Fifth Ashes Test, Sydney

[QF WP]

I was on a break from AFF as Xmas was busy with multiple events Xmas to New Yeear inclusive (like most here probably), so didn't post anythig about the Fourth Test.

Now the Fifth Test is already into Day 2. Was happy with the Aussies start and loved seeing Khawaja bat in his debt Test. We should see a lot of him in the future *thumbs up*.

A real pity that a couple of the top order got starts, but nobody went on with the job. Mitchell Johnson had a swashbuckling innings and THANK GOD he did!! Top score as well - that'll hurt the batsmen's ego's.

But what are the bowlers doing...0/82 at present and Strauss has been on fire, leaving Cook behind in the scoring (usually the other way around).

My father, my uncle and his family (son, s-i-l and their respective sons) are all there.

Some of us have to work

Loved these comments on cricinfo:

Shane Warne is down in the players' race bowling to David Hasselhoff. His technique isn't textbook, but he's connected off the meat of the bat.
"He could bowl Hoff Spin," reckons Wayne Harrington. Very punny.
.
.
.
"Now I have seen it all," says Andrew Miller, referring presumably to the sight of David Hasselhoff being interviewed by Shane Warne at the SCG. And boy was it vacuous stuff."

Gee, they must have been hard up at Tea for newsworthy comments

 

[QF WP]

17.2
Johnson to Strauss, FOUR, 141.5 kph, fifty for Strauss! It's been a rapid one off 49 balls - equalling his quickest - and fittingly gets there by upper-cutting over the slips for four. It was very short and wide and got exactly what it deserved

Good innings thus far.

 

[QF WP]

22.2
Hilfenhaus to Strauss, OUT, 142.8 kph, the variation works! Strauss falls to the straight delivery. He's played all around a full ball that swung in and just offered to move away off the pitch. It was a loose shot to get out to but Strauss had played superbly

AJ Strauss b Hilfenhaus 60 (58b 8x4 1x6) SR: 103.44

That has come out of nowhere and Australia desperately needed it. They will be relieved but Jonathan Trott is the new man, he's in top form.

and Trott!!!

23.3
Johnson to Trott, OUT, Johnson strikes! Shades of Perth anyone!? Slung full across Trott who aimed a drive but could only inside edge onto his stumps. Johnson celebrates wildly, maybe that can spark him to life

IJL Trott b Johnson 0 (6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Some of you may be interested to know that that was the first duck in Jonathan Trott's Test career. There you go.

 

[QF WP]

I read that there is a bit of swing around for the fast bowlers....this might make it intersting. Pietersen isn't looking comfortable:

25.3
Johnson to Pietersen, no run, 142.9 kph, massive appeal from Australia but no referral as Pietersen shoulders arms to one that ducks back at him a touch, just glances the pad and it was heading over
26.1
Hilfenhaus to Pietersen, no run, 143.8 kph, ooh, Hilfenhaus finds swing from a full length and Pietersen skews a drive to cover
26.5
Hilfenhaus to Pietersen, 2 runs, 142.1 kph, ooh, Pietersen tried to leave here but made the decision too late and it clipped the toe end and cannoned back towards his stumps. Hilfenhaus has his hands on his head again

 

[samh004]

Unlucky for Beer losing his first Test wicket, but that’s what you get for stepping too far forward like that… and raising your heel.

 

[QF WP]

Ahh, I missed that:

34.2
Beer to Cook, 1 no ball, 88.9 kph, Beer has a wicket! Or does he? Cook has gone for a big slog sweep and skied it to mid-on, where Hilfenhaus hovers underneath it and takes the catch. But Beer's celebrations are short-lived - Billy Bowden asks for the third umpire to check on a suspected no-ball - and Beer has overstepped! Oh, a horrible moment for the debutant!

Well, he's involved in the wicket anyway...

