Ashes - Dominant England regain the Ashes

Eurosport - Tue, 25 Aug 12:08:00 2009

England regained the Ashes with a sweeping 197-run victory over Australia in the fifth Test at The Oval despite a battling century from Michael Hussey that threatened to take the game into a fifth day.

CRICKET 2009 - England's captain Andrew Strauss goes to take the Ashes after defeating Australia - 0

A capacity crowd basking happily on a sun-baked evening erupted in scenes reminiscent of the corresponding Test four years ago when a draw was enough to bring the Ashes back after 16 years.

"It's a special moment for us, we had to dig deep in a very hard series. It has not sunk in yet," England captain Andrew Strauss said.

Australia, who needed at least a draw to retain the Ashes they won back by crushing England 5-0 in 2006-7, were dismissed for 348 in their second innings after being set a record 546 for victory. The series was tied 1-1 after Australia won the fourth Test at Headingley within three days.

Only Hussey defied the England attack for any length of time, scoring his 10th Test century. He was the last man out, caught at short-leg by Alastair Cook for 121 in five-and-a-half hours at the crease.

"We have not been good enough. Full credit to England and Andrew Strauss for the way he has led the team," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said.

Australia made brave noises on Saturday evening about scoring more than 100 runs more than any team to win a Test.

Their confidence had been boosted by an assured opening partnership of 80 before the close but in reality both the target or the prospect of batting more than six sessions to secure the draw were out of reach.

Simon Katich and Shane Watson resumed on another fine, hot day with a capacity crowd anticipating an England victory.

The partnership lasted only another six runs and 15 minutes before Katich (43) misjudged an arm ball from Graeme Swann. The little left-hander thrust his right pad out without offering a shot and was given out lbw.

Watson succumbed for 40 in the next over, also lbw, when an off-cutter from Stuart Broad thudded into his pads.

An early finish seemed likely with Broad exploiting the variable bounce and Swann getting the odd ball to grip and turn.

But Ponting, at his most determined, and Hussey, at his most obdurate, fought hard against the pair who had taken nine wickets between them in the first innings.

They went to lunch with the score at 171 for two, after Hussey had offered a half-chance to Paul Collingwood at first slip when the bell flew between the fielder's legs to the boundary.

Ponting mistimed several attempted pulls but otherwise played with stern self-discipline.

He reached his half-century in what will probably be his final Ashes Test in England before edging Swann on to Collingwood's left boot. Collingwood turned quickly but was unable to gather the rebound.

Two runouts in the space of six balls accounted for Australia's two best batsman.

Hussey called for a swift single after driving Steve Harmison to Andrew Flintoff at mid-on. Ponting (66), who hesitated momentarily, was run out a magnificent flat throw which struck the stumps at the striker's end.

Clarke followed to a bizarre dismissal in the following over without scoring when he played the ball on to the foot of Alastair Cook at short-leg.

Strauss, running around to leg from first slip, seized the ricochet and flicked the ball on to the stumps with Clarke scrambling in vain to make his ground.

Hussey on 55 survived a chance to the unfortunate Collingwood before Marcus North was stumped by Matt Prior off Swann for 10.

Hussey and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin raised Australia's hopes with a lively seventh wicket partnership of 91 from 135 balls.

Haddin used quick footwork to counter the bounce, cutting and gliding his way to 34 before hoisting Swann to Strauss in the unaccustomed position of deep mid-wicket.

Mitchell Johnson fell for a duck caught at second slip by a grateful Collingwood off Steve Harmison. Peter Siddle was out to the same bowler for 10 and Stuart followed next ball to put Harmison on a hat-trick.

Swann, who took the final wicket, was the most successful of the bowlers with four for 120 from 40.2 overs.

Reuters

Comment 109 - 128 of 128

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  1. Wouldn't it be nice if we could sit back satisfied­ at winning a series against a bitter enemy on the last­ day of the last match,and just feel satisfied and­ optimistic instaed of smug and triumphal. I'll­ wager that 805 of thiose who comment on this page ,have­ never played cricket in their sad lives and have never­ known what it;s like to play and win for the sheer joy­ of the game.Poor sad souls.

