An Amazing Win

Was Watching... Warnie!


I don't know why but I decided to take in the 5th day of the Adelaide Test today on the TV. I seriously thought it was going to be a draw, but lo and behold it turned into quite an exciting day's play. I sure don't regret the decision to waste a day in front of the TV as England were dismissed for only 129, leaving a paltry target of 168 runs for the Australians in the final session.

World cricket's greatest wicket-taker, Warne proved yet again that he was also its greatest dramatist by conjuring up a virtuoso performance just when it seemed the Adelaide Test match was destined to end as the dullest of draws.

His relentless, unchanged spell of 26-11-29-4 today, giving him 4-49 for the innings, was the catalyst for England's inexplicable collapse from 1-59 overnight to 129 all out, with a little bit of help from two men who had previously been unkind to Warne in this match.

First, umpire Bucknor let his guard down long enough to allow Warne to convince him that Andrew Strauss' bat or glove, as well as his pad, had deflected a catch to short leg.

Warne was unable to win a single appeal from Bucknor or Rudi Koertzen in the first innings, but his standing as an expert in the dark art of umpire persuasion was confirmed by television.

Replays showed the ball was nowhere near either, leaving Strauss to shake his head and Warne to reason that his luck was in.

That feeling would have been strengthened by the wicket of Ian Bell, run out in the sort of mix-up that should never happen in Tests but does so nonetheless.

Bell's departure brought Kevin Pietersen to the wicket, a man acknowledged as Warne's master after his first innings 158.

Pietersen had boasted previously that he could never imagine being bowled around his legs by Warne, given that he has made a habit of avoiding the sweep to deliveries pitched into the rough outside his leg stump.

Today, however, Pietersen decided for one moment that he would try it, and then looked around in disbelief to find he had been bowled behind his pads by a ball that turned almost square to strike his off stump.

The run chase was interesting as Langer and Hayden both proved to be haphazard, and Martyn once again proved he was a flake. Ponting, Hussey and Clarke looked to be responsible hitters in the 168 run chase.

Captain Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey batted expertly on a wicket which showed none of the trouble England experienced in its second innings.

An elated Hussey (61 not out) raised both fists and jumped in the air when he hit the winning run. Michael Clarke, who scored a seven courtesy of a run-three and four overthrows, finished on 21 not out.

Ponting's 49 gave him 447 runs this series from four innings for just three times out.

Australia's victory - its 13th in 14 Tests since it lost the Ashes in 2005 - gave it a decisive lead ahead of the third Test in Perth, which starts December 14.

I don't know if Hayden and Martyn should retain their Test spots after this Test match. Hayden looked stodgy and lofted a ball that maybe he need not ought to have played at. A bit like Gilchrist yesterday, but with much less style. Martyn came in and smashed a 4 then danced around a ball to send it straight to a fielder. Thanks for the pathetic contribution Damien! I lost faith in these gusy in last year's ashes, but I don't know why the selectors keep showing this unfound sort of faith in these guys. Hayden hasn't hit like his peak for some time now and Martyn is still the unreliable flake he was in the early '90s.

Michael Clarke on the other hand looks to have matured greatly. Apart from the shot he hit in the air that got him out, he showed great discipline in both innings; the sort of discipline we used to get from Steve Waugh. I dare say he's recovered his Test spot for now.


Every time I watch Australia bat, I get this mixed elation and despair. The gap between the good and the bad is getting larger, not smaller. It's quite excruciating, even when they accomplish the 168 run chase properly - Then I realise it must be much worse for the Poms who are watching this with their hopes riding on their boys. Who knows how they'll come out in the next Test. It's sure looking like Australia are going to regain the Ashes.