ENGLAND BEAT AUSTRALIA BY 115 RUNS IN THE SECOND TEST OF ASHES.

Again a threat for Australian dominance in the longest version of the game of glorious uncertainties. England beat Aussies by 115 runs in the second test of the Ashes and now they are leading the series by 1-0. The lower order of Aussies batting (Especially Mitchel Johnson- 63 from 75 balls) tried their level best to avoid the much expected defeat. However, Andrew Flintoff threw away the hopes of Aussies by claiming five wickets for just 92 runs and adjudged the Man of the Match.

Captain Andrew Strauss (161), Alastair Cook (95) provided major contributions to England’s first innings total of 425 runs. James Anderson’s bowling performance (55/4) reduced the first innings total of Aussies to mere 215 runs. England then decided to start their second innings and scored 311 for the loss of 6 wickets. Second Innings of England was a good team work, each of the top orders contributed. Thanks to the firing knocks by the England Wicket Keeper Mathew Prior (61 runs from 42 balls).

Chasing a mammoth total of 521 runs, Australia could only manage to score 406 runs. Michael Clark top scored with 136 runs and wicket keeper supported him with 80runs. The stand in spinner for Montey Panesar, Graham Onions, took four wickets which include the precious wicket of Michael Clark.


How is this victory remarkable? The Ashes victory of England at Lord’s came after a long gap of 75 years. Another fascinating fact is that umpiring decisions favored England for winning this test match. Simon Katich out for a no ball. Slip catch of Phillip Hughes taken by Andrew Strauss was not referred to the third umpire. Instead leg umpire Rudi Koertzen showed the signal for out. Mike Hussey declared out for a dubious decision. So Aussies suffered a great loss through umpiring decisions, to some extent the same reasons that helped Aussies to win the second test against India in Australia, which lead to the controversial omission of umpire Steve Buckner from the umpire panel. Compared to that, the wrong umpiring decisions of this test is mere human. But those against India in Australia were deliberate decisions by the two mocking umpires.

So let’s wait for the strong comeback from the Aussies in the third test which starts from July 30 at Edgbaston