Let's have a game of cricket, said Michael Clarke. And so, as the Ashes series moved to an enthralling climax that few imagined possible, England and Australia did just that. Then, with England needing 21 runs from four overs with six wickets in hand, a capacity crowd in a state of high excitement and Clarke no longer fancying a game of cricket quite as much anymore, the umpires took out their light meters and they all walked off.
Others can debate the whys and wherefores of ICC regulations. After the torpor of Friday and the washout of Saturday, this was a memorable day's cricket. The umpires had no choice but to walk off under those regulations and Clarke, having manufactured a wonderful day's cricket, had a right to expect that the regulations were respected.
Jonathan Trott gave the immediate reaction to Clarke's attempts to get off the field. "We'd be doing the same thing," he said. "Australia declared to set up a game and all credit to them."
Kevin Pietersen, registering the fastest Ashes fifty along the way to 62 from 55 balls, will rightly gain the plaudits as England attempted to chase of 227 in 44 overs. He took England to within 64 runs of victory, with eight wickets and 10 overs remaining. In the end, they only faced six of them, but judging by the jubilation of England's players at completing a victorious series they did not seem to care.
Pietersen received a miniature silver bat on the third day to mark his achievement of becoming England's highest run-scorer in all formats. But this was the sort of cricket he lives for. His shots were falling into gaps and the crowd was rapt with attention on a beautiful sunlit evening. Then he swung Ryan Harris to David Warner at long-on, perhaps his first, fatal slog.
Trott fell in the next over but England's chase continued in composed fashion in the hands of the Warwickshire pair Ian Bell and Chris Woakes. But it was not to be.
With the series already decided, Clarke, an Australia captain who doubtless had his coach egging him on in the background, deserved immense credit for fashioning such an engrossing climax. No Australia captain had ever lost an Ashes series 4-0. Clarke risked just that. Statisticians be damned, was Clarke's response: 3-0 or 4-0, who cares?
Only two captains had ever declared twice in a game and lost a Test - Garry Sobers for West Indies and Graeme Smith for South Africa. Hansie Cronje once declared and forfeited to lose against England but that one was corrupt.
There were deeper reasons, of course, for Clarke's declaration. Australia's sense of feelgood after a 3-0 Ashes defeat is based upon their conviction that they are playing a more enterprising brand of cricket that will fully explore their potential and ultimately turn the tide in their favour, preferably in the return Ashes series this winter.
Presented with a first-innings lead of 115 in early afternoon, and only 67 overs left in the game, they had only one option: attack. By tea, they had declared with a lead of 226. They made 111 at nearly five an over with six batsmen perishing. Clarke delivered news of the declaration to the England dressing room at a jaunty trot.
Alastair Cook, his opposite number, approached the run chase as dutifully as he approach a trip to a maiden aunt. It was an obligation he knew he must fulfil, whether deep down he wanted to or not, and he did so uncomfortably until he edged across his crease to James Faulkner and was lbw.
It was a timely departure. Pietersen came out to throaty cheers - the One Who Could. England still needed less than run a ball. Pietersen imposed himself against Faulkner. Recognising that the mood had changed, he switched into one-day mode.
Trott also progressed nonchalantly, keeping the target within range. On 41, he survived the most idiotic review of the series - it was quite a feat, so credit where it is due - when Nathan Lyon turned one out of the footholds and Steve Smith held a short leg catch off the thigh. He fell for 59, lbw to Faulkner, the sort of player who makes a match attacking by his very presence.
Those arriving at The Oval ahead of time on the final day had discovered groundstaff staring morbidly at covers and suggesting the match would not start much ahead of lunchtime. Read the experts and the emphasis was on England's unremittingly conservative approach and a debate, in the context of a seemingly dead Test, about how they had won respect rather than admiration.
