Life is a Rollercoaster - England Story

[Chasjs]

Third Test

England are again unchanged.

Australia win the toss and bat.
Anderson removes Jaques early while Swann strikes twice, taking the wickets of Hills and Hughes for 29 and 50 respectively before lunch. Broad traps Clarke lbw and Woakes bowls White soon after to leave Australia 124/5. Watson and Haddin being to reconstruct the Australian first innings but Swann strikes to remove the former for 37. Swann takes the wicket of Johnson while Pietersen comes on to pick up two tailenders with the old ball. A last wicket partnership of 56 took Australia to 295 with Haddin not out on 85.
England lose Strauss for a duck but Cook and Bopara each score fifties. The Essex pair add 113 under heavy could before losing Cook for 55. Bopara also falls for 83 before the close with England ending day two on 244/3. Day three starts with 55 minutes lost to rain and heavy could continues throught the day. That doesn't stop Pietersen racking up another ton along with his 10000 Test run. When the partership does come to an end at 163 it's for a run out, Cobb for 73. Pietersen goes on to 124 and a flurry of wickets sees England bowled out 16 overs short of the close of day three for 399, a lead of 104.
Woakes picks up the wickets of Jaques and Hills before the close. Anderson takes Hughes early the next morning. Clarke and White see Australia into the lead and to lunch. Broad gets Clarke for 63 soon after the break with Woakes trapping Watson lbw for 23. Swann then bowls White for 80 and Pietersen removes Johnson cheaply as England take the new ball in the over before tea. Australia reach the break 263/7, a lead of 159. Woakes strikes soon after removing Haddin for 51. Two wickets from Anderson polish off the tail leaving England a chase of 188 to level the series.
The England openers survive a tricky session before the close reaching stumps on day four 32/0. They face another tricky session the next morning with 1 hour 36 minutes lost to rain which they again survive. England look to be cruising steadily towards the target but after 42 further minutes are lost to rain before tea England are left with 107 runs to get in the final session. Strauss and Cook soon depart and some quick runs from Bopara and Pietersen brings the total within Englands reach. Cobb and Gould complete the job with 4 overs to spare.

England Man of the Match - Pietersen, runs and wickets. Top performance, three centuries in three Ashes Tests.
Other Notable Mentions - Cobb, Woakes, Swann, Anderson
Poor Game - Gould, Skelton, Broad

[Chasjs]

Fourth Test

England again opt to take the same side into the fourth Test.

England win the toss and bat.
Despite losing Cook ealry England make a good start, reaching lunch just one down. Bopara falls soon after the break though. Strauss makes 84 and Pietersen goes on to make another century with Cobb going well at the other end. However, England lose a late flurry of wickets before the close, Pietersen goes for 102 and is soon followed by both Gould and Skelton. Broad departs early but Cobb is supported by a return to form with the bat by Swann. He makes 44 while Cobb goes on to his fifth Test century. He makes 102 before a last wicket partnership of 65 with Woakes making 47 pushes England up to 484 all out.
Australia make it to the close of day two 45/0. Swann is the first to strike, removing Hughes for 60. England have to wait till the first ball after lunch for the next wicket. Anderson removing Hills for 28. Broad then traps Clarke lbw but England can't prevent Jaques reaching three figures. He makes 119 before becoming Swanns second victim. Anderson also gets his second with the new ball, White for 65, and Woakes removes Watson soon after. Broad takes three quick wickets but Australia suvive until the end of the day on 357/9 with 40 minutes lost to bad light. Anderson takes the final wicket the next morning, Watson for 51 leaving Australia 373 all out, trailing by 111.
England look to extend their lead quickly. Strauss and Cook make 55 and 77 respectively while Pietersen notches up another century as England declare with a lead of 442 with two and a half sessions left in the game.
Woakes takes the only wickets to fall in the Aussie innings as they reach the close just three down to take the series into a deciding Test.