43.2
Johnson to Pietersen, OUT, 140.9 kph, and there's a wicket! Beer is involved, as he's taken a good catch at deep backward square. Pietersen hooked a high bouncer and didn't keep it down, Beer runs in and almost misjudges his position, but takes it in front of him and sends Pietersen on his way
KP Pietersen c Beer b Johnson 36 (70b 4x4 0x6) SR: 51.42

So now it's the nightwatchman, Anderson to face up with four overs left in the day's play.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Just spent 2 days at the SCG with my 17yo son, fantastic time.
Day one sat with the Barmy Army, loads of fun.
We've done all the stadiums for Tests except the MCG, looking at 2012 for that one.

 

[moa999]

done the first two days.
first day mostly standing (you pay how much a year not to get a seat)

today in bradman with a good view of the hoff/warne antics.

hour after lunch was awesome, as was general ground atmosphere in last hour.

 

[QF WP]

Brisbane Flyer and moa999, I'm jealous .

Unscheduled meeting and phone calls this morning so I have missed the first 2 hours. See that we have already got Anderson and Collingwood (Beer's first Test wicket). He fails again...not having a good Summer with the bat.

5/254 at present, Cook on 120 and Bell on 8.

 

[QF WP]

Lunch with England 277/5 (Cook 130, Bell 20) - so only 3 runs before they pass our first innings score. We need to get some wickets!

 

[simongr]

Certainly an interesting morning. I would call this morning even - a few wickets taken and a few runs scored.

A lot depends on the post lunch session I think.

 

[QF WP]

Tea with England 378/5 (Cook on 188 and Bell 62). Had to agree with the cricinfo commentators:

All England that session. 101 runs and no wickets lost. The pitch looks flat and Australia flatter. Alastair Cook and Ian Bell have taken England into a position of complete control at the SCG

 

[QF WP]

115.3
Watson to Cook, OUT, 134.7 kph, Cook is gone at last! Oh, he's missed the chance for two double-centuries in the series, driving at Watson outside off and a thickish edge is taken low to the right of Hussey at gully.
AN Cook c Hussey b Watson 189 (342b 16x4 0x6) SR: 55.26

Finally

Still, 6/385 is still a lead of 105. England can bowl us out in 2 days....

 

[simongr]

Good hit by Cook. I guess we just don't know how the wicket is doing until England start to bowl...

 

[QF WP]

124.2
Smith to Bell, no run, dropped! Oh boy, Smith has given this some air and Bell drives it hard off the meat of the bat back at the bowler, who has spilled it at waist height. It was really flying, but Smith, a good fielder, didn't have to move. Should have taken it

Damn, we need them all out cheaply. This was a good opportunity to minimse their lead and perhaps save the Test.

 

[QF WP]

Cook's ton took him past 700 runs for the series and, incredibly in an era with few tour matches, more than 1000 first-class runs for the tour. It also pushed him to second place in England's all-time series run-makers behind Wally Hammond's 903 in the 1928-29 Ashes.

Easy pick for Man of the Series

 

[QF WP]

Good news for the home fans. Sort of. There's a lot of rain on the radar, but it might not arrive until after stumps.

We might need it to rain for the next 2 days :shock:

 

[QF WP]

Damn, Bell gets his Century

132.3
Smith to Bell, 2 runs, a first Ashes hundred for Bell! He's waited six years for it and leaps in the air to celebrate. Pushing a back-foot drive through cover for a couple and after 11 half-centuries against Australia he finally gets the precious hundred. He's needed some luck to get there, but in his 31st innings against Australia he's finally done it

 

[QF WP]

Maybe they'll declare when Prior gets his 50, with Bell already at his ton. Prior has 45 from 48 deliveries, he's not hanging around.

Also notice that it will bring up their century partnership.

 

[QF WP]

139.4
Johnson to Bell, OUT, 139.8 kph, that should quieten the Barmy Army. Ian Bell departs edging this behind to Clarke. Nothing dramatic in the delivery, just hung outside off stump, kissed the edge and went through to slip. Bell leaves to some cheers and plenty of boos as well
IR Bell c Clarke b Johnson 115 (232b 13x4 0x6) SR: 49.56

Thank the stars