Australia humiliate England and square the Series

Second Investec Ashes Test,Lord’s,London,July 16-19,2015

Australia, after suffering an eye-opening defeat in the first Test, locked horns against their traditional rivals just four days later at the Home of Cricket in the second Ashes Test.England went into the Test match unchanged while Australia made two changes.Haddin opted out due to family reasons and Peter Nevill was all set to make his Test debut at Lord’s.Watson was dropped and Mitchell Marsh was drafted in.Australia had not won an Ashes Test at Lord’s since 2005 and after suffering a crushing defeat in the first Test were desperate to turn the things this time around.Australia,after winning the toss, opted to bat first and got off to a fluent start. Warner and Rogers brought up their 50-run stand in just the 12^th over and raced to 0/68 at drinks in the first session.Moeen Ali came in to bowl the first over after drinks and Warner, after hitting couple of boundaries early in the over, was induced into playing a false stroke and Anderson, running backwards completed a neat catch to end the Warner’s carnage for 38.Smith joined Rogers and Australia were in a commanding position at 104/1 at lunch on Day 1 with Rogers and Smith unbeaten on 43 and 16 respectively. Following lunch, Rogers got to his half-century with a classic punch of the back foot and it was his 8^th fifty in last nine innings. He didn’t convert any of last seven fifties into a hundred and it was important for Rogers, not only for himself but also for the team’s cause to convert this fifty into a big hundred. Learning from the mistakes of the previous Test, Smith and Rogers consolidated on a good start and played patiently, making full utilization of good batting conditions. Following Rogers’s suit, Smith too completed his fifty and by the time it was Tea, Australia were in the driver’s seat at 191/1.England were wicketless in the afternoon session and they had themselves to blame for as Bell failed to grab a difficult chance in slip cordon of Smith when he was on 50.Post Tea, Australia were on a roll as runs started to come far too easily and with no help from the wicket, English players started to drop their shoulders. With Rogers on 97 and Smith on 87,there was a competition between two as in who will get to his hundred first and with Root coming on to ball, Smith got some quick runs and raced to his hundred when he pulled Wood for a boundary. It was Smith’s 10^th Test ton, 4th Vs England. Rogers too, soon completed his 5^th Test hundred and was a relieved man, finally, getting there to three figures after a long, long time.

Rogers exults after getting to his hundred

Following their hundreds, both Smith and Rogers marched on and their partnership continued to get bigger and better. At Stumps on Day 1, Australia had posted mammoth 337 runs on the board and Warner’s dismissal was the only success that England had. Rogers was unbeaten on 158 and Smith was 129 not out as the duo made a strong statement in response to England’s victory at Cardiff.

 The first ball of Day 2, Anderson to Rogers and Rogers paid the penalty for taking eyes off the ball as ball thrashed into his helmet and luckily for him, nothing happened especially after he suffered concussion just a month and a half before. Rogers was able to get over that nasty blow but managed to add just 15 runs to his overnight score before he was cleaned up for his career best 173.Rogers’s downfall brought an end to a majestic 284 run stand between him and vice-captain Smith. Skipper Clarke who came at the fall of Rogers’s wicket didn’t last long as he was caught at square leg, trying to pull Wood, just for 7.In the meanwhile, Smith brought his 150 and at lunch on Day 2,Australia were 424/3.Australia’s No.5,Adam Vogues was the next man to go as he was dismissed in just the second over after lunch for 25.Broad got his third scalp when Mitchell Marsh was bowled for 12,becoming the first case of drag on of the Test as the ball kept a bit low and Australia were reduced to 442/5.Wicket-Keeper batsman Peter Nevill on his debut, coming at No.7,got off the blocks quickly and runs started to come quickly for Australia, thereby indicating the first signs of declaration. Smith got to his double-century with a boundary off Moeen Ali and received a standing ovation from the packed crowd at the Home of Cricket.