England Man of the Match - Pietersen, another two Ashes centuries taking his total to 13 against Australia and 41 in his career.
Other notable mentions - Cobb, Strauss
Poor Game - Gould, Skelton

Golden Bat (runs)

Pietersen 638
Cobb 514
White 402
Gould 378
Hughes 366

Golden Ball (wickets)

Siddle 22
Johnson 15
Woakes 15
Broad 13
Watson 12
Anderson 12

[Chasjs]

Fifth Test

England are unchanged in a game they must win to regain the Ashes.

Australia win the toss and bat.
England enjoy an explosive first session with Woakes picking up two wickets and Anderson getting a third. A Broad bouncer also forces Clarke to retire hurt in the opening session. Jaques and Watson rebuild the Aussie innings with a 57 run stand but they fall to Woakes and Broad respectively. Swann chips in with the wicket of Johnson before Anderson finishes off the tail just before tea. Australia all out for 218.
Australia strike early with Johnson bowling Cook. Bopara struggles in the tough batting conditions and when he is out shortly before the close of day one England are left 77/2. England lose Strauss for 54 early the next morning along with both Cobb and Gould. But Pietersen and Skelton lead the fightback with an aggressive partnership. Pietersen goes on to make his sixth century of the series before but loses his wicket on the stroke of tea after a 198 run partnership. Skelton adds just one more run after tea before he falls 3 short of his maiden Test century. England then collapse to 348 all out after being 325/5 shortly before tea.
Anderson and Woakes both enjoy success with the new ball, removing Hughes and Jaques before the close of day two. Hills and White put on 51 together but the pair btoh fall in quick succession to Anderson along with Watson. Haddin and Johnson take Australia into the lead but when the former edges Broad to the keeper the tail is exposed. Swann bowls Siddle soon after but Tait and Johnson extend Australia's lead with a 29 run partership. Anderson returns to the attack to break it trapping Tait lbw to seal his five wickets in this innings. Swann denies him ten for the match though as he snares Johnson to bowl Australia out for 170.
England require just 41 runs to regain the urn but suffer the worst possible start with Cook departing for a duck leaving England 0/1. Strauss doesn't stick around much longer either and when Pietersen follows next ball England are 14/3. Cobb survives the hat-trick ball from Siddle along with the rest of the over. Bopara gets the only run off the next over a single off the second ball. Bopara and Cobb then exchange singles off the final two balls of Siddles next over. Cobb then springs into life smashing Cockley for two 4s and a 6 to take England withing 14 of victory. Haddin concedes 2 byes off the first ball of the next over. Bopara gets a single to get Cobb back on strike who hits another six to level the scores. Bopara knocks the ball past the infield to the boundary to seal the victory and regain the Ashes.

England Man of the Match - Anderson, Pietersen may have scored another century but the bowlers won this match and Anderson was the pick of them with 9/140.
Other Notable Mentions - Pietersen, Skelton, Woakes
Poor Game - Cook, Gould

[Phylos Fett]

Way to keep us on the edge of our seat!

[Chasjs]

I'm sure I could string this out for a bit longer.

[Chasjs]

I think I'll write up the rest of the Test after I get back from the Lancs game, it's worth waiting for.

Dunno why I'm going, it's been chucking it down all day.

Come on Lanky!!!

[Phylos Fett]

I think I'll write up the rest of the Test after I get back from the Lancs game, it's worth waiting for.

Just rub that in a bit, eh?

[Chasjs]

Just rub that in a bit, eh?

I'm just trying(/failing) to create a little bit of suspense here!!!

And I am absolutly, well and truely gutted about Lancs losing that game... it was in the bag. Run rate at 15 RPO with 5 overs to go at OT with big boundaries... it's done and dusted, surely??? But what an innings from Razzaq!!!

Anywho I've finished it off, might get stuck into some of the one dayers later if I can.

