Aussie batsmen cause horror show yet again as Alastair Cook's Englishmen delight Lord's crowd
England thrashed Australia by 347 runs to win the second Ashes Test at Lord’s here yesterday with more than a day to spare.
England pacer James Anderson celebrates the wicket of Peter Siddle at Lord’s yesterday. PIC/Getty Images
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Victory saw Ashes-holders England go 2-0 up in the five-match series. Only once in Ashes history has a side come from 2-0 down to win a series when Australia, inspired by Don Bradman, cricket’s greatest batsman, triumphed 3-2 on home soil in 1936-37.
Australia, set a mammoth 583 to win, were bowled out for 235 on the fourth day after Joe Root, who earlier made 180 in England’s second innings 349 for seven declared, sparked a collapse with his occasional off-spin.
It looked as if Australia’s last-wicket duo might see out the day, with England claiming the extra half hour.
There were just three balls left in the day’s play when off-spinner Graeme Swann, who took five for 44 in Australia’s meagre first innings 128, ended James Pattinson’s two hours of resistance by having him lbw for 35.
Star with the ball too: Joe Root
Swann finished with innings figures of four for 78 for a match haul of nine for 122. Last man Ryan Harris was 16 not out after defying England for more than an hour.
No side has ever made more to win in a fourth innings of a Test than West Indies’ 418 for seven against Australia at St John’s in 2002-03. The third Test at Old Trafford starts on August 1.
Back to Root. He removed both Clarke (51) and Usman Khawaja (54) for tea figures of two for eight in four overs.
The 22-year-old, bowling from around the wicket, spun one outside Clarke’s pads with the star batsman obligingly turning the ball to opposing captain Alastair Cook, who had just stationed himself at leg slip.
Clarke, missed on two, was out for 51, featuring seven fours, after putting on 98 for the fourth wicket with Khawaja, who shortly afterwards could do nothing but nick a sharply spun delivery to James Anderson at second slip.
Then seamer Bresnan had Steven Smith, off a thin inside edge, well held by diving wicketkeeper Matt Prior for one off what became the last ball before tea to leave Brad Haddin nought not out at the interval as a now sun-drenched capacity crowd caught their breath.
Smith challenged the verdict but, in Australia’s latest unsuccessful brush with the Decision Review System (DRS), he was given out again.
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