The Ashes, First Test, Day 3 of 5 (November 25, 2006)
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0 commentsThings went from awful to abismal for England on Day 3 of the opening Ashes Test Match.
Resuming on 53/3, England needed to get to a total of at least 403 to force Australia to bat again. Glenn McGrath was on inspired form, however, as he took 6 England wickets as England were all out for 157. McGrath took 6/50, and Ashes rookie Stuart Clark took 3/21 to put England in dire straights. Only Ian Bell offered any resistance with the bat - a patient 162 ball 50 his reward before falling to Clark.
England were 445 runs behind - and Australia had the choice to make England bat again. But this was waived, and the match became a boring farce in the afternoon. Australia ate up time and the match drifted into nothingness. Fans left as no progress was made in terms of acheiveing a result.
Australia coasted to 181/1, the only wicket a run out, with 88 not out to Langer, and Ponting also unbeaten on 51. James Anderson again disappointed most, but the England bowlers have generally been a load of rubbish.
Australia lead by the mammoth total of 626 runs. England have no chance of winning the match, but still have to bat for up to 2 days to save it. Australia will declare early in the morning on Day 4. Declaring now is perfectly safe for Australia. The highest ever score to win a Test in the fourth innings of a match is 414, and a score of 627 has rarely been made in Test history.
England again were awful, and Australia are huge favourites to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Date
November 25, 2006