What happened was a remarkable transformation. The Ashes series was suddenly full of jollity, so much so that even Faulkner would not have demanded his money back. Faulkner's jibe that refunds had been in order after England's defensive approach on an interminable Friday had been well aimed, judging by the outcry it caused among England supporters on social media sites.
He took four of the last five wickets to fall to finish with slightly flattering figures of 4 for 51.
Haddin, Australia's wicketkeeper, also broke the world record for dismissals in a Test series when he claimed three more victims on the final day, the best of them a sparkling leg-side catch to dismiss Bell, England's man of the series. Harris picked up the Australia award.
Haddin's 29 dismissals took him past Rod Marsh, who set the standard against England in 1982-83 and was on hand at The Oval to watch in his guise as an Australia selector.
England passed the follow-on figure, and must have assumed that they had removed Australia's last, faint chance of victory, in the process, within 12 overs. Then Graeme Swann took 18 off an over of offspin from Lyon and the crowd began to sense that Sunday might turn out to be rather different from the two days that had passed before.
Australia batted for 23 overs to reach 111 for 6. Their batting order - likened to a snow globe on ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball service - was shaken once more: Warner and Shane Watson opening, the debutant Faulkner at No. 3, Chris Rogers held in reserve.
Warner was brilliantly caught in his follow-through by James Anderson; Watson, who briefly laid into Anderson, succumbed at long-on and there was a first-baller for Haddin, courtesy of a waft at Stuart Broad.
It all seemed an Ashes fantasy, as if we had died of boredom on Friday and gone to Ashes heaven. Still Australia drove forward. Faulkner produced a brief one-day melody until Matt Prior caught him down the leg side at full stretch off Broad; Smith toe-ended one to long-on and Broad, loving every minute of the challenge, spread-eagled Harris' stumps for his fourth wicket.
Of Simon Kerrigan, protected after his stage fright on the opening day, there was no sighting. But just to be there must have been something.
Tea Australia 111 for 6 dec (Clarke 28*, Starc 13*) and 492 for 9 dec lead England 377 (Root 68, Pietersen 50) by 226 runs
Australia's sense of feelgood after a 3-0 Ashes defeat is based upon their conviction that they are playing a more enterprising brand of cricket that will fully explore their potential and ultimately turn the tide in their favour, so presented with a first-innings lead of 115 on the final day of the Investec Test series, and only 67 overs left in the game they had only one option: attack.
By tea, they had declared with a lead of 226 and 44 overs left in the game. They made 111 at nearly five an over with six batsmen perishing. England were invited to score at 5.16. The news of the declaration was delivered to the England dressing room at a jaunty trot, and with a big smile, by Australia's captain, Michael Clarke.
A stirring statement had been delivered and even if their collapse was enough to suggest that they had got several pages in the wrong order, the intention was that the essential message might embarrass England in the final session. Australia were prepared to risk defeat, and promote the brand in the process, but England, 3-0 up in the series and with no desire to be munificent, were likely to be deeply suspicious of too much tomfoolery.
Australia's batting order - likened to a snow globe on ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball service - was shaken once more: David Warner and Shane Watson opening, the debutant James Faulkner at No. 3, Chris Rogers held in reserve in case of disaster.
Warner was brilliantly caught in his follow-through by James Anderson; Watson, who briefly laid into Anderson as if he thought he was Simon Kerrigan trying the fast stuff, succumbed at long-on and there was a first-baller for Brad Haddin, courtesy of a waft at Stuart Broad.
Still Australia drove forward. Faulkner produced a brief one-day melody until Matt Prior caught him down the leg side at full stretch off Broad; Steven Smith toe-ended one to long-on and Broad, loving every minute of the challenge, spread-eagled Ryan Harris' stumps for his fourth wicket. Of Kerrigan, seemingly being protected for another day, there was no sighting.
Australia's enterprise shook England into a committed bowling response and, if the prospects of a positive result seemed improbable to all but the most incurable romantic, the entertainment quota for the final-day crowd ensured that a series which had only occasionally rivalled the enthralling character of 2005 and 2009 did at least end on a high.
