The Ashes in Adelaide - Day Five

Australia’s Oval

Day five, who would have thought there would be such a day.
England’s positive efforts and defensive cricket is the reason.

The grey clouds were again surrounding Adelaide Oval but looking much heavier than yesterday and putting a dampener on the ground; literally.

The rain had been falling all night and there was the risk that day five would be a wash out. This is what England would have been hoping for.

Play was delayed for a short 10-minute period but got underway at 10:40 am.

England returned to the centre with the task of needing 284 runs to win and 4 remaining wickets.

Stuart broad and Matthew Prior showed the Australians how stubborn they could be, but could they create a minor miracle?

Peter Siddle had other ideas. Nathan Lyon caught Broad (29) after the fourth ball of the day.

Graeme Swann joined Prior in the middle to fight what almost seemed an impossible battle.

The two gained some momentum and created a partnership of 38 runs, before Michael Clarke’s dangerous hands caught Swann after 6 runs.  

Two overs later, Matthew Prior (69) joined Swann back in the pavilion after he was Peter Siddle’s next victim.

Ryan Harris claimed the last victim of the Adelaide Oval test match claiming bowler Monty Panesar for a duck, leaving James Anderson the last Englishman standing with a not out of 13 runs.

Australia claimed Adelaide Oval as their own with a defeat of 218 runs.

Mitchell Johnson has showed he is clearly back to his best with a second consecutive Best on Ground performance.

His bowling certainly has Australia talking and England worried.

The Ashes continues on Friday with the next test set in Perth, Australia will go in to this match with a 2-0 lead.

Could it be the Australian’s are just five days away from reclaiming that famous urn?

Stumps Day 5
Its a Wrap

Kelly D.

Thanks for your write-ups, Kelly, much enjoyed and appreciated.