This Lords Test will go down in history, irregardless of its result, apart from a draw. If Australia wins, then they would create the record of the highest successful run chase in the history of cricket. Vice versa, England will end their 75-year-old winning drought at the Cathedral of cricket, against the mighty Aussies.
Earlier, England declared at their overnight score of 311/6, with Australia needing 521 to win the test match. Andrew Flintoff jolted Australia with his rattling pace, dismissing Phil Hughes and Simon Katich in the early overs. Greame Swann joined the party with a couple of wickets after Stuart Broad sent back Ricky Ponting with an inswinger. A slaughter had looked apparent at that time. However, Brad haddin joined Michael Clarke and the pair put Australia in a position, from where they could seriously look for a victory. Australian batsmen cannot be blamed completely for their dismal batting as Hussey and Hughes fell due to poor umpiring. This would trigger off another controversy, if Australia come anywhere close to their target of 521 runs.
England looked solid on day four after their enterprising declaration, which would get them six sessions to bowl-out the Australians. Flintoff showed no signs of injury as he bowled long overs with good pace. He was rewarded with the wickets of both the openers, though Phil Hughes’s dismissal was doubtful. Swann bowled with lot of variations and he got couple of wickets, which included an arm ball to dismiss Marcus North. Stuart Broad became the second fastest English bowler after Ian Botham to get 50 wickets. He couldn’t get a better one than Ponting’s wicket, as he scalped the Australian captain with a perfect inswinger.
Another nail-biter awaits the spectators at the home of cricket and it won’t get any bigger than this. To seal a win, England needs to take five wickets and Australia need to score 209 runs. Test Cricket is joining the excitement created by the T20 matches. If we witness more test matches of this quality, then Test Cricket will definitely have its place in cricket, even if there are 100 T20 matches played in a year.
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