THE RUN STAND

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne [December 26-28, 2006].

In the Australian summer of 2006-07, the English cricket team toured Australia to defend their Ashes title. Unfortunately they lost the first three tests in a row, and the hosts regained Ashes in Perth. As a result, when both teams reached Melbourne, the clouds of Whitewash were looming before the visitors. 

On match day we witnessed intermittent showers and a lot of clouds in the sky. However, despite all of this, English Captain Andrew Flintoff, after winning the toss, elected to bat first.  It is interesting to note that the pitch had a lot of seam movement and was green, wet, and erratic, which made the life of fast bowlers easier. Even though England made it to lunch at 1/36, Ian Bell was lbw to Stuart Clark shortly after the lunch break. The score reached 2/101 after what looked to be a solid partnership between Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss. Collingwood was then taken out by Brett Lee after Ricky Ponting caught him in the slips. Strauss, who had just hit fifty, was clean bowled by Warne two balls later, thereby taking his 700th Test wicket.

After that, Warne claimed four more wickets as England fell apart and were all out for 159. For just 58 runs, England had lost their last eight wickets. It looked like Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden could seal the match in no time when they started batting, and England's annoyance got heightened when several impressive lbw claims were turned down by the umpire. However, in the tenth over, Flintoff had Langer and nightwatchman Lee caught behind on consecutive deliveries, which gave him a great deal of confidence again. At 2/48, Australia ended the day.

England dominated the second-day morning session, taking the prize wickets of Ponting, Michael Hussey, and Michael Clarke for a total of just 18 runs. Australia appeared to be in serious trouble at 5/84, with maverick Andrew Symonds walking into the crease. However, Hayden and Symonds managed to turn the tide of the match back in Australia's favor for the majority of the next two sessions, as England was unable to capitalize on their early gains. Interestingly it was the two batsmen's attitude was what everyone found most impressive. It was a precarious situation. One more wicket and the game was done and dusted. However, the duo came all guns blazing and made a mess of the English Bowling Line-up. 

Australia resumed the third session at 5/226 after Hayden reached his century just before tea. With a strong six to long on, Symonds went on to score his first Test century. The match looked nearly lost for England, even though Hayden was dismissed late in the day for 153, quickly followed by Adam Gilchrist (for one run). With Symonds and Warne remaining at the crease, Australia had rallied from 5/85 to 7/372 (213 Runs Lead) at the end of play.

Similar to the morning session the day before, England gave themselves some reason to be hopeful at first. It was only Warne who offered any opposition as the tail got demolished after Symonds' early dismissal, leaving Australia all out for 419 (a lead of 260). The score did not look as daunting as it could have otherwise, as the initially bowler-friendly pitch seemed to have flattened out somewhat.

Regretfully, England were all out for just 161 runs after giving in to the relentless pressure halfway through the last session. In what was undoubtedly England's worst performance of the series so far. as they were now 0-4 down in the series. Because of his tenacious 40* at bat and his bowling stats of 5/39 and 2/46, Warne was chosen Man of the Match. However, in the opinion of the author it was the run-stand between Hayden and Symonds which was the real game changer. At a place where every other Batsmen struggled to bat, Hayden and Symonds displayed their class and aura. 

To watch the run-stand between Hayden and Symonds, Click Here.