Wickets rain down at MCG

Not rain, hail or snow for that matter could stop the Australian juggernaut today, as the home side finished off the first day of the fourth Ashes Test firmly in front, with England all out for 159, lasting a mere two and a half sessions.

89,000 people at the MCG and millions more watching from home had eyes not on the Australian team, nor on the English side hoping to avert a series whitewash, but on one man, Shane Warne.

One could be forgiven for thinking that having regained the Ashes 3-0 at Perth, the Australian’s would have an easy lead up to the Boxing Day Test; a dead rubber. The urn back, the mission more-or-less accomplished, a pleasant Christmas holiday break was envisaged for the Australian’s. However two bombshells rocked the cricketing world; the news of the retirements of partners-in-crime Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. The Boxing Day match would be Warne’s last match in-front of his beloved Victorian home crowd.

Shouts of “Warnie, Warnie, Warnie” dominated the crowd. When Ponting finally threw him the ball, the roar was thunderous. When Warne got his 700th wicket, Andrew Strauss clean bowled for 50, the roar was deafening. Warne had his record, Australia had the match in firm control.

Earlier in the day, after a delayed start, England won the toss and captain Andrew Flintoff decided to bat first. He informed the public that the only change to the side was that of the wicketkeeper; Geraint Jones out, Chris Read in. A move widely expected and much anticipated.

The initial breakthrough didn’t take long. An unlucky Alastair Cook, trying to avoid a Brett Lee ball could not manage to get his bat away in time, the ball nicking the bottom of his bat and going straight to the keeper as he tried to let it go. Cook, sent back to the pavilion for 11.

With Cook gone, a slow outfield and drizzling rain, the runs dried up. A miserly McGrath, Lee and Clark gave away nothing. Symonds’ fielding was superb, throwing his body around and saving runs at regular intervals.

With the lack of runs came the opportunities for the bowlers. Stuart Clark, continuing his stellar year dismissed danger man Ian Bell for just seven. Out from a ball that came back, it hit Bell on his pads and was deemed LBW by the umpire.

The next man in Paul Collingwood, together with Strauss started to rebuild England’s innings. They managed to add 57, taking England past the 100 mark when Lee, again got the breakthrough. Giving the ball a little extra bounce, he forced an unsuspecting Paul Collingwood to hit the ball directly to Ricky Ponting, who managed to hold on to the catch. Replays showed how close it was to being dropped.

Once the Australians got the scent, they closed in, like they have done so many times before. They sensed the weakness, they saw the opportunity and they took it with open arms. Just two balls later, Strauss was gone. A magnificent ball from Warne brought up his 700th wicket, Strauss who has had a series he would rather forget, out for a fighting fifty, his top score for the series.

From that stage on, the tourists only managed to add another 58 runs. In what has become a common theme for the 2006/7 Ashes, Pietersen ran out of partners, Flintoff fell cheaply, the wicketkeeper chosen for his batting made three and the tail was bereft of life. England were all out for 159 in under 75 overs.

All the Australian bowlers contributed, all the bowlers were spot on. But as has happened so many times before on big occasions, Warne rose to the challenge, taking a five wicket haul and conceding just 39 runs in 17 overs. Lee and Clark got two each and McGrath just the one in his second last match as well. Symonds was handy with his medium pacers. None of the bowlers went for more than three runs an over, a testament to the tight bowling and astute field placings.

Late in the day Australia had to come back out to bat for an awkward 11 overs. Openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer came out firing, another common theme throughout this series, scoring ten runs off the first over. But as much as they would have liked, they weren’t able to last till the stumps, Langer falling for 27 off just 29 balls edging a good Flintoff delivery to Read. Flintoff, finding form with the ball also managed to dismiss nightwatchman Brett Lee with the very next ball.

The day finished with Hayden and Ricky Ponting still at the crease. Australia, 48-2 trailing England by just 111 runs with eight wickets in hand and firm favourites for the match.

England 159

Andrew Strauss 50, Paul Collingwood 28
Shane Warne 5-39, Stuart Clark 2-27, Brett Lee 2-36

Australia trail England by 111 runs with 8 wickets in hand

Australia 48/2
Justin Langer 27, Matthew Hayden 17*
Andrew Flintoff 2-20