Left field
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Defiant England escape with draw in first Ashes Test
I’m still not quite sure how, but somehow England escaped with a draw from the first Ashes Test against Australia, closing out the fifth day on 252-9, 13 runs ahead of the Aussie total and with no time left for the tourists to bat.
Talk about getting out of jail. Ricky Ponting must have thought he had the match won when England were five wickets down and still facing a massive 137-run deficit in the morning sessions.
Make no mistake about it, England were outplayed comprehensively but Paul Collingwood led a memorable rearguard action and when he was gone, the rest of the tailenders finished the job.
The key now for England will be to learn from the mistakes that got them into this mess. Australia, while they’ll be devastated at not winning this, must surely go into the second Test believing that they are the better side.
What’s your prediction now? Can England still win this Ashes series?
PHOTO: England’s Graeme Swann is hit by a bouncer bowled by Australia’s Peter Siddle during the first Ashes cricket test in Cardiff, Wales July 12, 2009. REUTERS/Andrew Winning
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astonishing, fantastic, still feel sick. bring on lord’s. come on!!!
It’s weird that Monty saved the day and yet will probably be dropped for Lord’s. Swann, who bowled just as ordinarily as Monty, is expected to get the nod as the only spinner because he is better with the bat…although Monty can now claim he is a demon with the willow!