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Australia take aim for stalemate Clarke conducts Australia revival
(about 2 hours later)
Australia made a draw the most likely outcome of the second Ashes Test after avoiding the follow-on on day four. Michael Clarke completed his first century in 19 Tests as Australia moved towards England's first innings total on day four of the second Ashes Test.
By lunch they were 417-6, trailing England by 134, with Michael Clarke 68 not out and Shane warne unbeaten on 12. Matthew Hoggard dismissed Shane Warne (43) on the stroke of tea to end a stand of 118 and complete a five-wicket haul, with Australia 502-7 in Adelaide.
Adam Gilchrist provided the only wicket to fall, caught in the deep off Ashley Giles for 64 - his highest Ashes score in four years. Clarke and Adam Gilchrist took an hour to avoid the follow-on mark against some testing pace bowling.
England pace bowlers Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison troubled Gilchrist early but without success. Adam Gilchrist was caught in the deep off Ashley Giles for 64.
England's chances of forcing a result did not look good at the start of the day, as Australia resumed on 312-5.England's chances of forcing a result did not look good at the start of the day, as Australia resumed on 312-5.
By lunch, they needed to take quick wickets - or have Australia declare behind - score quick runs on a lifeless pitch then bowl the home side out again, all of which looked highly unlikely. At lunch, a draw looked like the most likely prospect but as the seventh-wicket stand grew, they were beginning to think about having to bat to save the game on day five.
Australia took their first innings total past 400 in an Adelaide Test for the eighth match in succession and Clarke posed a challenge to the selectors ahead of the third Test.
Dropped after a disappointing Ashes series in England in 2005, he was only brought back as an injury replacement for all-rounder Shane Watson.
With Watson expected to be fit for Perth, Australia may have to drop Damien Martyn if they are to retain 25-year-old-Clark, who had not reached three figures since his debut Test on home soil in November 2004.
England's bowlers did little to deserve the three crisp, cover-driven boundaries he displayed during the afternoon, having already secured his second half century of the series.
Gilchrist was just beginning to cut loose when he was caught at deep midwicket as he aimed to slog-sweep Giles for the second boundary of the over.Gilchrist was just beginning to cut loose when he was caught at deep midwicket as he aimed to slog-sweep Giles for the second boundary of the over.
He had endured a testing first hour as Flintoff employed the method that has kept the wicket-keeper's batting average to 25.83 since the start of the last Ashes series, packing the off-side field.He had endured a testing first hour as Flintoff employed the method that has kept the wicket-keeper's batting average to 25.83 since the start of the last Ashes series, packing the off-side field.
With Flintoff bowling around the wicket, Gilchrist always looked likely to edge a drive or cut to the slip cordon.With Flintoff bowling around the wicket, Gilchrist always looked likely to edge a drive or cut to the slip cordon.
Flintoff only allowed himself four overs, though, before bringing Harmison into the attack and although the Durham man did nothing wrong, the threat diminished. Flintoff only allowed himself four overs, though, and worryingly did not return to the attack before the tea break.
Gilchrist hit cover drives to the boundary off successive balls from Harmison and in the next over drove him down the ground.
The introduction of spinner Giles into the attack looked foolish as Gilchrist larruped him through the covers to reach his best Ashes score since the Sydney Test of 2003.The introduction of spinner Giles into the attack looked foolish as Gilchrist larruped him through the covers to reach his best Ashes score since the Sydney Test of 2003.
It looked inspired when Gilchrist was implicit in his own downfall but part-time off-spinner Kevin Pietersen's arrival looked more of an attacking option.It looked inspired when Gilchrist was implicit in his own downfall but part-time off-spinner Kevin Pietersen's arrival looked more of an attacking option.
Clarke remained low key, with his first impressive shot - a cover drive off Harmison - coming after he had reached his second half century of the series from 88 balls. It was surprising that Pietersen was not used during the afternoon, with Giles bowled unchanged, generally over the wicket on leg stump to both batsmen.
Warne was anything but low-key as his bickering with Pietersen continued and he had time to sweep his Hampshrie team-mate for four before the break. The pitch offered Hoggard little when he returned just before the tea break but he created a couple of chances before trapping Warne lbw with a ball that straightened on middle and leg.