Ashes - England deny Australia in Cardiff

Eurosport - Mon, 13 Jul 11:20:00 2009

England tailenders James Anderson and Monty Panesar denied Australia victory in the first Ashes Test with an heroic unbeaten last-wicket stand before an ecstatic capacity 16,000-strong crowd in Cardiff.

England batsmen James Anderson and Monty Panesar leave the field after securing a draw in the first Ashes Test against Australia in Cardiff. - 0

Victory seemed assured for the Australians when Paul Collingwood was dismissed for 74 after five hours 43 minutes of dogged resistance with England still needing six to make Australia bat again and a minimum 11.3 overs remaining.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting put his faith in off-spinners Nathan Hauritz and Marcus North for the final overs after taking pace bowler Peter Siddle out of the attack.

Anderson (21 not out) and Panesar (seven not out), playing resolutely straight, defied the bowling with the former negotiating the final over from Hauritz to tumultuous applause.

The day began brightly for Australia when Ben Hilfenhaus, bustling in from the River End, captured the wicket Australia prized most by knocking over Kevin Pietersen's off-stump in the fourth over of the day.

Pietersen, on eight, moved half forward and opted to leave alone a delivery he calculated would swing away. Instead it went straight on.

Hauritz took over from Hilfenhaus and immediately troubled captain Andrew Strauss and Collingwood with four fielders clustered close around the bat.

Strauss square-cut the first boundary of the day but was out off the next ball caught behind by Brad Haddin for 17 attempting a similar shot from a delivery which bounced a little higher.

Hauritz was gifted a second wicket when Matt Prior (14) made the elementary error of trying to cut an off-spinner which turned appreciably and succeeded only in guiding the ball to Michael Clarke at first slip.

Andrew Flintoff (26) and Collingwood added 57 in a fighting sixth-wicket partnership with the former playing a thumping drive to the cover boundary and a clip for four to long-on.

He was out edging Mitchell Johnson to second slip where Ponting took a smart, low catch.

Collingwood, taking no risks at all, reached 50 from 167 balls but lost Stuart Broad lbw for 17 to Hauritz 20 minutes before tea.

Graeme Swann rallied after the interval , playing one lovely drive to the extra-cover boundary off Hilfenhaus. He reached 31 from 81 minutes when he was lbw playing across a full delivery from the same bowler.

Collingwood fought on, but when he was caught off Siddle at gully by Michael Hussey at the second attempt, England seemed doomed.

But Anderson, who batted for 72 minutes, and Panesar, who resisted for 40, held firm and England will go into the second Test at Lord's starting on Thursday with honours even.

Reuters

Comment 247 - 266 of 266

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  1. Two things for me.........1, I doubt that lightning­ like this will strike twice in a series, or possibly­ ever again like that, so well done England for a­ magnificent "save". 2. If the boot had­ been ob the other foot Ponting would have had the­ physio, the glove man, water boy and sun tan creamer on­ every other over as well. He has the character not to­ have liked to have done it, but you can bet your­ backside he would have !!
    Despite playing poorly, there­ are a few that can hold their heads up for England, but­ we should be satisfied in the scheme of things to have­ made the draw when we had no real right to expect it. ­ Well played Oz, but it was our turn for a bit of good­ fortune this time. We only have four left to turn it­ round now though !!!

    From nigel c, on Mon 13 Jul 4:32PM

  2. Whats all this Ausi wnging about
    this from a country­ that bowled UNDERARM so they wouldnt loos a­ match!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Vic, on Mon 13 Jul 2:38PM

  3. What a desparate state English cricket is in when they­ have to celebrate a draw as though they have won a­ great victory they were so outclassed in every way it­ is embarassing to watch.Now is also the time to call up­ James Foster a real Wicket-Keeper as Prior proved again­ England do not really need him for if you look at the­ lower order batsman run count he didnt contribute much­ to the game at all.As one report I read recently stated­ if Foster was in the team and the Fielding was brought­ up to his expertise we would be in a position to win­ matches again.

    From DAVID, on Mon 13 Jul 1:45PM

  4. Ponting has no grounds for complaint.
    The fact is the­ Aussie had LOADS of time to take Englands last five­ wickets and they failed miserably.
    Ponting uses every­ and any means he can to win so he should accept failure­ when it happens however it happens.
    His comments have,­ foolishly, deprived him of the chance to use the same­ tactics without looking like the hypocrite he­ is.
    Anyway what's the significance of a few minutes­ in five days ?

    From ken a, on Mon 13 Jul 11:10AM

  5. Enough! I cannot stand any more of this outrageous­ reaction to Ricky Ponting's comments on the manner­ in which England managed to get a draw out of this test­ match. It is entirely unfair for one man to bear the­ brunt of such nasty comments and should be stopped­ immediately. His high ethics applied as captain of the­ morally high Austrailian national team should be­ supported by all those who hold the great game of­ cricket in high esteem. Mrs R Ponting, Flying Pig­ Cottage, Fantasy Land, Australia.

