This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6201434.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Ponting ton revives Aussie hopes | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ricky Ponting hit his 10th century in 13 games to revive Australian hopes of matching England on day three of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide. | |
Ponting, dropped on 35, and Mike Hussey (49no) shared an unbroken stand of 120 as Australia reached tea on 185-3, needing 352 to avoid the follow-on. | |
England made a perfect start as Matthew Hoggard dismissed Matthew Hayden for 14 and Damien Martyn for 11. | |
On 78-3, Ashley Giles failed to hold on to a Ponting pull at deep square leg. | |
A pitch that looked completely bereft of life when Australia were bowling responded to the extra effort shown by England, who were unrecognisable from their first Test display. | A pitch that looked completely bereft of life when Australia were bowling responded to the extra effort shown by England, who were unrecognisable from their first Test display. |
Captain Andrew Flintoff employed some innovative field-placing in putting a fan of men out to stop the drive, tempting Australia into dangerous cross-bat shots. | |
Steve Harmison, who conceded 177 runs for a single wicket in the defeat in Brisbane, appeared to be back in form, bristling with pace and, crucially, accuracy. | |
His afternoon spell of 0-14 off six overs included an audacious hooked six from Hussey, who was otherwise watchful in defence. | |
James Anderson began well and could have dismissed Ponting on three occasions early, with an edge in front of slip, a delivery through the gate and a close lbw appeal. | James Anderson began well and could have dismissed Ponting on three occasions early, with an edge in front of slip, a delivery through the gate and a close lbw appeal. |
Ponting showed he had found his feet just before lunch, though, as he took two authoritative boundaries off the youngster to move to 50 from 106 balls. | |
Spinner Ashley Giles got his first chance of the innings in mid-afternoon, Ponting demonstrating his determination to take on the spinner with a lofted drive over cover. | |
Giles demonstrated more loop than he has for much of his career. | |
But as Ponting moved into the 90s the left-armer moved over the wicket, in the negative style that Shane Warne employed on day two, and speared his deliveries on leg stump. | |
Ponting had to wait to take a single off Flintoff and record his second century of this series from 183 deliveries. | |
Having declared on 551-6 on the second evening, England had already made a good start by dismissing Justin Langer before stumps. | |
Hoggard had looked innocuous bowling five overs as the hosts reached the close 28-1. | |
But on Saturday morning he began to find just a little swing, and mixed in some off-cutters to keep batsmen on their toes. | But on Saturday morning he began to find just a little swing, and mixed in some off-cutters to keep batsmen on their toes. |
Left-hander Hayden was tempted into pushing at a delivery angled across him and just leaving him a little, with Geraint Jones pouching the edge. | Left-hander Hayden was tempted into pushing at a delivery angled across him and just leaving him a little, with Geraint Jones pouching the edge. |
Martyn began confidently but Hoggard's daring in pitching the ball up a little more brought a little more away-swing, with Ian Bell at gully profiting from Martyn's grope. | Martyn began confidently but Hoggard's daring in pitching the ball up a little more brought a little more away-swing, with Ian Bell at gully profiting from Martyn's grope. |