Aftermath of 1st Test:
After the 1st test @ Gabba ,brisbane the series started to a not so hard fought draw with both sides shining with the bat and failing miserably with the ball especially the Aussies bowling line up was under much scrutiny for their poor show in the 2nd innings of England where they got only one wicket that too of Andrew strauss after he crossed his well deserved 100,and Cook went onto score a double ton and trott joining the party with a well made century . Even ,Siddle the hero of the first innings with a hat-trick did not do justice to his skills and the biggest let down for Australia is the left arm fast bowler and bowling spearhead Mitchell johnson and the ever dangerous Aussie media did not spare him and Ponting for the dismal display by the Oz and what everybody forgot was the dismal batting of the English and if not for Hussey and Haddin, the 1st test would have been a nail biting contest and the second inning play off.
Day1:
The 2nd test ,Adelaide started with series tied @ 0-0 but with the Aussies slightly in the back foot as Mitchell johnson was dropped for the very first time (that too in the middle of the Ashes).Aussies entered the match with a fresh bowling line up and none to spearhead the attack. The most vital toss was won by England and was asked to bat first and came the unexpected freaky start from the Aussie’s with Ponting and katich going for ducks in consecutive deliveries and clarke fell immediately with the score card reading 2/3 and watson who with his yet another fifty of the series and hussey in his usual role of savior, restored some pride but they could not hold for long and haddin came for the rescue but he could not hold on it for long as Aussie’s were bundled out for 260 with Anderson and finn producing magical spells at various parts of the match. The seem bowlers troubled the batsmen for most parts of the innings as they swung the ball both ways and @ a pitch touted as a batting paradise the Aussie’s failed miserably.
Day2:
The 2nd day started for Aussies rather well with Bollinger striking early sending back Strauss early in the day. Then came Trott and along with Cook (the heroes of the previous match) struck to an another massive partnership leaving Aussies to the docks. Both made hundreds once again and the day completely belonged to the English as Barmy Army were rising their voices to rejoice their dominance Trott later fell for harris and then came Kevin peiterson who was in pressure to perform to his potential and he continued the partnership with Cook and the Oz bowlers were literally hunting for leather in a day were only two wickets fell that too at different periods of time. On this day the English showed the Aussies their was no demons in the wicket and Adelaide was still a good batting wicket.
Day3:
The 3rd day had nothing special for Aussies but everything on that day was special for one man “Kevin peiterson”.The Partnership between Cook and Kp continued and to everyone’s delight Kp scored his 1st century in nearly 18 months and he was rejoicing the moment thoroughly and soon Cook departed , then Kp partnered with Collingwood and Bell both providing good stands and produced reasonable scores and Kp produced a double ton and Barmy Army went haywire with celebrations and he totally deserved the double ton and that was one flamboyant innings from Kp and this innings would silence all his critics for quiet sometime.The day finished courtesy bad light and rain and Kp still @ crease and England showing no intentions of Declaring the innings.
Day 4:
The penultimate day was as expected, England came with an motive to boost the lead rapidly and declare the innings as soon as possible and Kp departed and further more runs were added and the crowd and experts were expecting the call from Strauss for declaration as the match is in the 4th day and the rain clouds seems to play spoil sport but for unknown reasons the decision was prolonged and immediately everybody pounced on Strauss for unnecessarily extending the innings then at last England declared their innings Then came the Aussies and they had a decent start this time around with Katich ans Watson steadying the innings and left for lunch and as soon as they came back from lunch katich was shown the doors and Ponting gone with the wind but this time around having a number against his name then their was panic again in the Oz dressing room when watson exited after scoring one more fifty but Clarke who was out of form for quite a long time was fluent this time around and he along with hussey provided solidarity to the Aussie innings and weather also helped them in their efforts to save the match and Strauss was in an difficult position as if weather plays spoil sport ,he would be the one facing the music and ire of the media but much to his delight play resumed and the partnership continued . But , the penultimate over of the match literally sealed the fate of the match and KP who glittered with his bat banished the Aussie hopes with the ball by removing Clarke of what became the final ball of the day and he was clearly ecstatic. Swann was the pick of the bowlers this time The Aussies finished yet another day facing down the barrel and now resting all their hopes only upon the weather and nothing else.
Day5:
The final day of the test and definitely a day of real test for Aussies to stay alive in the series and to keep their hopes alive of avoiding a Ashes defeat in home. For England, this was a day of reckoning to keep their spirits high and to lead the series 1-0 to avenge their ashes whitewash downunder. As they say “Cometh the hour Cometh the man” Anderson stepped up removing two quick wickets breaking the shackles of the remaining resistance and the inevitable happened to the delight of every English cricket fan ,England now leads the series 1-0 ,Swann cleaned up the tail and by bowling out Siddle Swann Finished with a 5fer and Aussie’s would have a tough time with the Oz media and who knows who might be left out of the next match . The rain which was supposed to save the Aussies also betrayed them by coming late after the match is over
There is a long time for Aussies to come out of the Adelaide debacle as the next test begins only on 16th of December and that too @ Aussies favorite hunting ground ,the Perth .
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