling in Australia's first innings, and his bowling reflected that. His batting on the other hand really put the nails in Australia. An aggressive half-century in a partnership with Prior showed how destructive he can be with the bat when given free rein. Despite English commentators fawning over his pace and hostility, Flintoff went wicketless in the Test match.
- Stuart Broad: 5.5
0/51 off 13, 55 & 2/38 off 16. Broad is bowling just about as good as he can in this Ashes, and in the process is proving he's not good enough to mix it with the best teams in the world. Went wicketless in the first innings but did make a half-century in England's innings, and took 2 in Australia's second innings.
- Graeme Swann: 4
1/4 off 2, 24 & 1/119 off 31. Took the only Australian wicket on Day 1, that of Simon Katich, but didn't get a great deal of bowling with Anderson and Onions runnings rampant. Got Ponting with an absolute ripper in the Aussies' second innings, but failed to live up to expectations on Day 5.
- Jimmy Anderson: 8
5/80 off 24, 1 & 1/47 off 21. Followed up a first innings 4 for at Lord's with his maiden 5 for against the Aussies. Bowled swing with good pace and with Onions caused the Australian collapse on Day 2. Bowled an absolute ripper to Graham Manou. But as was the case in the first two Tests, Anderson was found wanting when the ball didn't assist him, taking only a solitary wicket in Australia's second innings.
- Graham Onions: 7.5
4/58 off 16.4, 2* & 1/74 off 19. Started the Australian collapse on Day 2, claiming Shane Watson and Mike Hussey with the first two balls of the day. Was a bit more expensive in the second innings, mainly because he wasn't getting as much assistance from the ball.
Interesting Fact: In the first innings, new recruit Shane Watson became the first right-hander to open the batting for Australia since Michael Slater was dropped from the side during the 2001 Ashes series. Slater was also the last Australian right-handed opener to score a Test century, with 143 against New Zealand in March 2000.
One Final Comment: The makeup of the bowling attacks of both sides will be interesting going into Headingley. For the English, Broad and Swann have undoubtedly struggled for most of the series, while Flintoff is still carrying an injury and will do it tough to come back on Friday. Steve Harmison, Ryan Sidebottom and Monty Panesar are waiting for a sniff. For the Australians, Johnson, although infinitely better than the first two matches, was still expensive, while Peter Siddle looks unfortunately out of sorts. Their places in the side look especially perilous considering the form and experience of Stuart Clark and Brett Lee, although Lee's position is still dependent on his fitness.
Match Summary:
The Third Test at Edgbaston got off to an ominous start for the Australians when opener Phillip Hughes released a Twitter entry stating he'd been dropped for Shane Watson before the announcement of the team, and Brad Haddin broke a finger in the warmups, handing Graham Manou a Test debut. Despite these inital setbacks, and large amounts of rain on Day 1, the tourists got off to a good start, closing play on the at 1/126 after only 30 overs, with Shane Watson unbeaten on 62. Unfortunately, Watson was unable to add to his overnight score, being struck in line by Graham Onions on the first delivery on Day 2, and this started an Australian collapse. Mike Hussey followed Watson the very next delivery, shouldering arms and losing poles, and another 5 Australians were dismissed in the first session, which yielded only 77 runs. The Australians were finally dismissed for 263, thanks to very handy contributions from the final 3 batsmen. James Anderson took five wickets, and Graham Onions four. England got off to a poor start, losing Alastair Cook in only the second over without him troubling the scorers. But thanks largely to skipper Andrew Strauss (69), and on the 4th Day (the 3rd Day was totally washed out) Second Test hero Andrew Flintoff (74), England flew past the Australian total to be dismissed for 376. Flintoff and Strauss were supported well by a lucky Ian Bell, the in-form Matt Prior, and lower order batsman Stuart Broad in a good recovery after being 4/159 at lunch on Day 4. The Australian pacemen Ben Hilfenhaus (4/109) and Peter Siddle (3/89) both performed very well, while debutant wicketkeeper Graham Manou impressed with three catches.
Although not as dominant as in the first innings, the Australian openers Katich and Watson put on a 47 run partnership before Katich was dismissed caught at the wicket off Graham Onions. Captain Ricky Ponting followed Katich back to the pavilion not long after when he was bowled by one of the deliveries of the series from Graeme Swann. The Australians closed Day 4 at 2/88, still 25 runs adrift of the English score. This set up a tantalising final day and the possibility of an unlikely English victory, due to all the rain that fell at Edgaston over the 5 days of the match. But, although the final day was an entertaining one, a draw was always going to be the most likely result. Half centuries to overnight pair Shane Watson and Michael Hussey (finally) was succeeded by a brilliant 185-run stand between Michael Clarke (103*) and Marcus North (96). Only a brilliant catch from fielding demon Jimmy Anderson could prevent North from reaching a ton, leaving Clarke and Graham Manou to bat out the rest of the day and ensure the Australians go to Headingley only 1-0 down.
Player Ratings:
Australia:
- Ricky Ponting (c): 5
38 & 5. Became Australia's highest Test runscorer in the first innings, and looked really good until getting drawn into a false pull shot by Graham Onions. Got a great rock from Graeme Swann in the second innings, but still hasn't lived up to his promise after making 150 in the First Test.
- Simon Katich: 6
46 & 26. The only Australian wicket to fall on the rain-reduced Day 1, Katich made some handy runs but got fired LBW off Graeme Swann, and was drawn into a false shot by Graham Onions in the second innings. Is making starts but isn't capitalising.
- Shane Watson: 7.5
62, 0/23 off 3 & 53. Undid all his good work from his Day 1 half-century by being dismissed on the first delivery of Day 2, LBW to Onions. Then proceeded to bowl without pace, venom or comfort in his three overs in England's innings, but made some runs again in the second innings. Did look good in both half-centuries, but still shouldn't be opening, and has to lift in his bowling seeing as one of the reasons for his selection was adding another option to the Australian bowling attack.
