2009 Ashes, 5th Test, Day 4: Daring to care...

When you get hurt in a relationship, it's tempting to close yourself off to prevent future pain. Similarly, the human reaction for any Australian fan given the state of the 2009 Ashes is to give up hope that we can somehow chase a further 466 runs over the next two days without losing ten wickets. It would be a world record run chase on a wicket that already looked like a 5th day pitch on day 2. It's impossible. Can't be done.

But Australia made it to stumps without loss, knocking up 80 runs off 20 overs. Time isn't an issue. There will be no batting for a draw. All that matters is runs. Or more importantly, wickets. What would be required for Australia to make those runs would be the improbable combination of the pitch behaving itself, the Australians batting out of their skins, lucky umpiring decisions and the English bowlers having a five or six consecutive bad sessions. If England bowl full and straight at the stumps and extract any hint of movement, Australia won't win. If the Australian top order make the slightest error, be it poor shot selection or a lapse in concentration, it's over. If the pitch shows uneven bounce, even if the bounce doesn't get us, the psychological effect will be deadly. If one or two dodgy umpire decisions rip into our top order, there'll be no recovering. There's just too much going against us.

But cricket fans think with the heart, not the head. So I can't help myself - I can't keep out hopeful visions of a 150 run partnership between Ponting and Clarke, followed by a 200 run partnership from Clarke and North. Improbable. Impossible. It's never happened before. It can't happen now. But I'll be watching the game on tenterhooks. Just in case.

Posted by JC on Sun 23 Aug

39 comments

Watson and Katich fall in the first half hour, I'm ready to fully abandon hope. Then Ponting and Hussey last till lunch and the thin flame of hope flickers for a little longer. Excruciating day unfolding...

Posted by JC on 2009-08-23 22:42:23

Australia 2 for 202 but Broad is getting prodigious turn off the pitch with his leg cutters. Warne would be happy with that kind of movement.

Posted by JC on 2009-08-23 23:13:35

Mike Hussey reaches a half century. He's obviously trying to do a Hayden who saved his career exactly 4 years ago at this very ground with a century. I firmly believe Mr Cricket should be dropped and probably would've a few Tests ago if the selectors had the brains to bring at least one specialist batsman along. If he bats us to a victory here, I take it all back - he can play for Australia till he's 50.

Posted by JC on 2009-08-23 23:25:00

Ricky Ponting run out by Andrew Flintoff trying to run a quick single. Can you believe it? I'm in shock. Bloody Flintoff!

Posted by JC on 2009-08-23 23:35:29

Looking at the replay, Ponting could've made that single if he'd put his head down and ran for the line. He was slow to take off and spent most of the run watching the ball. Shades of Damien Martyn in 2005.

Posted by JC on 2009-08-23 23:39:22

Michael Clarke run out for a duck, freakish dismissal. I thought the pitch, good bowling, dodgy umpiring or poor batting would destroy our chances. Never thought two run outs of our two best batsmen within a few balls of each other would do it.

Posted by JC on 2009-08-23 23:42:51

North stumped. The thin flame of hope well and truly snuffed out.

I would say the happiest man in England when they win this Test is Paul Collingwood who's dropped three catches at first slip. If Australia had gone on to chase the runs down, he'd probably be the most hated man in Great Britain.

Posted by JC on 2009-08-24 00:16:03

At tea, Australia 5 for 265. The game is all but over. Only question now is whether the game can last to a 5th day. It's past midnight here so I'm crashing. Maybe if Ponting and Hussey were still in, I'd stay up but with 3 crazy dismissals in that session, well, time for the ignorant bliss of unconsciousness.

Posted by JC on 2009-08-24 00:44:01

Showers tomorrow JC...

Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-08-24 00:47:02

Hi JC. Sorry to see about the Ashes, I really don't think that England deserves to win this year. This is hard for me to acknowledge, since I'm South African, and it's in my blood to hate anything Australian.

I've read a few of your posts just now, and I'm astonished on how calm and objective you seem after a lost test or series, and how you don't blame umpires for your losses. It's refreshing, and something I can learn from.

I'm blogging in SA when I get the chance, although work makes it difficult, but I've thought about posting on a few international blog sites, to learn how other nationalities think.

Anyway, you might hear from me again, and if you want to look at my blog, here's the link: http://blogs.sport24.co.za/backwardpoint/

Posted by Frost on 2009-08-24 01:06:28

Had to endure some emails from English friends already. I think that's the worst part about losing the Ashes - the reaction from the Poms!

Can't believe those two runouts, especially Ponting's. How stupid to be run out in a Test with 2 days remaining. And Clarke was a bit unlucky there, might have been given the benefit of the doubt.

Think Hussy has kept his place? Why couldn't he have got a century in the first innings instead!

I reckon what lost us the Ashes was nerves. Couldn't get the last wicket in Cardiff, stage fright in Lord's and again here. Even Ponting looked nervous in the first innings.

Posted by MT on 2009-08-24 08:38:48

"I think that's the worst part about losing the Ashes - the reaction from the Poms"

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT MT!

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But cricket fans think with the heart, not the head. So I can't help myself - I can't keep out hopeful visions of a 150 run partnership between Ponting and Clarke, followed by a 200 run partnership from Clarke and North. Improbable. Impossible. It's never happened before. It can't happen now. But I'll be watching the game on tenterhooks. Just in case.

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2009 Ashes, 5th Test, Day 4: Daring to care...

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