Cook puts Aussie celebration on hold

Third Test, Perth (Day 3 - Stumps)

Australia 244 & 527-7 v England 215 & 265-5

Chris O'Keefe

Alastair Cook's first century against Australia means that the hosts celebrations will be frustrated for another day at least. He and Ian Bell shared a partnership of 170 to help keep in the tourists in the contest.

It was a much better performance as England played an assured role, although they were blighted by three wickets in the final session to put Australia within reach of the tale. Cook, whose only other score of note was at The Gabba. The omens, like that knock, is that it will end in defeat for England. However, it does leave an interesting quandry for the remaining batsmen.

Both Flintoff and Pietersen, not out 2 and 37 respectively overnight, will likely have to reign in their attacking instincts. There have been signs that Pietersen is capable of such feats. His 158 in Adelaide needed patience to play Shane Warne's line outside leg stump. Flintoff, on the other hand, has looked out of sorts in almost every innings so far.

Then again some things have to change. However, be assured if England do pull off the highly unlikely, it will be a feat that give them the kind of energy zapped from them in Adelaide on that Monday evening. But today was a force in the right direction, it seems too late!

Australian centuries leave England stirring down the barrel

Third Test, Perth (Day 3 - Stumps)
Australia 244 & 527-5 dec. v England 215 & 19-1

Chris O'Keefe

During the evening session when Mark Nicholas said that England's series was a story of "missed opportunities and mistakes", it looked like the England players in the field were hearing his every word. So taken aback by the onslaught of the Australian batsmen they must have been, it looked like an cricketing abattoir. However, again spurned moments might have made a better impact on the day's fare.

Both Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey should have been sent back comparatively cheaply and England were punished in the worst way possible. Hussey, who scored only his first century of the series today, gifted a rare opening. He skied a Steve Harmsion delivery and three England fielders headed off in pursuit.

Kevin Pietersen seemed favourite at square leg, but Geraint Jones called his own and failed miserably. It was an embarrassing note of England's day. Jones also missed a stumping by not cleanly taking a Panesar spinner, leaving Clarke out of his crease praying for a miracle, he got it.

Hussey was also dropped by Andrew Strauss during the new ball spell in the afternoon, off Matthew Hoggard's great ball. But now England were struggling for inspiration and worse to come, an out of form Gilchrist delivered a beating to English hearts.

The wicket-keeper's torrent of shots seen him hit 24 off one Monty Panesar over and raced to the second fastest century in Test history. He also hit a record number of sixes too. It was violent, yet silky clean hitting of a cricket ball that was an equivalent to booting a man when they're down.

England were gasping for air as they were given the opportunity to either bat two days, score an improbable 557 to win it or sacrifice the Ashes they had fought so hard for in 2005, at the earliest available moment. Ponting sent in the artillery to pose the question and, by a questionable decision to dismiss Andrew Strauss in the fourth ball of Brett Lee's over, they got a brief answer.

If England can come out the game with a remarkably faint Ashes hope in tact, they will have to go against the grain of everything they have done so far in this series. Dropped important catches, taking wickets and scoring runs against a Aussie attack that has only been tested once specifically.

England are not as far away from Australia as the scorecards say. They're just doing their best to make it look that way.

Panesar shines as Aussies flounder

Third Test, Perth (Day 1 - Stumps)
Australia 244 v England 51-2

Chris O'Keefe

Some critics will say Monty Panesar has come two tests too late to the Ashes battle. Panesar, now that he is finally in the thick of it, certainly didn't waste time in making incisions into the Australian line-up, just seven balls in fact. Eventually, both Panesar and England finally done what before seemed impossible, bowling Australia out, cheaply!

It was an important step taken today at the WACA. Steve Harmison lead the pace attack well, the spinner taking wickets and Australia struggling to score substantial runs for long periods of time, not something to associate with Adelaide, nor Brisbane.

Australia won the toss and chose to bat, looking to cement their iron grip on the series by attacking England new ball attack. Hayden paid the price for his adventure with his wicket, edging Matthew Hoggard to slip (24).

Then, an important breakthrough for England and a mental fillip for the under-fire Harmison, trapping Ricky Ponting in front for just 2. Although Australia weren't in dire straits at this moment, it was a foot in the door for Flintoff and his men that this time, they made the most of.

Panesar joined in before lunch to dismiss Justin Langer for 37. The Aussie opener misjudged the line to see his bails knocked off. The ball was rolling now and Australia needed a partnership. They got one after lunch, through Michael Clarke (37) and Mike Hussey (74 not out) putting 61 together before Clarke mistimed a shot straight back to Harmison for his second wicket.

Andrew Symonds, replacing the now retired Damien Martyn, hit a quick-fire 26, but also fell victim to England's man of the moment as he edged Panesar behind to Geraint Jones. Panesar also had Adam Gilchrist caught and Australia were now in trouble at 184-6.

The tail end tried to, in partnership with Hussey, rescue the hosts total but Harmison and Panesar continued their destruction and eventually wrapped up the innings on 244. England would face a tricky period but it was one that England could go into with their tails up.