- Mike Hussey: 6.5
0 & 64. After a horror dismissal in the first innings, Hussey finally made some runs and will be looking to continue on at Headingley.
- Michael Clarke: 8.5
29 & 103*. Looked to start a first innings fightback for the Aussies before being struck in front by Anderson. Played another brilliant rearguard innings in the second, with an unbeaten hundred ensuring a draw.
- Marcus North: 8
12 & 96. Looks surprisingly scratchy after a really good First Test hundred. Chased a wide one in the first dig. Made up for a poor showing in the first innings, making 96 in a great partnership with Michael Clarke. Was very unfortunate not to reach three figures.
- Graham Manou: 7.5
8, 3 catches & 13*. Unlucky to get an absolute jaffa in his first Test innings from Jimmy Anderson, but made up for it with his keeping, being extremely tidy and taking three catches in England's innings.
- Mitchell Johnson: 5.5
0 & 2/92 off 21. Is damn lucky to be there, and he played like it. Left one first ball a la- Mike Hussey, LBW to Anderson, and then proceeded to fade away after a promising start with the ball, again conceding more than 4-an over.
- Nathan Hauritz: 5
20* & 1/57 off 18. With help from Siddle and Hilfenhaus, dragged the Aussies up to 250 with the bat in the first innings. Bowled tight without being overly threatening, but did get the important wicket of Andrew Flintoff with a good delivery.
- Peter Siddle: 5.5
13 & 3/89 off 21.3. Bowled with venom and purpose but was still expensive in England's innings, despite taking three wickets.
- Ben Hilfenhaus: 7.5
20 & 4/109 off 30. Made a useful lower order contribution in the first dig, and backed it up with another fantastic bowling performance, taking 4/109 off 30 overs.
England:
- Andrew Strauss (c): 7
69. Is still the highest runscorer in the series, and looked good on Day 2 in making a half century, but got himself out with a loose cut shot on Day 4 and failed to capitalise on a great start.
- Alastair Cook: 2
0. Cook's susceptibility to the wide delivery was exposed by Siddle in the first innings.
- Ravi Bopara: 3.5
23 & 0/44 off 8.2. Bopara just doesn't look comfortable at number 3 in the batting lineup, and it is lucky for England that Strauss and Collingwood are in such good form and being able to rectify his mistakes. Should never bowl again in Test cricket.
- Ian Bell: 7
53. Despite having numerous lives with LBW shouts, Bell put pressure on Kevin Pietersen's place in the side with a half-century on his home ground. Does look to play across his front pad a lot and was dismissed in that fashion after surviving three LBW shouts.
- Paul Collingwood: 4
13 & 0/8 off 2. Got dismissed flashing at a wide one after some good lead up bowling from Hilfenhaus.
- Matt Prior: 8
3 catches & 41. Still keeping surprisingly well, and batting in his customary aggressive fashion and forming a good lower-middle order partnership with Flintoff, but again got himself out playing a silly shot.
- Andrew Flintoff: 7
0/58 off 15, 74 & 0/35 off 15. Is without a doubt carrying a serious injury. Looked extremely stiff bowling in Australia's first innings, and his bowling reflected that. His batting on the other hand really put the nails in Australia. An aggressive half-century in a partnership with Prior showed how destructive he can be with the bat when given free rein. Despite English commentators fawning over his pace and hostility, Flintoff went wicketless in the Test match.
- Stuart Broad: 5.5
0/51 off 13, 55 & 2/38 off 16. Broad is bowling just about as good as he can in this Ashes, and in the process is proving he's not good enough to mix it with the best teams in the world. Went wicketless in the first innings but did make a half-century in England's innings, and took 2 in Australia's second innings.
- Graeme Swann: 4
1/4 off 2, 24 & 1/119 off 31. Took the only Australian wicket on Day 1, that of Simon Katich, but didn't get a great deal of bowling with Anderson and Onions runnings rampant. Got Ponting with an absolute ripper in the Aussies' second innings, but failed to live up to expectations on Day 5.
- Jimmy Anderson: 8
5/80 off 24, 1 & 1/47 off 21. Followed up a first innings 4 for at Lord's with his maiden 5 for against the Aussies. Bowled swing with good pace and with Onions caused the Australian collapse on Day 2. Bowled an absolute ripper to Graham Manou. But as was the case in the first two Tests, Anderson was found wanting when the ball didn't assist him, taking only a solitary wicket in Australia's second innings.
- Graham Onions: 7.5
4/58 off 16.4, 2* & 1/74 off 19. Started the Australian collapse on Day 2, claiming Shane Watson and Mike Hussey with the first two balls of the day. Was a bit more expensive in the second innings, mainly because he wasn't getting as much assistance from the ball.
Interesting Fact: In the first innings, new recruit Shane Watson became the first right-hander to open the batting for Australia since Michael Slater was dropped from the side during the 2001 Ashes series. Slater was also the last Australian right-handed opener to score a Test century, with 143 against New Zealand in March 2000.
One Final Comment: The makeup of the bowling attacks of both sides will be interesting going into Headingley. For the English, Broad and Swann have undoubtedly struggled for most of the series, while Flintoff is still carrying an injury and will do it tough to come back on Friday. Steve Harmison, Ryan Sidebottom and Monty Panesar are waiting for a sniff. For the Australians, Johnson, although infinitely better than the first two matches, was still expensive, while Peter Siddle looks unfortunately out of sorts. Their places in the side look especially perilous considering the form and experience of Stuart Clark and Brett Lee, although Lee's position is still dependent on his fitness.
