Aussies’ backs to the wall as England in total command

A sensational century from Andrew Flintoff and some inspired swing bowling from Matthew Hoggard in the last session has given England a stranglehold on the Fourth Ashes Test after the second day at Trent Bridge.

Flintoff smashed his first century against the tourists and fifth all up in Tests, sharing in a 177-run union with wicketkeeper Geraint Jones that took the initiative away from Australia and placed the home side firmly in the driver’s seat. They were eventually dismissed right on tea for 477, and in reply, the Aussies collapsed to 5-99, with their hopes resting with Simon Katich (20*) and Adam Gilchrist (0*).

The underrated Hoggard was the star, capturing 3-26 with an impressive spell of swing bowling as England immediately put the Australians under pressure with fast, accurate deliveries set against an attacking field.

Openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer got through the early difficult period to reach 0-21, but then chaos followed. A beautiful inswinging ball from Hoggard caught an out-of-form Hayden with bat behind pad and he was out plumb LBW.

Next over, Ricky Ponting fell the same way as Simon Jones got one to seam off the pitch, though the captain could count himself unlucky after replays later revealed he got a thin inside edge on the ball. Four deliveries later, the same fate befell Damien Martyn- mirroring his dismissal in the second innings at Old Trafford- leaving Australia in all sorts of trouble at 3-22, still 456 runs behind.

36 runs later, Hoggard had his third wicket, as Langer pushed forward but could only succeed in popping the ball up to a lunging Ian Bell at short leg.

Michael Clarke and Simon Katich consolidated the innings, surviving the odd auspicious moment and taking the Australian total to 99. But in a devastating blow, Steve Harmison trapped Clarke leg before wicket for 36 on what turned out to be the last ball of a superb day’s cricket for England.

Earlier, Kevin Pietersen looked in ominous touch, moving swiftly to 45 before Brett Lee got the crucial early breakthrough Australia was seeking, removing the former South African caught behind just 20 minutes into the first session.

This reduced England to 5-241 and with the tourists slightly in front, but Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones then proceeded to restore their side to a position of strength with a brilliant partnership.

After surviving a very close LBW shout off Warne early in his innings, Flintoff moved fluently to his half-century, smashing a six off the great leg-spinner to bring up the milestone. Together with Jones, he steered England to lunch at 5-344 and with the pitch playing well, there was the promise of more to come following the long interval.

It didn’t help that the bowlers were struggling for line and length, and upon the resumption, Flintoff and Jones rubbed salt into the Australian wound, crashing 74 runs from 14 overs, with a selection of well-executed cuts, drives and pull shots regularly finding the boundary rope with speed.

But in the end, it was a quick single which allowed the powerful all-rounder to reach a wonderful hundred off only 121 balls, with 14 x 4’s and 1 x 6.

Just two runs later however, Flintoff was back in the pavilion, Tait’s third Test victim as he played across the line of a straight one to leave England 6-418 and in total control.

Ashley Giles came to the crease and offered stoic support for Jones, however, with a century in sight, the wicketkeeper fell to a good diving catch from Michael Kasprowicz off his own bowling.

From there wickets tumbled, Warne cleaning up the tail finishing with four wickets as England lost 5-59 to be all out 477; a very good total but one made to look exceptional after the carnage of the late afternoon. With three days left to play, only something special from Australia’s out-of-form batsmen can save the tourists from a humbling loss that could put their hold on the Ashes in severe doubt.

Full scorecard available here.

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