Innings defeat for Australia
Source: Agencies |
December 8, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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SUDDENLY the prospect of being the first Australian captain in 120 years to lose three Ashes series is very real for Ricky Ponting.
Australia crashed to its first innings defeat in an Ashes test in 24 years yesterday - an innings and 71 runs, and surrendering a 1-0 lead to England after two matches in the five-test series.
It was here in Adelaide the last time the Ashes were contested on Australian soil that the home side pulled off a remarkable victory which proved the catalyst for its 5-0 series whitewash. Four years on, it was an entirely different outcome.
The one constant in both performances was the superb first-innings batting from England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who scored 158 four years ago and a career-best 227 in this match.
The South African-born Pietersen feels the current dressing room under the leadership of coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss is a big reason for their success, comparing it highly against the 2006 version under Duncan Fletcher and Andrew Flintoff.
"Four years ago was a very, very horrible dressing room to walk into, very quiet dressing room, a very negative dressing room and not as united as the dressing room is at the moment," Pietersen said. "Individual performances add to a team victory, and I think the team victory today is incredible, it's the best feeling no matter who takes the wickets or gets the runs."
Although the series is open with three matches to go, Australia has not come from behind to win a home series since 1936-37 when Sir Donald Bradman led Australia from 0-2 down to win 3-2. Although the Australians did overcome a 0-1 deficit to win the 1997 series in England.
Rainstorm
The tourists skittled Australia's last six batsmen for 66 runs with Graeme Swann ending with second-innings figures of 5-94. They were already celebrating the triumph in the dressing room when the huge rainstorm that the locals had been praying for finally broke.
"We need to enjoy this and savor it, because it was a special victory for us," skipper Andrews Strauss said. "But we need to make sure that we don't take our foot off the pedal because we know Australia are going to come back at us hard and if we give them any way back into the series, they'll take it. We've got to be prepared for a scrap in these last three test matches."
Australia has nine days to get its act together before the third test starts in Perth on December 16 but looks bereft of options, particularly in the bowling unit after its overhauled attack managed just five wickets in Adelaide.
England suffered a blow before play commenced with the news that fast bowler Stuart Broad had been ruled out of the rest of the series with a torn abdominal muscle.
Australian batsman Simon Katich is also likely out for the series with an Achilles injury.
Australia crashed to its first innings defeat in an Ashes test in 24 years yesterday - an innings and 71 runs, and surrendering a 1-0 lead to England after two matches in the five-test series.
It was here in Adelaide the last time the Ashes were contested on Australian soil that the home side pulled off a remarkable victory which proved the catalyst for its 5-0 series whitewash. Four years on, it was an entirely different outcome.
The one constant in both performances was the superb first-innings batting from England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who scored 158 four years ago and a career-best 227 in this match.
The South African-born Pietersen feels the current dressing room under the leadership of coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss is a big reason for their success, comparing it highly against the 2006 version under Duncan Fletcher and Andrew Flintoff.
"Four years ago was a very, very horrible dressing room to walk into, very quiet dressing room, a very negative dressing room and not as united as the dressing room is at the moment," Pietersen said. "Individual performances add to a team victory, and I think the team victory today is incredible, it's the best feeling no matter who takes the wickets or gets the runs."
Although the series is open with three matches to go, Australia has not come from behind to win a home series since 1936-37 when Sir Donald Bradman led Australia from 0-2 down to win 3-2. Although the Australians did overcome a 0-1 deficit to win the 1997 series in England.
Rainstorm
The tourists skittled Australia's last six batsmen for 66 runs with Graeme Swann ending with second-innings figures of 5-94. They were already celebrating the triumph in the dressing room when the huge rainstorm that the locals had been praying for finally broke.
"We need to enjoy this and savor it, because it was a special victory for us," skipper Andrews Strauss said. "But we need to make sure that we don't take our foot off the pedal because we know Australia are going to come back at us hard and if we give them any way back into the series, they'll take it. We've got to be prepared for a scrap in these last three test matches."
Australia has nine days to get its act together before the third test starts in Perth on December 16 but looks bereft of options, particularly in the bowling unit after its overhauled attack managed just five wickets in Adelaide.
England suffered a blow before play commenced with the news that fast bowler Stuart Broad had been ruled out of the rest of the series with a torn abdominal muscle.
Australian batsman Simon Katich is also likely out for the series with an Achilles injury.
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