Indeed the tourists reached 36 off just six overs before Australia struck back through Glenn McGrath. He got Cook to fish outside his off stump - similar to his Adelaide dismissal - before edging to Justin Langer.

Ian Bell was immediately dismissed by an absolute jaffer from Brett Lee, bounce and line did for the number three. Now England were being asked the questions. Was it normal service resumed? Not quite, but close!

Paul Collingwood was tormented by Stuart Clark as he found the edge, only to be dropped by Shane Warne. It was a break England needed and arguably deserved on the face of the days play.

Whilst Warne's drop catch wasn't quite as important as "dropping the Ashes" at The Oval, last year, England should still look to punish a rare mistake and try to manufacture a lead. The pitch, despite the excellent bowling will allow for runs and a lead of over a hundred is a distinct opportunity, if England played with the guile and discipline of the first two days of Adelaide. Of course if it's the final day batting that shows, then the chance is missed.

Taking chances makes all the difference

Second Test, Adelaide (Day 2 - Stumps)
England 551-6 dec. v Australia 312-5

By Chris O'Keefe

Ricky Ponting went on to make his second century of this series but he could, most certainly should, have been dismissed earlier in the day as England bowled with greater discipline, which deserved arguably better results.

The crucial moment came with Ponting on 35 as he pulled a Matthew Hoggard delivery to Deep Square Leg and the waiting hands of Ashley Giles. It looked pre-planned exercise but the execution wasn't. Giles got plenty of palm to the ball but dropped it. Had it been taken, the hosts would be 78-4 in the morning session and Michael Clarke would come in with Australia needing another 274 to avoid the follow on.

It was consummately punished and although yesterday's hero Paul Collingwood would have run out Ponting with a direct hit, the Aussie skipper scored 142 in fourth wicket stand of 192 alongside Mike Hussey. Ponting's 33rd test century now Australia's all time leading century maker, an astonishing feat.

But England should take heart from today's toils. On a feather bed pitch, Australia still trail by 239 runs and the remaining recognized batsmen are under pressure to perform, Adam Gilchrist and the young Clarke.

Anderson produced reverse swing early on in an otherwise fruitless day. Harmison found bounce and better line, so much better than at The Gabba. Hoggard took all four wickets in a display of patience and supreme ability. These factors (on this batting friendly pitch) should be looked at positively. The tourists are getting bowlers back into some sort of form.

Indeed had England made further incisions first up, people might have begun to ask what all the fuss was about the week before! The beauty of England's position is that more can go right than wrong at the moment. Although the best bet is a draw, such is the deficit, England can again attack, something they look better doing than trying to defend! Shane Warne might spin the ball but Australia will require something extraordinarily special to pull off a win from this position.

Collingwood double century strengthens English grip

Second Test, Adelaide (Day 2 - Stumps)
England 551-6 dec. v Australia 28-1

By Chris O'Keefe

If Marcus Trescothick hadn't suffered a recurrence of the stress related illness that prematurely ended his tour, the chances are that Paul Collingwood would not feature in the English batting order. As it is, he has made the greatest impact with the bat as England start to test the Australian juggernaut.

Only the juggernaut didn't really fire. Warne was bowling outside leg stump to Kevin Pietersen, who played patiently, as did Collingwood. In terms of being an eye-catching innings, it wasn't. However, Collingwood was assured, barely a sloppy shot throughout his knock and more importantly the Aussie's were scratching their heads as to how to get him out.

The cheer when Collingwood strode down the pitch to smash Michael Clarke down the pitch to reach 200 was immense. The travelling support was far more concentrated and more noticeable with it. Collingwood deserved the adulation and his place in the side averaging around 60 in 2006, remarkable for someone struggling to be selected.

Meanwhile at the other end, Pietersen scores another century (his sixth in 15 months) but more importantly made the great Shane Warne change his tactics, bowling outside leg stump. A defensive from the world's leading wicket-taker? Surely not. Well actually it probably an attempt to get Pietersen bowled around his pads, something KP didn't fall for that.

In the end it took a run-out after tea and Pietersen searching for a quick single, falling to a fantastic piece of fielding from Ricky Ponting. By then England were in command and looking to declare before having a go Australia's openers. Captain Flintoff and Ashley Giles took England to 551 before leaving nine overs of bowling.

Steve Harmison was overlooked for the new ball, the captain himself opening and make a great decision, removing Justin Langer (4) from a Pietersen catch. The response from the travelling support had echoes of Edgbaston in it as England fought back and left Australia chasing a huge total.

Admittedly two issues come to mind: the favourable batting conditions and England questionable ability to take 20 wickets. However, the mind changes proceedings. Flintoff and his men appear more confident and look like wanting to prove a point. They gave Australia a start in Brisbane before making in-roads, but this time getting Langer and 28-1 overnight, the hosts are on the back foot. If Harmison and Anderson can improve (a big if, till proven otherwise) then England will definitely be back in the larger contest with a vengeance!