Haddin, Australia's wicketkeeper, had equalled the world record for dismissals in a Test series when he claimed two more victims on the final day. Haddin's 28 dismissals took him alongside Rod Marsh, who set the standard against England in 1982-83 and who was on hand at The Oval to watch him in his guise as an Australia selector.
Haddin, who achieved the distinction in the second over after lunch when he caught Anderson off Faulkner, did not overly celebrate. Nor should he have done with the series lost. For all that, the record was proof of the sturdiest of individual performances.
England were dismissed 40 minutes into the afternoon session, their innings drawing to a close when Faulkner bowled Graeme Swann. Faulkner took four of the last five wickets to fall to finish with slightly flattering figures of 4 for 51.
After the circumspect England batting of the third day and the washed out day that followed, the Ashes series was suddenly full of jollity. As England made merry with 103 runs in a morning session restricted to 90 minutes, at nearly five-an-over, Australia took three wickets and the crowd shared in the fun, even Faulkner would not have demanded his money back.
Faulkner's jibe that refunds had been in order after England's defensive approach on an interminable Friday had been well aimed, judging by the outcry it caused among England supporters on social media sites.
England passed the follow-on figure, and logically removed Australia's last, faint chance of victory, within 12 overs. They did not agonise over it, as those you witnessed their third-day plod might have anticipated, they scampered there, ticking off the additional 42 runs they needed within 12 overs, and then putting their minds to not just winning the series but winning a few hearts and minds.
The Test still held more significance for Chris Woakes than most, with the chance to convey the impression that he could hold down a spot batting at No. 6 for England (he could start by batting there for his county), but on 29 he drove hard at Harris and was caught at second slip.
There was time for a couple more duvet-contented cover drives from Ian Bell, at the end of the most successful series of his life, before he gave Faulkner a wicket when Haddin took a sparkling leg-side catch. Broad then lost his middle stump as Starc swung one back a shade to defeat non-existent footwork.
Swann, in frisky mood, drove Starc resoundingly through the off side and sounded the lunch gong prematurely as he took a ringing blow on the helmet from the same bowler, but showed no ill effects as he skipped down the pitch to Nathan Lyon's offspin and planted him in the crowd. Eighteen came off the over and, as the crowd cheered, they had been treated to more light entertainment in three minutes than Friday's gathering had witnessed in an entire day.
There was purpose in the morning session, too, for Prior, who has followed up his England player-of-the-year award with an unproductive batting summer. He has not been helped by the slow, dry pitches, he has struggled against Peter Siddle's slanted attack and, when Australia have fed his strength square of the off side and packed the area with fielders, he has obligingly holed out more than once.
Prior was determined to provide something gratifying to bring him sustenance ahead of the return series. He carved away with a mixture of luck and judgment before falling at mid-on for 47, pulling at Faulkner, attempting a third successive boundary.
Until the final day, an Ashes series which burst into life at Trent Bridge less than seven weeks ago had been meandering to a close. The river which began by rushing excitedly through sunlit mountains has reached the alluvial plains and public and commentators alike are picking through the sediment for clues to the return series.
England, supremely efficient under the coaching guidance of Andy Flower, have become more admired than loved; Australia, trying to rediscover themselves through adventure under a new coach, Darren Lehmann, are disguising deficiencies off the field by ever bolder statements on and off the field.
England 377 (Prior 47, Bell 45) trail Australia 492 for 9 dec by 115 runs
Australia's wicketkeeper Brad Haddin equalled the world record for dismissals in a Test series when he claimed two more victims on the final day of the Investec Ashes series. Haddin's 28 dismissals took him alongside Rod Marsh, who set the standard against England in 1982-83 and who was on hand at The Oval to watch him in his guise as an Australia selector.
