Yesterday, day two of play in the fourth Ashes test between the Aussies and the English at Headingley turned into a nightmare. A horrible nightmare for any English fan and the sound of angels to an Aussie fan.
The Aussies under Micheal Clarke and Marcus North added to English woes as they piled on runs with a century partnership between them. What a find Marcus North has been!! He's been a revelation in the Aussie middle order. With no Hayden or Gilchrist in the team, the onus had been on the batsman but North as shown no jitters and bats composed and calm with great elegance and class. But his consistency is what amazes me. Surely he has a long way to go.
Helping themselves, Marcus scored yet another century while Clarke fell just 7 runs short of it adding to the sorrow. In the end the Aussie scored 445 runs in their first innings and getting a lead of the size of a whale.
The stage was set for Strauss and Cook to rewrite history and pull perhaps the greatest miracle ever in history. But sadly Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus had other plans as they claimed five England wickets for 20 runs in the space of just 44 balls.
With the English down at 82 for 5, little can be done. An innings defeat looks likely and even if the English somehow with a miracle manage to fill in the deficit runs still they are more likely than not to let the men from down under level the series.
Surely all that can be done now is hope against hope the English can somehow regroup with Fintoff and make a final stand at Kennington Oval, London.
6 Comments:
nice look cpd...very nice!!
You have rightly identified North as a find. He may not have Gilly's pyrotechnics nut is an excellent middle order bat.
The English batting line up without KP and Freddie looks toothless. No player in the current line who can intimidate the opposistion like KP and Freddie can.
@ SP,
Thanx mate.
@ Ottayan,
Exactly and the consistency of North is amazing......He right now carries the entire weight of the Aussie middle oder on his back....
@ Baiju Nair,
Actually there sill is Prior. He counter attacks and is an attacking batsman. But he is not of the potential of KP. Losing KP was perhaps their biggest blow in strenght and in morale and intimidation.
Lets hope Lee will be back at the Oval.
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