The End - Australia 258 (Haddin 55x, Watson 54, Siddle 40, Smith 38. Bresnan 4-50)
It took England just 85 minutes to wrap up the 4th Test and most of that time and the 89 runs added by Australia's tail were thanks to Brad Haddin and the man who needs to be the beating heart of Australia's future, Peter Siddle. The pair played shots in an audacious 86 runs stand for the eighth wicket as Siddle made his best Test score and Haddin another Test fifty. They even took to Graeme Swann who yesterday throttled the Australian top order at a run an over but this morning, both batsmen smashed sixes from him. In the end, Swann kept throwing them up until Siddle dropped one nicely in Pietersen's hands on the boundary in front of the sight screen.
Johnson and Hilfenhaus made only temporary appearances. Johnson played one on from Tremlett fifth ball of the morning and Hilfenhaus snicked his fourth ball from Bresnan to Prior to start the jubilation. Harris stayed in the sheds on his crutches.
England retain the Ashes with this innings victory which even makes comprehensive seem an understatement. Whilst other talented English sides have toured these shores before, has their been a better team? History might well reveal that no English side has been this focused, this well prepared and indeed this ruthless about targeting opposition players ... none at least since Jardine's band of merry men.
Brave words are being said about Sydney and momentum shifts and England partying hard but the reality is somewhat different from these Australian fantasies - fantasies which refused to believe England could beat us on our own patch. England will be ready for Sydney, our selections and attitude will continue to be suspect and Australia will rally round the flag with no one to strike back and loose again in Sydney. Rallying in the past has had wonderful agents like Warne, McGrath, Waugh ... the list goes on ... Australia has none of those and none like
them.
Australia, you have less than two weeks to adjust to England 3, Australia 1.
This Session: England
Sessions This Test: England 6, Australia 3, Shared 1
Sessions This Series: England 24, Australia 16, Shared 6
Johnson and Hilfenhaus made only temporary appearances. Johnson played one on from Tremlett fifth ball of the morning and Hilfenhaus snicked his fourth ball from Bresnan to Prior to start the jubilation. Harris stayed in the sheds on his crutches.
England retain the Ashes with this innings victory which even makes comprehensive seem an understatement. Whilst other talented English sides have toured these shores before, has their been a better team? History might well reveal that no English side has been this focused, this well prepared and indeed this ruthless about targeting opposition players ... none at least since Jardine's band of merry men.
Brave words are being said about Sydney and momentum shifts and England partying hard but the reality is somewhat different from these Australian fantasies - fantasies which refused to believe England could beat us on our own patch. England will be ready for Sydney, our selections and attitude will continue to be suspect and Australia will rally round the flag with no one to strike back and loose again in Sydney. Rallying in the past has had wonderful agents like Warne, McGrath, Waugh ... the list goes on ... Australia has none of those and none like
them.
Australia, you have less than two weeks to adjust to England 3, Australia 1.
This Session: England
Sessions This Test: England 6, Australia 3, Shared 1
Sessions This Series: England 24, Australia 16, Shared 6
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