Haddin, who achieved the distinction in the second over after lunch when he caught James Anderson off James Faulkner, did not overly celebrate. Nor should he have done with Australia hours away from a 3-0 series defeat becoming reality. For all that, the record was proof of the sturdiest of individual performances.
England trailed by 115 runs as they were dismissed 40 minutes into the afternoon session, their innings drawing to a close when James Faulkner bowled Graeme Swann. Faulkner took four of the last five wickets to fall to finish with slightly flattering figures on debut of 4 for 51.
After the circumspect England batting of the third day and the washed out day that followed, the Ashes series reached its final day in jollier fashion. As England made merry with 103 runs in a morning session restricted to 90 minutes, at nearly five-an-over, Australia took three wickets and the crowd shared in the fun, even Faulkner would not have demanded his money back.
Faulkner's jibe that refunds had been in order after England's defensive approach on an interminable Friday had been well aimed, judging by the outcry it caused among England supporters on social media sites.
Once England had passed the follow-on figure, and removed Australia's last, faint chance of winning the Oval Test, the match became the precursor to impending England celebrations. They did not agonise over it, as those you witnessed their third-day plod might have anticipated, they scampered there, ticking off the additional 42 runs they needed within 12 overs, and then putting their minds to not just winning the series but winning a few hearts and minds.
Not every England player had an entirely successful morning. The Test had more significance for Chris Woakes than most, with the chance to convey the impression that he could hold down a spot batting at No 6 for England (he could start by batting there for his county), but he had moved from 15 to 29 when he drove hard at Ryan Harris and was caught at second slip. Another boundary, off Mitchell Starc, had flown conveniently over gully.
There was time for a couple more duvet-contented cover drives from Ian Bell, at the end of the most successful series of his life, before he gave Faulkner a wicket when Haddin took a sparkling leg-side catch, a wicket which left Haddin one short of Marsh's record. His chances of equalling the record were not immediately enhanced by Stuart Broad, who lost his middle stump as Starc swung one back a shade to defeat non-existent footwork.
Swann, in frisky mood, drove Starc resoundingly through the off side and sounded the lunch gong prematurely as he took a ringing blow on the helmet from the same bowler, but showed no ill effects as he skipped down the pitch to Nathan Lyon's offspin and planted him in the crowd. Eighteen came off the over and, as the crowd cheered, they had been treated to more light entertainment in three minutes than Friday's gathering had witnessed in an entire day.
There was purpose in the morning session, too, for Matt Prior, who has followed up his England player-of-the-year award with an unproductive batting summer. He has not been helped by the slow, dry pitches, he has struggled against Peter Siddle's slanted attack and, when Australia have fed his strength square of the off side and packed the area with fielders, he has obligingly holed out more than once.
Prior was determined to provide something gratifying to bring him sustenance ahead of the return series and by lunch he was unbeaten on 35, cutting with a mixture of luck and judgment and calculating perhaps that he had already picked out quite enough fielders for one summer. He fell at mid-on, pulling at Faulkner, attempting a third successive boundary.
An Ashes series which burst into life at Trent Bridge less than seven weeks ago is now meandering to a close. The river which began by rushing excitedly through sunlit mountains has reached the alluvial plains and public and commentators alike are picking through the sediment for clues to the return series.
When the next series is analysed before the existing one is completed, it is a sign that by and large that the river has run its course. England retained the Ashes in the rain at Manchester, they won the series after Stuart Broad's adrenalin rush in Chester-le-Street and, as much as the Barmy Army might be staging an end-of-series party, enthusiasm for it has dwindled. England's more enterprising approach was welcome in stirring spirits.
England, supremely efficient under the coaching guidance of Andy Flower, have become more admired than loved; Australia, trying to rediscover themselves through adventure under a new coach, Darren Lehmann, are disguising deficiencies off the field by talking ever louder off it.
A series which began as a battle for supremacy, a battle won by England, has become a battle for public affection. England have looked a little weary and put-upon whereas Australia are full of smiles. The body language has been misleading because it is England who are about to win the series and as they hit about them, with the cares of the third day banished, they had begun to relish as much.
Lunch England 350 for 7 ( Prior 35*, Swann 24*) trail Australia 492 for 9 dec by 142 runs
After the circumspect England batting of the third day and the washed out day that followed, the Investec Ashes series reached its final day in jollier fashion. As England made merry with 103 runs in a morning session restricted to 90 minutes, at nearly five an over, Australia took three wickets and the crowd shared in the fun, even James Faulkner would not have demanded his money back.
Faulkner's jibe that refunds had been in order after England's defensive approach on an interminable Friday had been well aimed, judging by the outcry it caused in social media among England supporters.
Once England had passed the follow-on figure, and removed Australia's last, faint chance of winning the Oval Test, the match became the precursor to impending England celebrations. They did not agonise over it, as those who witnessed their third-day plod might have anticipated, they scampered there, ticking off the additional 42 runs they needed within 12 overs, and then putting their minds to not just winning the series but winning a few hearts and minds.
Not every England player had an entirely successful morning. The Test had more significance for Chris Woakes than most, with the chance to convey the impression that he could hold down a spot batting at No. 6 (he could start by batting there for his county), but he had moved from 15 to 25 when he drove hard at Ryan Harris and was caught at second slip. Another boundary, off Mitchell Starc, had flown conveniently over gully.
There was time for a couple more duvet-contented cover drives from Ian Bell, at the end of the most successful series of his life, before he gave Faulkner a wicket when Brad Haddin took a sparkling leg-side catch, a wicket which left Haddin only one victim short of Rod Marsh's record 28 dismissals in a Test series.
His chances of equalling the record were not enhanced by Stuart Broad, who lost his middle stump as Starc swung one back a shade to defeat non-existent footwork.
Graeme Swann, in frisky mood, drove Starc resoundingly through the off side, sounded the lunch gong prematurely as he took a ringing blow on the helmet from the same bowler, but showed no ill effects as he skipped down the pitch to Nathan Lyon's offspin and planted him in the crowd. Eighteen came off the over and, as the crowd cheered, they had been treated to more light entertainment in three minutes than Friday's gathering had witnessed in an entire day.
There was purpose in the morning session, too, for Matt Prior, who has followed up his England player-of-the-year award with an unproductive batting summer. He has not been helped by the slow, dry pitches, he has struggled against Peter Siddle's slanted attack and, when Australia have fed his strength square of the off side and packed the area with fielders, he has obligingly holed out more than once.
Prior was determined to provide something gratifying to bring him sustenance ahead of the return series and by lunch he was unbeaten on 35, cutting with a mixture of luck and judgement and calculating perhaps that he had already picked out quite enough fielders for one summer.
An Ashes series which burst into life at Trent Bridge less than seven weeks ago is now meandering to a close. The river which began by rushing excitedly through sunlit mountains has reached the alluvial plains and public and commentators alike are picking through the sediment for clues to the return series.
When the next series is analysed before the existing one is completed, it is a sign that by and large that the river has run its course. England retained the Ashes in the rain at Manchester, they won the series after Broad's adrenalin rush at Chester-le-Street and, as much as the Barmy Army might be staging an end-of-series party, enthusiasm for it has dwindled. England's more enterprising approach was welcome in stirring spirits.
England, supremely efficient under the coaching guidance of Andy Flower, have become more admired than loved; Australia, trying to rediscover themselves through adventure under a new coach, Darren Lehmann, are disguising deficiencies off the field by talking ever louder off it.
A series which began as a battle for supremacy, a battle won by England, has become a battle for public affection. England have looked a little weary and put-upon whereas Australia are full of smiles. The body language has been misleading because it is England who are about to win the series 3-0 and as they hit about them, with the cares of the third day banished, they had begun to remember as much.
No comments:
Post a Comment