    From KEL, on Mon 24 Aug 2:32PM

  2. Carney 1000 1/4 Dutch 1/4 German 1/4 French 1/4 English­

    SA not really a Country more of an outpost and a Joke

    From MARC G, on Mon 24 Aug 1:03PM

  3. Saint Bethnal ACDC are half english

    Dont forget­ Midnight Oil, the Premier who cuddled the Queen,

    From MARC G, on Mon 24 Aug 1:01PM

  4. Dimitrios dim dim dim

    What with all the SA BullS*It i­ take it your a convict oh sorry Aussie or Peter Andre­ fan at least STOP IT YOU LOST go cry into your XXXX­

    Your guys have lost it the past two efforts away from­ HOZ so thats no reason L L L LOSER yourself

    TASMANIA­ - not really australia but a neighbour that produces­ all the best cricketers

    how come a REAL Australian an­ Aborigine is never in the TEAM­ ??????????????????strange that

    From MARC G, on Mon 24 Aug 12:59PM

  5. What is this drivel?

    From irenewallace, on Mon 24 Aug 12:58PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Australia -

    Catchit - one half of the world's­ least attractive opening pair, Simon is a grinder, but­ not much more. Superb fielder. 6/10
    Wotsit - Slightly­ more fluent, has had a pretty decent series. Not the­ future, though - and certainly not an­ "all-rounder". LBW candidate. 6/10
    Dubya -­ Pantomime villain Ponting looks like a slapped baby­ most of the time, and hasn't done enough with the­ bat. Crucially, though, he has made key mistakes­ throughout the series as a captain. 4/10
    Pussey - Mr­ Cricket might just have saved his career with a decent­ knock - though the Australian press see it differently.­ His misjudegement has been startling at times. 8/10
    Pup­ - tattooed bogun Clarke had been batsman of the series­ - until this test, with two rare failures. Surely­ Australia's next captain. 3/10
    Haddin - looks to be­ a rock solid keeper, and decent enough batsman, though­ obviously not a Gilchrist. Couldn't do a lot in­ this test under such pressure. 5/10
    Michelle Jones -­ along with Hughes, massively over-hyped. Looked ragged­ beyond belief at times (made Jimmy Anderson look like­ Dennis Lillee), and never really threatened with the­ bat. Big, big ego. 2/10
    Seter Piddle - Zombie­ look-alike he may be, but a cracking bowler and team­ player he is, too. 9/10
    Blinky - Clark was a bad, bad­ selection for this pitch - and he knew it. A mile past­ his best, should be put out to pasture. 0/10
    Milf -­ while Johnson gets all the headlines and hype, this guy­ does the business on the pitch. Excellent bowler, nice­ guy, too. A great example for all young cricketers.­ 8/10

    Overall - 5/10 for this test.

    From sarah, on Mon 24 Aug 10:49AM

  7. well done sarah. you must feel really proud of­ yourself doing that list! WHO CARES!! WE WON!! JOB­ DONE!!

    From jimbob333, on Mon 24 Aug 10:42AM

  8. well, time to do my final review of the players -­

    England

    Mouse - been immense with the bat, however,­ I still question if he is the right man for captain,­ even after this. 7/10
    Zeke - Cook has had a bit of a­ mare - he is young, so he can go away and work on his­ game. Has the raw ingredients to be a world beater.­ 3/10
    Bellend - hhmmm hard to nail down freckled faced­ bell - looks like a bunny one day, a class act the­ next. He's gone anyway when KP is back. 5/10
    Fox -­ good ol' SA has given us yet another top player -­ took to test cricket like a duck to water. Is he the­ answer to England's nightnare number three?­ 10/10
    Wobble - not so good - failed again with the bat,­ missed a couple of catches...he is, though, one of the­ "inner circle", so I reckon he's safe -­ though he shouldn't be. 3/10
    Kojak - Prior has a­ had a great series - massivley improved with the­ gloves, and fairly reliable with the bat. Well done.­ 9/10
    Crock - Fred looked dead on his feet this test,­ especially in the field - until that throw, of course.­ Never quite reached the consistency with the bat, but­ England will dearly miss his bowling and influence.­ 6/10
    Narrow - could Broad be a cricketing superstar?­ Possibly, if he gets his bowling right consistently.­ Being compared to Pidge at times is a decent enough­ base. Came good when it was required with an inspired­ session. 10/10
    Bird - now looks indespensable as he has­ impressed with the bat, and done enough with the ball.­ Could be curtains for Panesar. 9/10
    Four-ball - so­ frustrating watching Anderson bowl - with the right­ conditions, he is unplayable - other times, he looks­ like a village pie-chucker. Has to be more consistent.­ Great fielder, though. 4/10
    Harmless - showed some of­ his old fire near the end - can't see him going to­ SA, though. 7/10

