Australian opener Simon Katich leaves the Adelaide Oval yesterday after being dismissed by English spinner Graeme Swann for 43. Picture: AFP Source: The Australian
SELECTORS will have to decide between Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh for Perth as Simon Katich is almost no hope of playing again this series.
Katich had scans on his achilles yesterday and Shane Watson will require a new opening partner in Perth in nine days' time.
The blow for Katich came with Australia staring down the barrel in Adelaide, with the late fall of Michael Clarke leaving the home side in grave danger of losing the second Test and any realistic chance of regaining the Ashes.
The Australian vice-captain was eventually given out in bizarre circumstances to the last ball yesterday, with Australia 4-238, still needing 137 to make England bat again going into the final day, although showers and storms are forecast.
Mike Hussey, who is unbeaten on 44, claimed Clarke was inconsolable following his dismissal and believes if Australia can draw the match, England will take it as a loss.
"He's pretty distraught at the moment. I don't think he's said a word just yet. He was very, very disappointed," Hussey said.
"He's pretty shattered at the moment, but he batted fantastically well today. It was a real sombre way to finish the day for us because we fought pretty hard and it would've been really nice to go in three down."
Kevin Pietersen became the destroyer with ball as well as bat after his double century, making the second ball of his second over turn and bounce sharply with his part-time off-spin to have Clarke caught by a diving Alastair Cook at short leg.
Clarke, who made 80 during a three-hour stay, turned to walk off like a guilty schoolboy until he realised that New Zealand umpire Tony Hill had not given him out.
The celebrating and then agitated Englishmen instantly referred the incident, which showed a big inside edge, and the celebrations began again.
Clarke may not have been talking to anyone, but almost as soon as he returned to the dressing-room he sent his remorse into cyberspace.
"Just want to apologise for not walking off the ground tonight when I hit the ball. I was just so disappointed, my emotions got best of me," Clarke wrote on Twitter.
Clarke would have gone for 67 but for the referral system which showed that umpire Hill had given him out caught at slip off the front pad advancing to Swann.
It was the third time in the match that referrals had saved a batsman from over-exuberant umpiring. Unfortunately for the Australians, two of them were English.
Graeme Swann, who claimed 2-72 from 34 overs bowling into the foot marks of Doug Bollinger, described Clarke's wicket as "a massive bonus".
"Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration, and who else but KP to come on and give you it," Swann said. He claimed England was confident of victory today.
"Since day four at Brisbane we've been a very good side," he said. "If we can turn up tomorrow (today) and continue in that vein, then I think we're in the box seat."
Marcus North, who is due to bat next, can save his country and his career with a strong performance today. A draw with North batting well will give Australia hope it can still regain the Ashes and help minimise changes for the third Test in Perth.
However, defeat could see more than a third of the side reshuffled because of injury and form, with North the batsman most in danger of being dropped on his performances.
The bowling line-up is also in the spotlight, with Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger both under a cloud because of niggling problems. The pace pair has had interrupted pre-season preparations due to injury and bowling for more than two days in the Adelaide heat has taken its toll.
Ben Hilfenhaus is in line to play in Perth bowling into the Fremantle Doctor and Mitchell Johnson may also end up with a reprieve.
Spinner Xavier Doherty must also be in the firing line after returning the worst figures of the match, 1-158, at almost six an over.
Despite the forecast of rain over the last three days of the match, Strauss batted on yesterday morning against the beleaguered Australians, extending England's lead from 306 to 375 before declaring at 5-620 in reply to Australia's paltry 245.
Showers have been predicted for this morning, thunderstorms after lunch. Victory today will all but ensure England retains the Ashes, with Australia needing to win the series to reclaim the urn.
When rain interrupted play for an hour after tea Australia had already lost a limping Simon Katich (43), Ricky Ponting (9) for his third single-figure score of the series and Shane Watson (57), who managed his second half-century of the match.
England's score was just the second time it has made 600 or more in Australia during more than 133 years of Test cricket. However Strauss may find himself needing time as much as runs if the weather closes in.
Additional reporting: Andrew Faulkner
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario