England crush Aussies to go one-up in series
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
ADELAIDE, Dec 7 (AFP): England crushed Australia by an innings and 71 runs after a spectacular collapse of wickets early on the final day in the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval Tuesday.
The tourists ran through the Australians after snaring the important wicket of Mike Hussey with spinner Graeme Swann finishing with five wickets for 91.
It was England's first Test victory in Adelaide since 1995 and their first innings triumph in Australia since Mike Gatting's team won in Melbourne on the way to winning the Ashes almost 24 years ago.
Australia now must win two of the remaining three Tests to overhaul England and win back the Ashes they lost last year, while England are in line to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since 1986-87.
"We never gave them a look in the game, and we're very pleased about what we've done, especially on the back of the last couple of days at Brisbane (drawn first Test)," captain Andrew Strauss said.
"We've got some great momentum in the series and we've got to keep it going."
England thoroughly deserved their comprehensive victory after skittling Australia for 245 Friday's first day and replying with a massive 620 for five declared, to hold a 375-run innings lead.
It also helped salve the bitter memories of England's collapse to lose the corresponding Adelaide Test by six wickets four years after amassing 551 for six declared batting first.
"We need to enjoy this and savour it, because it was a special victory for us, in some ways it exorcised some of the demons from four years ago here." Strauss said.
England 5 for 620 dec beat Australia 245 and 304 (Clarke 80, Watson 57, Hussey 52, Swann 5-91) by an innings and 71 runs.
The tourists ran through the Australians after snaring the important wicket of Mike Hussey with spinner Graeme Swann finishing with five wickets for 91.
It was England's first Test victory in Adelaide since 1995 and their first innings triumph in Australia since Mike Gatting's team won in Melbourne on the way to winning the Ashes almost 24 years ago.
Australia now must win two of the remaining three Tests to overhaul England and win back the Ashes they lost last year, while England are in line to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since 1986-87.
"We never gave them a look in the game, and we're very pleased about what we've done, especially on the back of the last couple of days at Brisbane (drawn first Test)," captain Andrew Strauss said.
"We've got some great momentum in the series and we've got to keep it going."
England thoroughly deserved their comprehensive victory after skittling Australia for 245 Friday's first day and replying with a massive 620 for five declared, to hold a 375-run innings lead.
It also helped salve the bitter memories of England's collapse to lose the corresponding Adelaide Test by six wickets four years after amassing 551 for six declared batting first.
"We need to enjoy this and savour it, because it was a special victory for us, in some ways it exorcised some of the demons from four years ago here." Strauss said.
England 5 for 620 dec beat Australia 245 and 304 (Clarke 80, Watson 57, Hussey 52, Swann 5-91) by an innings and 71 runs.