England cook Australia out of contention

 

England cook Australia out of contention

Brilliant hundreds by Alastair Cook and Ian Bell rings alarm bells for Australia at the SCG

It was a day of pink at the SCG as crowd turned up wearing pink in support of the breast cancer awareness initiative run by Glenn McGrath in memory of his late wife Jane McGrath. But, for the Australian cricketers on the field, it was a day of more blues as failures and controversies simply mounted on them.

England once again showed why they have been dominant team throughout the Ashes with another fine display on day three of the SCG test. Alastair Cook and Ian Bell ensured Australia were batted out of the match and gave England one hand on a series win down under after a gap of 24 years. Resuming the day at 167 for 3 and 113 behind Australia, England knew the first session was going to be vital in their fortunes. But, the Aussie bowlers had other ideas and got rid of night watchman James Anderson and the out-of-form Paul Collingwood with the score reading 226. At that stage, England were 54 behind and the game was evenly poised.

There was drama early in the day as Cook, who was on 99 clipped one on the on-side off left-arm spinner Michael Beer. Phil Hughes at the short leg position looked as if he had grasped it. The whole Australian team went up at once claiming the catch but Cook knew what had happened. He remained glued to the ground and the field umpires immediately went upstairs. Television replays had confirmed the ball had dropped a few inches ahead of Hughes and it was then given not out. There were words exchanged between English players and the Australian camp and left the game in bitter taste.
Whether Hughes knew that the ball had dropped on the ground a few inches before he took the catch is something only he will know but the English media will sure latch on to this one. That incident was soon put out of the bag by Cook, who went on to register his 3rd century of the series. Cook has mustered 766 runs so far in this series at a magnificent average of 127.66 and has been England's 'Wall' right at the top of the order.

The partnership between two of the in-form players (actually everyone except Collingwood are) blossomed as they hammered the hapless Australian bowlers. Cook reached his 150 and Bell 50 as the duo accelerated and took England past the Australian total first and then to a lead of nearly 100 by tea.

Alarm 'Bell' for Australia

During their innings, England scored at a much-better rate than the Aussies as they notched up 400 in just 120 overs. Remember, Australia took 106 overs to make 280 and that too was helped by some lusty hitting towards the end of the innings batting by Johnson and Hilfenhaus.

Cook and Bell put on 154 before the former was finally dismissed by Watson just 11 short of his second double ton of the series. Australia had then hoped to clean up the English tail but that didn't happen. Just like the Australian lower order, even England's tail wagged quite a bit and frustrated the bowlers. Wicketkeeper Matt Prior would not take it too kindly if he is talked in the same length as tailenders after notching his second consecutive 50 in this series. Bell and Prior put on 107 runs in just 24 overs as Bell reached his first hundred of the series. He was unlucky to be dismissed in the dying moments of the day for 115 as bad light brought an early end to the day's action at the SCG. England ended at 488 for 7.

For Australia, Johnson bowled well in spells as he picked 3 for 97 after a hard day's work at the office. Beer impressed with his flight on test debut and took 1 for 85. Steve Smith bowled just 10 overs and added to the questions surrounding his actual role in the team.

With a lead of 208 already and just two days to go, it certainly looks like England have batted Australia out of the match. It now remains to be seen if the Aussies fight to save the match or face the ignominy of yet another test defeat at home. At this stage, it looks like only a miracle can help Australia save or win the Sydney test. Do join us tomorrow to see if England enhance their grip on the SCG test and the series overall.

Source: India Syndicate