E&W have got a couple of early wickets this morning, convicts now 139-2…
Who is likely to be the player of the series?
Great start for England and Wales to settle the nerves by getting the two openers. They’ve probed away since then but Ponting and Hussey have batted very well. It’s a real test batting on that pitch though and England and Wales remain strong favourites.
Puke, I think each coach nominates one of the opposition as their player of the series. The bowling hasn’t been overly impressive on either side and I reckon Michael Clarke and Andrew Strauss will probably get the nod. The latter has held his side’s batting together when others have floundered and Clarke’s been very good.
Superb fielding there from Freddie…Ponting run out for 66, he looks fairly pissed off over it…Aussies 217-3
Another one bites the dust, Strauss and his quick thinking runs out Clarke…Come on E&W…
This is fucking epic all the same…
Missed the two wickets as I was watching the huns win courtesy of their obligatory injury time penalty. Incredible to bat so defiantly and then give it away with two run outs.
and so the collapse begins…
Just saw the run outs. Clarke was unlucky in that it rebounded off Cook at short leg and Strauss was very quick with his reactions. I initially assumed Hussey was at fault for calling Ponting through for an ill advised run but Ponting was on his heels and ball watching and that cost him. Super work from Flintoff though. They needed to be very patient there - it’s amazing how wickets fall in clusters and how one breakthrough brings another.
Fitzy will be seething but this is a good result for civilisation against the chaotic barbarity of the colonies.
Shocking, absolutely shocking, drop by Collingwood there off Swann, which should have had Hussey gone.
Well fucking played Prior…
North has just bottled it. Stumped by Prior off Swann.
Hussey and Haddin have put on 50 here. Onions, on as a sub, has just put down a relatively straightforward chance to give Haddin a reprieve.
300-5 is a decent enough score from the Aussies given the way the wicket is, they will get to tomorrow by the looks of it anyway
Hundred for Hussey - well done Mr Cricket.
Haddin just had a rush of blood to the head to give his wicket away - big wicket as they were going along very and had nearly put on a hundred.
They’re all crucial enough at this stage but with a forecast for dodgy weather tomorrow, if Australia could have hung on for the day they’d still have had a chance.
It could end today now though.
Finally Collingwood holds onto one and the tail is exposed now.
E&W win by 197. Hussey last man out 121. Gun waiting for punter in:clap: dressing room…
Ah lovely. The Ashes are back in the rightful possession of England and Wales. :rolleyes: