Ashes ‘gloves are off’, Aussie press
Jubilant Australian media Monday said the “loves are off” for the
rest of the Ashes after the home team roared back to level the series
against England. Sydney’s Daily Telegraph said Australia had
rediscovered their “ongrel”, or fighting spirit, in the shock 267-run
win which tied the series 1-1 with two to play.
“loves are off,” read the tabloid’s banner front-page headline.
“Bring on the Boxing Day Test — Ricky Ponting’s boys have got their
mongrel back,” the paper said. “Like punch-drunk fighters rising from
the canvas, the Australians are now favourite to win the Ashes.”
Written off
Australia were written off after an innings loss in Adelaide, but
stunned their arch-rivals with a snarling revival led by recalled fast
bowler Mitchell Johnson, who took nine wickets and hit a first-innings
half-century.
The home team’s joy was tempered by a broken finger suffered by
captain Ponting, leaving question marks over his participation in the
next game starting on December 26 in Melbourne.
Melbourne’s Herald-Sun said the win evoked Australia’s glory days
when the team swept to 16 successive Test victories.
“Aussies back in town,” the headline read.
Revved-up
“His (Ponting’s) revved-up team heads to Melbourne with the spirit
and unity that swept Australia to a world-record 16 consecutive
victories a decade ago,” wrote journalist Will Swanton.
The Australian columnist Malcolm Conn hailed the home side’s “courage
under fire”, as well as Johnson and groundsman Cam Sutherland, whose
bouncy pitch was credited with the win.
“For Australia to bounce back so emphatically after the humiliation
of Adelaide and trounce England in the third Test at Perth’s WACA Ground
in little more than three days was a display of immense character,” he
wrote.
Transformation
“For all the great performances in this match, most notably Mitchell
Johnson’s transformation from chump to champ in the space of a few net
and fitness sessions, the person who deserves the most credit is curator
Cam Sutherland,” he added.
“He has spent five years nursing the WACA Ground’s once renowned
wicket back to life.”
However, Conn noted that England still hold the whip hand as they
need only to draw the series to retain the coveted trophy.
“Australia must repeat its Perth performance at least one more time
while keeping England winless to regain the precious urn,” he cautioned.
PERTH, Australia, Monday, AFP |
