England savors Ashes glory
Source: Agencies |
December 30, 2010, Thursday
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CAPTAIN Andrew Strauss savored the feeling of demons being banished yesterday as England sealed the Ashes, but said the achievement was just one step on the way to cricket's summit for England.
England's bowlers cleaned up Australia's tail before lunch to win the fourth test in Melbourne by an innings and 157 runs and become the first touring team to retain the Ashes on Australian soil in 24 years.
The victory gave holders England an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-test series and made Strauss' team the first to take the Ashes home since the Mike Gatting-led triumph of 1986/87. Strauss was a member of the team that was whitewashed 0-5 on the previous tour and while it was the "lowest point" of his career, Australia's use of stifling pressure four years ago had been studied and successfully turned back on the hosts, he said.
"The one thing that struck me as an opening batsman was the feeling of being suffocated from both ends all the time," he said. "I think that was the basis of our strategy out here to make sure that Australia never got away from us and if we did that well that would create wickets.
"If anything, that series showed us that it's going to be tough work out here and if we expect to turn up and win is naive."
The England players embraced and pumped their fists in the air upon the dismissal of the hapless Ben Hilfenhaus, caught behind for a duck off Tim Bresnan's bowling, as Australia was all out for 258.
Deficit
Australia had resumed on 169 for six, still facing a 246-run deficit to make England bat again but lost its remaining wickets with a day and a half still left to play.
Chris Tremlett shattered Mitchell Johnson's stumps for six, while Peter Siddle defiantly slogged his way to 40 before belting a lofted drive off Graeme Swann straight to Kevin Pietersen at long on.
The injured Ryan Harris did not take his place in the side, while wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who had refused to gift his wickets cheaply like so many of his playing partners at the top of the order, was left stranded on 55 not out.
Bresnan, called into the side for Steve Finn, was the pick of England's bowlers in the second innings, finishing with 4-50 after ripping through Australia's top order after tea on day three to quash the host's slim hopes of salvaging a draw.
He and Tremlett, who replaced the injured Stuart Broad, made vital contributions in an England side whose collective efforts trumped an Australian team too often forced to rely on brilliant cameos. Jonathan Trott, who scored a sublime unbeaten 168, was named man of the match.
England's bowlers cleaned up Australia's tail before lunch to win the fourth test in Melbourne by an innings and 157 runs and become the first touring team to retain the Ashes on Australian soil in 24 years.
The victory gave holders England an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-test series and made Strauss' team the first to take the Ashes home since the Mike Gatting-led triumph of 1986/87. Strauss was a member of the team that was whitewashed 0-5 on the previous tour and while it was the "lowest point" of his career, Australia's use of stifling pressure four years ago had been studied and successfully turned back on the hosts, he said.
"The one thing that struck me as an opening batsman was the feeling of being suffocated from both ends all the time," he said. "I think that was the basis of our strategy out here to make sure that Australia never got away from us and if we did that well that would create wickets.
"If anything, that series showed us that it's going to be tough work out here and if we expect to turn up and win is naive."
The England players embraced and pumped their fists in the air upon the dismissal of the hapless Ben Hilfenhaus, caught behind for a duck off Tim Bresnan's bowling, as Australia was all out for 258.
Deficit
Australia had resumed on 169 for six, still facing a 246-run deficit to make England bat again but lost its remaining wickets with a day and a half still left to play.
Chris Tremlett shattered Mitchell Johnson's stumps for six, while Peter Siddle defiantly slogged his way to 40 before belting a lofted drive off Graeme Swann straight to Kevin Pietersen at long on.
The injured Ryan Harris did not take his place in the side, while wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who had refused to gift his wickets cheaply like so many of his playing partners at the top of the order, was left stranded on 55 not out.
Bresnan, called into the side for Steve Finn, was the pick of England's bowlers in the second innings, finishing with 4-50 after ripping through Australia's top order after tea on day three to quash the host's slim hopes of salvaging a draw.
He and Tremlett, who replaced the injured Stuart Broad, made vital contributions in an England side whose collective efforts trumped an Australian team too often forced to rely on brilliant cameos. Jonathan Trott, who scored a sublime unbeaten 168, was named man of the match.
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