England crush Aussies by innings
Spectacular collapse on the final day of Second Test:
England crushed Australia by an innings and 71 runs after a
spectacular collapse of wickets early on the final day in the second
Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.
The tourists ran through the Australians after snaring the important
wicket of Mike Hussey and spinner Graeme Swann finished with five
wickets for 91.
It was England’s first Test victory in Adelaide since 1995 and their
100th overall against Australia.
Australia now have the difficult task of having to win two of the
remaining three Tests to overhaul England and win back the Ashes they
lost last year.
England are now well on track to winning an Ashes series in Australia
for the first time since 1986-1987.
England thoroughly deserved their comprehensive victory after
skittling Australia for 245 on Friday’s first day and replying with a
massive 620 for five declared, to hold a 375-run innings lead.
The tourists broke through with the big wicket of Hussey, and claimed
three wickets in four balls with James Anderson removing Brad Haddin and
Ryan Harris with successive balls and Marcus North following two balls
later to Swann.
Hussey, who has been Australia’s best-performing batsman in the
series with 195 in first Brisbane Test and 93 in the first innings in
Adelaide, was out for 52 in the third over of the second new ball by
Steven Finn.
Hussey attempted a pull shot but top-edged to mid-on where James
Anderson pocketed the catch to the delight of the Barmy Army fans on the
scoreboard hill behind him.
Wicketkeeper Haddin, who scored 136 in the first Brisbane Test, fell
on first drinks caught behind off Anderson for 12 and the ball after the
break Harris was out lbw for a first-ball duck.
North was out lbw to Swann after an England referral and it was only
a matter of time before England mopped up the last wickets of Xavier
Doherty and Peter Siddle to claim victory. England’s win came with news
that paceman Stuart Broad had been ruled out for the rest of the Ashes
series with torn abdominal muscles. Broad is expected to leave for home
this week to begin his recovery process ahead of next February’s ICC
World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Australia are also likely to be without opener Simon Katich for the
rest of the series with an Achilles tendinopathy problem.
England amassed their fifth highest innings in Ashes Tests with their
620 for five and their second best in Australia, only surpassed by a 636
scored in Sydney in 1928. ADELAIDE, AFP
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