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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| England batsmen escape criticism | England batsmen escape criticism |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| England captain Andrew Flintoff and coach Duncan Fletcher refused to blame their batsmen for the dramatic collapse that cost them the second Ashes Test. | England captain Andrew Flintoff and coach Duncan Fletcher refused to blame their batsmen for the dramatic collapse that cost them the second Ashes Test. |
| "The bowling from Shane Warne and Brett Lee was fantastic," said Flintoff after England were bowled out for 129. | "The bowling from Shane Warne and Brett Lee was fantastic," said Flintoff after England were bowled out for 129. |
| "With Warne bowling into the rough there weren't many options and Brett Lee reverse-swung the ball both ways." | "With Warne bowling into the rough there weren't many options and Brett Lee reverse-swung the ball both ways." |
| Fletcher said England had tried to be positive: "There was no situation where we were just trying to bat for time." | Fletcher said England had tried to be positive: "There was no situation where we were just trying to bat for time." |
| Interview: England captain Andrew Flintoff | |
| A draw looked certain as England began the final day 97 ahead at 59-1 but they lost six wickets for 90 runs. | A draw looked certain as England began the final day 97 ahead at 59-1 but they lost six wickets for 90 runs. |
| We want to bat to eight and we think Ashley Giles can do a better job with that Duncan Fletcher | We want to bat to eight and we think Ashley Giles can do a better job with that Duncan Fletcher |
| They now face the massive task of winning two out of the remaining three Tests over the next four weeks to retain the Ashes, with the next one starting in Perth on 14 December, . | They now face the massive task of winning two out of the remaining three Tests over the next four weeks to retain the Ashes, with the next one starting in Perth on 14 December, . |
| "We played a lot of good cricket throughout the Test match apart from an hour when we let it slip," Flintoff admitted. | "We played a lot of good cricket throughout the Test match apart from an hour when we let it slip," Flintoff admitted. |
| "We're 2-0 down and it's an even tougher task than last time but we've got to bounce back. | "We're 2-0 down and it's an even tougher task than last time but we've got to bounce back. |
| "We've got a Test match in just over a week's time and we've got to get ourselves right mentally and physically for that game." | "We've got a Test match in just over a week's time and we've got to get ourselves right mentally and physically for that game." |
| England struggled to bowl Australia out first time on a lifeless pitch and were unable to stop the hosts romping to a target of 168 on the final day. | England struggled to bowl Australia out first time on a lifeless pitch and were unable to stop the hosts romping to a target of 168 on the final day. |
| But Fletcher stuck by the decision to pick Ashley Giles - who was out for a duck on day five - over fellow spinner Monty Panesar. | But Fletcher stuck by the decision to pick Ashley Giles - who was out for a duck on day five - over fellow spinner Monty Panesar. |
| 606: DEBATE Giles' selection for these two Tests is perhaps the most appalling in the history of international sport MG 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE Giles' selection for these two Tests is perhaps the most appalling in the history of international sport MG 606: Have your say |
| "As we've said on numerous occasions, we want to bat to eight and we think Ashley can do a better job with that," he said. | "As we've said on numerous occasions, we want to bat to eight and we think Ashley can do a better job with that," he said. |
| "We wanted to play two spinners here but in that warm-up game against South Australia the seamers seemed to do a better job than the spinner. | "We wanted to play two spinners here but in that warm-up game against South Australia the seamers seemed to do a better job than the spinner. |
| "When you consider Warne is a very good wrist-spinner and he took 86 overs to take five wickets - that summed it up." | "When you consider Warne is a very good wrist-spinner and he took 86 overs to take five wickets - that summed it up." |