England target unbeaten Australian tour after draw
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior said England were aiming to go through their
Australian tour unbeaten after the tourists ground out a draw in their
three-day match with Victoria on Sunday.
Set 311 runs to win on the final day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,
England were 211 for six off 54 overs when the match was called off as a
draw with an hour of scheduled play remaining.
England shut up shop after tea, scoring only 52 runs in 21 overs with
Prior finishing unbeaten on 102 and skipper Andrew Strauss on 22 from 65
balls.
The tourists go into the third Ashes Test starting in Perth on
Thursday holding a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and can retain the
urn with a win at the WACA Ground.
Four years ago England were thrashed 5-0 on their Australian Ashes
tour, but this time they are undefeated in two Tests and four other
first-class games as they set their sights on an unbeaten trip Down
Under.
Prior made no apologies for England’s dour tactics in the closing
overs against Victoria, saying the side were keen to protect their
unbeaten run.
“Why would you carry on playing your shots and potentially risk
losing a game? We didn’t want to do that,” he said.
“We were hell-bent that we were going to get through the day.
“Unfortunately it was pretty boring cricket for everyone to watch.
Sometimes it’s got to be done.
“If we carry on playing the brand of cricket we have been, there’s
certainly no reason why we can’t go through unbeaten.” England were
reduced to 149 for six before Prior and Strauss restored the innings
with an unbeaten 62-run stand.
MELBOURNE, AFP |