The Ashes are on Fire!
Yeah, I haven't gone out of my way to report the Ashes! Why?! Cause English - Aussie rivalry really holds nothing for me, and the quality of test cricket generally was poor, making most of the matches one sided!
But that was not the case in 2005! And that wasn't the case last night!
One thrilling contest was that, last night, that it could put most of the shorter formats, to shame!
[Score Card]
England had begun the last day of the first test at 20/2, still left to cover a huge part of the deficit and a huge amount of time!!
And Paul Collingwood played a gem of a test match innings! Paul Collingwood scored a 245 ball 74, and more importantly stayed at the crease for 344 minutes!!
Mr. Martian : " What is so thrilling about a slow and painful 74?! Agreed, it is test match like, but thrilling?!"
Well, Mr. Martian, what was thrilling was the fall of PC's wicket! PC was the ninth wicket to fall down, at 233, England were still short of Australian lead by 6 runs, and more importantly still had 11.3 overs spare in the day! With James Anderson and Monty Panesar at the crease!
And thrilling that was! It was thrilling to watch James Anderson edge to a boundary to erase the deficit, and then add a four through covers, to build a 'lead'! It was thrilling to watch Monty Panesar, defend balls and then hit a four himself!
Yes, England found unlikely batting heroes last night! Batting heroes in James Anderson and Monty Panesar!
Of course, Ricky Ponting is cribbing, about England not playing in the 'Spirit of Cricket' by using time wastage tactics! Yeah, we could also expect the Australian experts in the commentary panel to go out of their way to blast the English in the next match!
What matters is that England saved the first day and saved the blushes!
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