da cassino： Peter English presents the plays of the third day at Headingley
da realsbet： Peter English at Headingley09-Aug-2009Stuart’s broadside
Stuart Broad returned serve to Stuart Clark after being struck for consecutive sixes on the second day, welcoming the Australian with four boundaries in his opening over of the morning. Broad started with a streaky edge over the cordon before an airy slash through point, a scoop over mid-on and a loft to cover. The day livened up dramatically with the quartet of fours.Runs galore
The action continued in the next over from Peter Siddle with five wides over Brad Haddin, another four byes next ball, and then Broad’s half-century with a fierce off drive. Graeme Swann jumped into Clark’s follow-up offering at the other end and England suddenly had slammed 48 in three overs. Clark, with 32 from 12 balls, delivered embarrassed waves whenever he was cheered at fine leg.Finding their voice
Australian fans have been feeling much stronger this week and can now sing with confidence. Today’s stand-out ditty occurred before Broad and Swann’s fireworks with “Where’s your army gone?” There were a lot of barmy England supporters in the ground but at that stage there wasn’t any reason to make noise.Quick nick
The England players barely had time to sit down on the dressing-room balcony before James Anderson pushed an edge to Ricky Ponting from the third ball of the day. Ben Hilfenhaus was the successful bowler and the crowd went quiet, except for the pockets of green and gold.Drought breaker
This was Ricky Ponting’s second Test win in England as captain and his first since July 2005 at Lord’s. When the final wicket fell he ran down to third man to pick up the ball as a team souvenir. It left the ground in Mitchell Johnson’s pocket after his 5 for 69.Deal breaker or draw maker?
The Oval will host the final Test and it will be the first time since 1965-66 that the teams enter the last game of an Ashes series level. Forty-three years ago the MCG hosted the match with the sides at 1-1, but it didn’t turn out to be a tie-breaker, with the draw keeping the Ashes for Australia.Now it’s my turn
Brett Lee has wasted little time in commencing his selection bid for The Oval. No sooner had the Australians left the field at Headingley after their innings and 80 run victory than Lee was bowling at full throttle on the not-yet-three-day-old Test strip. Lee bowled for ten minutes to a cordon that included Tim Nielsen, Jamie Cox and Merv Hughes, and will presumably continue his comeback from a rib injury in Australia’s two-day tour match against Kent from August 15.
