England close in on Australia
Tourists trail by 113 runs in final Test.
SYDNEY:
England closed to within 113 runs of an innings lead over a battling Australia, edging an engrossing second day of the final Ashes Test.
The tourists got off to a blistering start with a 98-run opening partnership before Australia struck back with three wickets, including the prize scalp of Kevin Pietersen.
An edgy battle
Michael Clarke’s Australians, playing to level the series after failing to regain the Ashes, could have been in an even better position at stumps had they not had a crucial fourth wicket taken off them by an umpire’s referral. At close, England were 167 for three in reply to Australia’s 280, with Alastair Cook unbeaten on 61 and nightwatchman James Anderson not out on one.
“It’s pretty even-stevens, it’s slightly in our favour, it’s a real tough one to call,” said Anderson. “We have a crucial morning session to get through and hopefully we will get a decent lead.”
Johnson riled by umpire referrals
England could have been four down at close after debutant Michael Beer celebrated what he thought was his first Test wicket when Cook, then on 45, skied to Ben Hilfenhaus at deep mid-on only for umpire Billy Bowden to ask for the third umpire to check on a suspected no-ball. Replays showed spinner had overstepped and Cook stayed.
Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson hit out at the umpire referral system saying, “If the umpires know it’s a no-ball, they should call it, instead of waiting to call it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2011.
England closed to within 113 runs of an innings lead over a battling Australia, edging an engrossing second day of the final Ashes Test.
The tourists got off to a blistering start with a 98-run opening partnership before Australia struck back with three wickets, including the prize scalp of Kevin Pietersen.
An edgy battle
Michael Clarke’s Australians, playing to level the series after failing to regain the Ashes, could have been in an even better position at stumps had they not had a crucial fourth wicket taken off them by an umpire’s referral. At close, England were 167 for three in reply to Australia’s 280, with Alastair Cook unbeaten on 61 and nightwatchman James Anderson not out on one.
“It’s pretty even-stevens, it’s slightly in our favour, it’s a real tough one to call,” said Anderson. “We have a crucial morning session to get through and hopefully we will get a decent lead.”
Johnson riled by umpire referrals
England could have been four down at close after debutant Michael Beer celebrated what he thought was his first Test wicket when Cook, then on 45, skied to Ben Hilfenhaus at deep mid-on only for umpire Billy Bowden to ask for the third umpire to check on a suspected no-ball. Replays showed spinner had overstepped and Cook stayed.
Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson hit out at the umpire referral system saying, “If the umpires know it’s a no-ball, they should call it, instead of waiting to call it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2011.