[Chasjs]

The ECB Selection Committee has announced the 15 man ODI Series and T20 matches at home vs Australia:

ECB Selection Committee
A Cook*
J Anderson
R Bopara
S Broad
M Cale
A Flintoff
K Gould
S Neville
S Patel
K Pietersen
A Rashid
I Skelton
G Swann
C Woakes
L Wright

Flintoff and Swann come back into the squad replacing Wainwright and Ingram.

[Chasjs]

First T20

Bopara opens with Neville and Patel is chosen at 6. Anderson, Flintoff and Swann all miss out with Woakes, Wright and Rashid all given an opportunity.

Australia win the toss and bat.
Australia get off to a good start in the opening powerplay but Englands spinners, Rashid and Patel, pull them back. Ricky Ponting proves the stand out performer for the tourists with an unbeaten 60 off 37 to take Australia to 139.

England lose wickets early and are left 33/4 after 5 overs. Patel provides support to Pietersen who beinging to dominate the bowling. The pair add 70 runs before Patel is trapped lbw for 21 to leave England 39 runs short with 5 overs left. But with Pietersen in such fine form they make short work of the task and reach the target with 10 balls to spare.

England win by 5 wickets
Man of the Match - Pietersen
England Man of the Match - Pietersen, he came in early in the innings and took his side to victory.
Other Notable Mentions - Rashid, Patel, Skelton
Poor Game - Gould, Cale, Neville, Bopara

[Phylos Fett]

No 6's in a T20 - will wonders ever cease.

Interesting line-up by the Aussies, I must say...

[Yorks]

No 6's in a T20 - will wonders ever cease.

Interesting line-up by the Aussies, I must say...

yes, but at least White's scoring rate is akin to real life

[Phylos Fett]

yes, but at least White's scoring rate is akin to real life

And he refused to bowl, also like RL

[Chasjs]

Second T20

England pick the same side for the second T20.

England win the toss and bowl
Englands seamers take wickets but the Australia strike back through Hills and Watson. The pair share an 83 run stand. Hills falls late in the innings but only after bludgoning 72 off 43 balls. Broad and Woakes bowl well at the death to restrict Australia to 164.

Neville and Pietersen are both out early and while Bopara, Gould and Cale each make good scores the runs don't come fast enough. Patel is the stand out with the bat but even he can't get the 18 runs England needed off the last over as England fall 9 short.

Australia win by 9 runs
Man of the Match - Hills
England Man of the Match - Woakes, great bowling both in the opening powerplay and at the death where he conceded just 5 singles off two overs.
Other Notable Mentions - Broad, Patel
Poor Game - Neville, Pietersen, Rashid

[Chasjs]

First ODI

Flintoff and Swann are recalled to the side but Woakes keeps his place in the side ahead of Patel.

England win the toss and bat.
Despite losing Cook early England start well with a quick half century from Bopara. Pietersen and Gould share a century stand, both also reaching half centuries. England look well set for a big total when they take the batting powerplay in the 38th over. Pietersen, though is run out almost immediately and it's left to Skelton to guide England to a reasonable total. He answers the call and together with Woakes put on some quick runs to take England to 289.

Australia dominating the opening powerplays with two fifty partnerships, 121/2 after 15 overs. The introduction of Swann starts an England fightback with the important wicket of Hughes in his first over. Despite a double wicket madien in his next Australia still hold the upper hand with Hills striking the ball well at the other end as he moves past 50. The game swings Englands way with the reintroduction of Broad who picks up Hills and Watson in the first and second overs of his new spell to leave Australia 189/6. Swann finishes his 10 overs 3-29 and his replacement Anderson picks up three more wickets in a 4 over spell. But with Butterworth batting well the game wasn't over just yet. He gets Australia within 27 runs of England with some powerful hitting before he runs out of partners. Broad taking the final wicket.

England win by 27 runs
Man of the Match - Anderson
England Man of the Match - Swann, Australia looked to be in control but the introduction of Swann turned the game slowly in Englands favour
Other Notable Mentions - Bopara, Pietersen, Gould, Skelton, Anderson
Poor Game - Cook, Woakes, Flintoff