    From stewgb, on Mon 13 Jul 10:54AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    children , children , the match revolves around both­ teams having two innings ??? the miracle at the end was­ aided by play on day four being curtailed by rain. What­ then ??

    From Bonzo Dog, on Mon 13 Jul 10:47AM

  7. And they call us whinging poms!

    From Sarah, on Mon 13 Jul 10:31AM

  8. Amazing - Ozzies having a go at us 'whiny'­ pommes about gamesmanship. What ever next? A humble­ South African?

    From michael b, on Mon 13 Jul 10:15AM

  9. Australian captains.Ricky Ponting and the great Richie­ Benaud.Compare and contrast.

    From John, on Mon 13 Jul 9:53AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    u cheating poms,go sip on your poofy cups of teas.The­ england cricket team will still choke just like­ englands football team.

    From joeblow, on Mon 13 Jul 9:49AM

  11. O.K., we got out of jail this time but what an absolute­ shambles we were. None of our top order batsmen­ performed, even Collingwood. Yes he stuck around,­ scored a few runs then got out to a stupid shot as so­ many others did. Cook, Strauss, Bopara, big head­ Pietersen, Prior and Flintoff all need to learn how to­ bat properly and not give their wickets away. Fine if­ they get out to an amazing delivery or a wonder catch­ but they all surrendered like lambs at least once and­ in big heads case, twice. Our so called match winning­ spinners were totally outclassed by a no hoper. Our­ swing bowlers couldn't find swing and our national­ hero looked sadly out of touch. So now to Lords and­ what changes will we see?? I can't see them making­ any changes to the top order so that only leaves­ dropping Monty for Onions and probably bringing­ Harmison into the squad. Hardly going to put fear into­ the Aussies. Personally, I would drop Cook and­ Pietersen and give Denly and Key a chance. Just as long­ as Bell isn't recalled.

    From kestephenson, on Mon 13 Jul 9:40AM

  12. If this was a test, clearly it will be marked an F.

    From Mark, on Mon 13 Jul 9:35AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    So Sue you admit they cheated ? and your knowledge of­ the game would be ? Make cream cakes for the under 10­ tea time ?

    From allornone11, on Mon 13 Jul 9:27AM

  14. I'm gonna tell my mom of you nasty English.......­ just because my super dooper, heroic, loud mouthed,­ snarling, butch Antipodean lager swilling team­ couldn't bowl out your tail-enders is not an excuse­ to call me names. R Ponting, Captain

    From stewgb, on Mon 13 Jul 9:22AM

  15. poor little aussies, the English boys were pretty poor­ mind you, but you had 4 centurions and could not win­ the match, because your bowling and midget captain­ could not get out out tail enders, then blame our­ sportmanship!
    Like Pontings foul mouth spats, bowling­ under arm to New Zealand, so much for the 5-0 ­ McGrath. Good at cricket, YES, any other sports no!­ Having lived in OZ for a couple of years its fair to­ say you Aussies are self centred, wife beaters, with no­ brains, who are 100 yrs behind the rest of­ civilisation, the only good thing about OZ is the­ aborignals, who have more manners then the rest of you­ aussies.
    You are after all the part the English cut off­ and threw away....................................bit­ like going to the toilet except we should have flushed­ harder............

    From Stuart, on Mon 13 Jul 9:12AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Didn't see the game as we don't have any­ cricket whatsoever in Asia, but by the looks of the­ card, we are stil absolutely @#$% at cricket. Symbolic­ of the abysmal, chav-ridden, talentless, superficial­ country that is England.

    From Ella, on Mon 13 Jul 9:05AM

  17. Anyone please correct me if i'm wrong, but­ didn't a bunch of blokes in baggy green caps bowl a­ ball UNDERARM, ALONG THE GROUND to stop N.Z from­ winning a game of cricket a few years back?

    Re-arrange­ these words.....Glass houses, people, stones......

    From roy, on Mon 13 Jul 9:01AM

  18. Someone mentioned earlier that yesterday was the 69th.,­ anniversay of the Battle of Britain.I was reminded of a­ remark by the late,great Keith Miller (who was a­ fighter pilot).When asked about the pressure of playing­ in an Ashes series,replied "No worries mate.Having­ a Messerschmidt on your tail at 15,000 feet,now thats­ pressure!"
    Puts things into context,I believe.

    From John, on Mon 13 Jul 8:58AM

  19. What a bizarre and poinjtless game test match cricket­ is. Five days of tedious play, only to be declared a­ draw because 5 days isn't long enough!. Bring on­ Twenty20. At least there's some actual cricket to­ watch.

    From Lance, on Mon 13 Jul 8:56AM

  20. I have it on very good authority that Australian­­ captain, little Mickey Munting, is not a happy chappy.­­ He was seen throwing a complete wobbller after the­ game­ when his mum was taking him to the pavilion­ toilets.

    From nocohere, on Mon 13 Jul 8:41AM
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