What have we seen? I couldn’t believe the sprinting I saw last night, and it seems that England’s cricketers have taken inspiration from the Jamaican speedster, by skittling the Australian batsman during the second session of today’s Ashes test at the Oval, a day when 15 wickets fell for just 243 runs.
Australia were sailing at 73 for 0, the opening batsmen making a steady start to the innings. England’s bowling attack looked useful, but had nothing to show for their efforts. Then, after composed and committed bowling from Broad, the first wicket fell, which set the wheels in motion for a remarkable 2 hours of Test match cricket.
The combined 2nd session figures for Broad and Swann was 8 for 45, off 106 deliveries, Broad with 5 for 19, and Swann with 3 for 26, decimating the batsmen of the touring party.
Broad claimed the first four wickets of Watson, Ponting, Hussey and Clark, answering his critics in an exuberant fashion. It was then Swann’s turn to further beget the Australian collapse, as he twirled at the other end, taking the wicket of North, followed by Kaitch, while Broad claiming his 3rd 5-wicket haul, bowling Haddin for 1. Broad not only produced his standout performance as an Englishman, but possibly the finest display of bowling in Test match history.
After resistance from Johnson and Siddle, it was the former who couldn’t resist a tempting off drive, but edged to Prior, who seized his opportunity to take his tenth catch of a successful debut Ashes. This dismissal made it 8 for 111, capping an astounding session of cricket.
After tea, despite further Aussie defiance, the remnants of the tail was cleaned up. Swann dismissed Clark, and Flintoff just couldn’t help getting in on the wicket taking, by clean bowling Hilfenhaus, leaving Siddle not out with 25.
England hardly demonstrated compact batting, losing 3 wickets for 58 runs, but have 7 wickets intake and with a lead of 230, which illustrates a firm grasp on this Test. The first session tomorrow is huge, and if England can get a lead of 350-400, then surely Ashes victory is imminent.
A talking point of the series has been England’s lacking middle order, now the Australians have shown their batting inadequacies, and have little margin for error over the remaining days. The 3 wickets taken before the evening’s close, give the Australians some hope, and jangle the nerve of the English.
It remains to be seen how pivotal Ponting’s decision to omit a spinner from the XI, especially on a wicket renowned for turn and spin. If the Aussie captain had heard Tufnell’s jibes on TMS singing, “where’s your spinner gone?” it would have made his blood boil. England undoubtedly a firm favourites for this game, but it remains to be seen what further antics this notorious Oval pitch will play.
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