Smith acknowledges the crowd after his double hundred

Smith, soon after his double-hundred, perished, trying to play an extravagant reverse sweep for brilliant 215 and by then Australia had well past beyond 500.Just an over after Tea, Clarke declared the Australian innings at massive 566/8 and that meant England were left to face as many as 29 overs before the close of play on Day 2.

England got off to a worst possible start as opener Lyth edged just the second ball of the innings and peter Nevill grabbed maiden catch of his Test career and England were one down with no score on the board. Johnson, who took a long time to take his first wicket in the first Test, required just 3 balls to take his first scalp this time around as he bowled out of form Garry Ballance for 23 with a ball that kept a bit low. In the very next over, from the other end,Hazzlewood produced a jaffer to get rid of Ian Bell and England were reeling at 29/3.

Mitchell Johnson is ecstatic after dismissing Joe Root cheaply

In-form Joe Root was the fourth batsman to fall as Johnson’s rising delivery did the trick and England were in doldrums at 30/4.The wicket that looked flat and docile when Aussies batted,suddenly started to produce some demons as England found it tough to bat on.Stokes joined Cook and fortunately for England, the duo survived the remainder of the day as England went into Stumps on Day 2 at 85/4.

Perfect conditions welcomed one and all at the Home of Cricket on Saturday, Day 3 of the Test match and stokes and England got to a streaky start with a boundary that flew through the vacant gully region. Except that, Stokes played well and brought up his fifty, just off 67 balls with an elegant boundary through the extra-cover region. Cook followed Stokes and brought up his fifty as well. Cook’s half century was a patient knock that hold the England innings together when wickets were tumbling at other end and his solidity was an ideal foil to go with Stokes’s free-flowing innings. Just when it looked like Cook and Stokes’s partnership was blossoming and with barely 15 minutes to lunch, Marsh brought an end to Stokes’s knock. Stokes became the second case of drag-on and his dismissal brought an end to a solid 145-run stand between him and Cook and at lunch on Day 3, England were in a critical position at 181/5, still needing 186 runs to avoid the follow-on.Stokes’s downfall opened the floodgates for Australia and Australia further tightened the screws as there was no significant partnership for England following Cook and Stokes’s stand.Buttler departed for 13 and Cook’s hard fought innings was ended by Mitch Marsh.

Cook is completely distraught after getting out for 96

Cook was out for 96 and fell agonizingly short of what could have been a brave and fighting hundred. Following Cook’s departure, Australia wasted no time in taking remaining three wickets and England were bundled out for 312 shortly after Tea on Day 3.

In spite of leading by 254 runs, Clarke decided against enforcing the follow-on and Australian openers Rogers and warner came out to bat in 2^nd innings. The duo were in full flow and completely dominated the English attack as Australia reached 108/0 at stumps on Day 3,leading England by 362 runs.

On Day 4,just after 2^nd over of the day, Chris Rogers suffered from dizziness and was forced to retire hurt on 49.Warner,who resumed the day on 60,in a bid to score some quick runs, perished for 83,trying to hit one shot too many. Smith played an entertaining innings of 48 ball 58 and at 254/2, Australia declared, setting England improbable 509 runs to win.

England’s performance in second innings was horrendous, dreadful and their display with the bat certainly reminded us of their batting debacle of Sydney Test of 2013-14 Ashes series as their innings lasted barely for 37 overs and were shot out for mere 103.What’s worst?Johnson and Co. opened their previous wounds as English batsmen continued to repeat their mistakes. Cook got out in a similar fashion, chasing a wide one and Keeper Nevill took a regulation catch. Bell’s woes with the bat continued as he was dismissed cheaply yet again.Stokes’s dismissal was a school-boy style run out as his bat and feet, both were in the air, trying to avoid the throw.Moeen Ali’s problems with the short ball continued as he had no clue about the nasty bouncer from Johnson and ball popped up in the air, nicely for the man at short leg.Buttler played a loose stroke and newcomer Lyth and Balance were going nowhere with their technique and shot selection. Broad was the only batsman to score more than 20 and four players were out for single digit scores. Mitchell Johnson, man of the last Ashes Series, led the way for Australia with 3 wickets in the innings and 6 in the match as England suffered a humiliating 405-run defeat. The victory helped Australia square the series 1-1.

