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| "Jimmy", Simon, Annabel and an urn |
Just when you thought this Ashes tour could not get any better from an English perspective, along came today.
Milestones and records tumbled at such a pace throughout the morning session that it was difficult to keep up with them all, as England extended their first innings total from an impressive 488-7 overnight to a gargantuan 644 all out. The highest ever score by any Test side at the SCG, the highest ever score by an England side in Australia, the second fastest hundred by an England player (the brilliant Matt Prior) since Ian Botham in 1981, the third century partnership in a row, the 300 lead, and so it went on. We also enjoyed a Mitchell Johnson over which went for 20 runs, mainly off the bat of Graeme Swann - not a record by any means, but just as enjoyable for another huge England-dominated crowd. Heady stuff.
As so often, Australia's reply started well enough with Shane Watson looking in fine attacking form. But out of the blue, both Aussie openers found themselves running towards the same end and Watson was run out by the length of the pitch. A schoolboy error of comic proportions, but it was no laughing matter for Australia.
After that, the England seamers' mastery of line, length and movement off the pitch ensured that wickets fell at regular intervals. By far the loudest cheer of the day was reserved for Chris Tremlett's first ball dismissal of Johnson - they must have heard that one in Melbourne. An England victory this evening was only denied by an effective counter-attack by Australia's eighth wicket pairing of Smith and Siddle, who comfortably survived the extra half hour to take the match into a fifth day.
Tomorrow morning, only three wickets stand between England and yet another innings victory, with Australia still 151 runs in arrears. A win would also seal a fully deserved series win for England by 3-1, their first in Australia for 24 years. It should be all over by lunchtime - let's hope the pubs and restaurants of Sydney are well stocked.
Great stuff - thought I was still dreaming this morning when I turned on Sky and witnessed a Hussey dismismal, followed by Tremlett's brace! Shame we couldn't wrap it up today, but I guess that won't stop the Barmy party :))
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