    Overall team score - 9/10

    From sarah, on Mon 24 Aug 10:30AM

  9. OH I CANT BELEIVE IT SOUTH AFRICA WON THE ASHES AT HOME­ GEEZ I WONDER WHEN THE LAST TIME WAS WHEN YOU ACTUALLY­ WON IT AWAY FROM HOME LOSERS

    From Dimitrios G, on Mon 24 Aug 10:15AM

  10. Great stuff England, superb come back after the 4th­ where we were pants !! Well done to the Aussies as­ well for another captivating Ashes Series. Lets hope­ there's no open top bus ride today so that Freddie­ and all the boys can sleep off the shed load of beer­ that they obviously had last night, wouldn't wish­ to witness them rolling off the bus into Trafalgar­ Square lashed up like before. Massive thanks to­ Freddie for some fantastic Test memories. ­ Congratulations to Strauss and Ponting for their­ sportsmanlike and gentlemanly conduct throughout, great­ to see.

    From nigel c, on Mon 24 Aug 9:06AM

  11. An enjoyable series and well done England.
    Strauss-­ captained pretty well.Glad that the Aussies avoided the­ follow-on,Strauss could have been faced with a­ difficult decision.
    Trott-excellent debut.A nicely­ judged and measured innings.
    Swann and Broad.- both did­ very well.Only a matter of time I think,before they­ start posting tons for England.They have certainly­ stiffened up the lower middle order.
    Prior.-much­ improved keeping.
    Harmison- I know that it is a quicks­ job to clear out the tail,but I thought he looked a bit­ innocuous against the recognised batsmen.
    Anderson.-can­ look a world-beater when the ball is swinging but­ anonymous when it is not.
    Collingwood- below par series­ but I hope he gets some form back.Still can do a job at­ 5 or 6.
    Bell.-I don't know.The talent is there­ but....Cook,ditto.
    Flintoff- Good luck! you have given­ enjoyment to many over the years.
    John,Spain.

    From John, on Mon 24 Aug 9:04AM

  12. No. 138 I absolutely agree!!!! Well done South African­ 2nd XI, and for putting the first side on top of the­ rankings!!! Maybe English supporters will now­ appreciate their own cricketers!!!! Not quite football­ is it?

    From MATTHEW, on Mon 24 Aug 8:24AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Who cares! My friends recommended me a very interesting­ place ~~~ AgelessFriends @ com ~~~ It's a nice and­ free place for Younger Women and Older Men, or Older ­ Women and Younger Men, to interact with each other. You­ may wanna check it out.

    From Joyce, on Mon 24 Aug 7:59AM

  14. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA AUSSIE CRIMINALS sent packing, was a­ really enjoyable day especially when the 2 fools ran­ themselves out, just as the aussie fools down under­ thought they had a chance, PRICELESS

    From lard, on Mon 24 Aug 7:59AM

  15. Just Ignore ith scotish piece of @#$%

    From lard, on Mon 24 Aug 7:57AM

  16. Nr 138 - you are just as ignorant as a Aussie thinking­ they could turn it around on the fourth day. This was­ an English Team playing great and winning the Ashes. ­ As for the EX South Africans in the team - they played­ brilliant cricket for their new nation - they are­ brilliant cricketers that would not get any chance in a­ "changing" South Africa. They went for­ greener pastures (nobody can blame them) and with hard­ practice and devotion earned their place in a­ successful England team. This type of talk is like­ crying because India won the 20/20 with Gary Kirsten as­ coach!

    From suzjosjan, on Mon 24 Aug 7:54AM

  17. england have and will always be the number 1 cricket­ team of all time .we canott and will not be beaten ever­ ,we are the champions we are the champions ,no time for­ losers cos we are the champions ,of the world.anybody­ who disagrees are just jealous ,come on now admit it­ ,everyone move over to support england ,you know you­ want to .

    From bry, on Mon 24 Aug 7:53AM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well done to South Africa's second XI for beating­ Australia and winning back the Ashes...

    From jcverm, on Mon 24 Aug 7:01AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met a man who are­ 40? now on a dating service. he wants to see me and­ even? have fun with me. but i am 18 now. I don't­ know? whether i should go to see him. he ever said to­ me that? all girls on that site ~~ sug ar match­ maker,com~~ are? seeking fun.. why am not­ I??????????????????????

    From Rose, on Mon 24 Aug 6:58AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met a man who are­ 40? now on a dating service. he wants to see me and­ even? have fun with me. but i am 18 now. I don't­ know? whether i should go to see him. he ever said to­ me that? all girls on that site ~~ sug ar match­ maker,com~~ are? seeking fun.. why am not­ I??????????????????????

    From Rose, on Mon 24 Aug 6:58AM
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