Australian team thanks the crowd for their support

SCORES:

AUSTRALIA             566/8d  & 254/2d

ENGLAND                312 & 103

AUSTRALIA WON by 405 runs.

AUSTRALIA LEVEL the series 1-1.

First Investec Ashes Test,Cardiff,July 8-11,2015

                                                        Similar to 2009 Ashes,Sophia Gardens in Cardiff was the venue for first Ashes Test and England,after winning the toss chose to bat first.With Harris announcing his retirement just few days before the first Test,Australia were left without one of their previous Ashes hero and a senior bowler,but,still had a quite formidable pace attack in the form of Johnson,Starc and Hazlewood.In the very second over of the English innings,Australia drew first blood as Lyth was caught by Warner off Hazlewood at gully.The break generally brings wickets  and in this case,it was drinks break that brought the downfall of Cook.Bell followed Cook just for 1 and England were in a spot of bother at 43/3.Ballance,who was terribly out of form was joined by in-form Joe Root and big partnership was the need of the hour as far as England were concerned.Ballance,at one end was intimidated by some short ball stuff by Johnson & Co. while Root at other end was playing aggressively.Root brought up his fifty in just 56 balls and his innings brought some momentum into the innings especially after three quick wickets.By the time it was Tea on Day 1,Root had marched his way to 93 and Ballance was there,59 not out and England were in a healthy position at 190/3.Just after the Tea break,lapse in concentration lead to the downfall of Ballance and he was out,trapped in front of the wickets for fighting 61.Root brought up his 7th Test hundred with a fine cover drive and Haddin had all the reasons to blame himself as he had dropped Root when he was on no score.

Joe Root obliges the crowd after scoring the Century

Root made full utilization of the life he got and along with Stokes,who came in at No.6,played aggressive brand of cricket which left everyone in a state of shock.Stokes raced to his fifty as well which included six fours and two towering sixes and just when it looked like Root and Stokes were taking the game away from Australia,Starc got rid of Root for 134,caught at first slip by Watson.Stokes was dismissed soon after for 52,cleaned up by Starc.

Mitchell Starc reacting after dismissing Ben Stokes

Wicket-Keeper batsman Buttler was out at the fag end of the day for entertaining 27 and though England scored 343 runs,Australia chipped in with 7 wickets to complete an absorbing day of Test Cricket.Root's magnificent 134 was clearly the highlight of the day for England and Johnson's inability to take even a single wicket on slow pitch was definitely a worrying sign as far as Australia were concerned.

                                                                   Moeen Ali justified his spot in the side with a solid knock of 77 in the morning session  on Day 2 and along with the tail batted brilliantly to take the English tally beyond 400.England's innings finally folded for 430 with last 87 runs coming just off 14 overs.

                                                                  Chris Rogers and David Warner opened the innings for Australia and put on a 50-run stand.But,soon after their 50-run partnership,Warner departed for 17 after playing an uncharacteristic Warner innings.Smith,in his new role,coming at No.3, got off the blocks quickly and built a good,steady partnership along with Rogers.In the meanwhile,Rogers got to his half-century ,his seventh consecutive Test fifty.Smith,who was trying to  break free and attack Moeen Ali in particular,perished,thanks to a flighted delivery from Ali and excellent field setting from Cook,caught at short mid-on for 33.Australia went into Tea at 145/2,with Rogers unbeaten on 74.Following the Tea interval,Broad and Wood put sustained pressure on Rogers and that paid off as Rogers,nearing his hundred,edged one off Wood and Buttler did the rest.Rogers was dismissed for 95 and Australia were reduced to 180/3.Aussie captain was the next man to go,falling to Moeen Ali,who grabbed a good return catch and Clarke was on his way for 38.Watson,playing as an all-rounder,came in at No.6 and joined Voges in the middle.It was important for Watson to make some significant contribution as his spot was under threat from Mitchell Marsh,another all-rounder,eleven years younger to him and most importantly,in red-hot form,especially after scoring two hundreds in as many warm-up matches.Watson,in company of Voges played well and put up a 50-run partnership before Voges became third batsman after Smith and Clarke to get out in their 30's.Voges was dismissed for 31 in  the dying minutes of the day and at Stumps on Day 2,Australia were 264/5,still trailing England by 166 runs.

                                                          England on Day 3 wasted no time in dismissing the Australian tail as last five wickets fell just for 44 runs and Australia were bundled out for 308 in their first innings,handing England a lead of 122 runs.Wickets were shared with Anderson getting three and Broad,Wood and Ali picking two wickets a piece.

                                                                     England,similar to their first innings,found themselves in a bit of bother at the start of second innings as well as they were reduced to 22/2 with both Cook and Ballance back in the hut.Bell,in desperate need of  some runs joined Lyth in the middle and a steady partnership was the need of the hour for England.Lyth and Bell shared a 51-run stand  before Clarke took a spectacular diving catch to his left at the first slip to dismiss opener Adam Lyth for 37.With England 73/3 and leading by 195 runs,the in-form batsman Joe Root joined Ian Bell and the duo played aggressive brand of cricket to put England in a commanding position at Tea on Day 3.Bell,under pressure to score runs,completed his half-century before Tea and he was the most relieved person going into the Tea break.After Tea,Bell who played so well for his 60 runs,was castled by Johnson,his first wicket of the match and England were four down for 170.Root,who raced to his fifty with eight cracking boundaries,slowed down fractionally after the Tea interval.Hazlewood,with his first delivery of the new spell bowled Root for 60 and Australia's plan to attack the stumps paid off with ball staying a bit low on a slow pitch.England continued to play their newly adopted aggressive brand of cricket as Australia ticked away with three quick wickets.Buttler,Stokes and Broad were dismissed in three consecutive overs as England slipped to 245/8,leading by 367 runs.Mark Wood,the No.10 batsman,played some fancy strokes and pushed the England's lead beyond 400.England were finally bowled out for 289 at Stumps on Day 3.England set Australia, a target of 412 runs and with two full days to go,everyone was expecting a cracker of a contest on Day 4 and Day 5.

                                                                  Australia,in pursuit of a record Ashes run chase,needed someone to bat big and bat long and Chris Rogers,in form of his lifetime,was the ideal candidate to do so.England though,had some other ideas and Bell took a low dying catch to sent Rogers on his way just for 10.Warner,who missed out in first innings,scored a counter-attacking half century and along with Smith gave some impetus to the Australian innings.But,just at the the stroke of lunch,England got a lucky break,an important one as Moeen Ali trapped Warner LBW for 52.Australia were 97/2 at lunch on Day 4.Post-lunch,there was a procession of wickets as Smith,Clarke and Voges all got out to loose strokes and Australia found themselves in a state of complete disarray at 106/5.From then on,Australia never recovered and Haddin was the next one to bite the dust,thanks to Cook,who took a brilliant catch and Australia were in deep,deep trouble at 122/6.

Haddin had a forgettable outing

Watson,trying to save his place in the side,offered some resistance,but,his effort was ended by a delivery from Wood that thrashed into his pads and he was out LBW for 29th time in his Test career.Australia were seven down for 151 and Starc joined Johnson.The duo of left-arm quickies frustrated England with a 72-run partnership and Johnson scored a gritty half-century.Starc's resistance was ended by Root,first dropped by Cook and then caught by Lyth for 17.Johnson,after hitting some hefty blows off Root,departed for 77 and Hazlewood was the last man to go,which gave England, a thumping 169-run victory over Australia.

England players jubilate after their victory

SCORES:

ENGLAND             430 & 289

AUSTRALIA         308 & 242

ENGLAND won by 169 runs.

ENGLAND lead THE ASHES 1-0.

Player of the Match: JOE ROOT.