Player Interviews: Questions for the Fans

Vodafone Ashes- Michael Clarke's phone number

Aussie cricket team secret match

Aussie cricket team singing for Vodafone

England v Australia: Ashes 2010/11 preview

Michael is still alive

Australia Top as 5 wikets falls

Australia set the target 391. England reply 81/5*
 finish 3rd day of the test. England lost 5 top batsmen.
Can they win it? or Australians can square the series?

Ashes Live Tv Link Streaming Cricket Video Channel Sopcast | Articles Directory - Submit Articles Free

Ashes Live Tv Link Streaming Cricket Video Channel Sopcast Articles Directory - Submit Articles Free

3rd Test: Australia v England at Perth

Day 1

Australia 1st Innings - 265/10                  

Batting

1. S. Watson - LBW b Finn - 13 - 1(4s) 
2. P. Hughes - b Tremlett - 2
3. R. Ponting - c Collingwood b Anderson  - 12 - 3(4s)
4. M. Clarke - c Prior b  Tremlett  - 4 - 1(4s)
5. M. Hussey - c  Prior b Swann- 61 - 9(4s), 1(6s)
6. S. Smith - c Strauss b Tremlett  - 7 
7. B. Haddin - c Swann b Anderson - 53 - 6(4s), 1(6s)
8. M. Johnson - c Anderson b Finn - 62 - 8(4s), 1(6s)
9. R. Harris - b Anderson - 3 
10. P. Siddle - not out - 35 - 3(4s)
11. D. Bollinger - c Cook b Swann - 3

 Bowling

1. J. Anderson - 61/3 
2. C. Tremlett - 63/3
3. G. Swann - 52/2
4. S. Finn - 86/2
5. P. Collingwood - 3/0

England 1st Innings - 29/0                   

Batting

1. A. Strauss - not out - 12 - 2(4s)
2. A. Cook - not out - 17 - 1(4s), 1(6s)

Bowling

1. Harris - 16/0 
2. P. Siddle - 4/0
3. B. Hilfenhaus - 5/0 
4. M. Johnson - 4/0

Beer out and England bowl first

Andrew Strauss took a bold decision to bowl first in the third Test at Perth as he attempted to keep the pressure firmly on Australia's batting line-up. It was the cloudiest morning since the teams arrived in Western Australia and the pitch held a tinge of green so the England attack, including the recalled Chris Tremlett, will have an early chance to pepper Phillip Hughes.

After a week of making the headlines, Michael Beer was left out of Australia's side as the hosts made the rare decision to go in with a full complement of quick bowlers. It meant recalls for Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus, who were both dropped after Brisbane, and Ricky Ponting said he, too, would have bowled first. He hasn't done that since Edgbaston in 2005, but green WACA pitches have a history of tricking captains.

England needed to make a change to their line-up after the injury to Stuart Broad and despite some late nudges towards Tim Bresnan it was Tremlett who came in as he adds to the three caps he won against India in 2007. It is a positive move from the tourists who have promised not to back down despite holding a 1-0 lead and it's also a show of faith in Tremlett after he was picked with exactly this scenario in mind.

He went wicketless on a deathly slow pitch at the MCG last week as all England's reserve quicks struggled to make an impression, but bowled impressively against Australia A in Hobart last month where he dismissed Hughes and Steve Smith. Both those players are in today's Australia line-up which includes four changes from Adelaide. Hughes has the chance to restart a stalled Test career, while Smith has been brought in at the expense of Marcus North to provide some much-needed spark.

Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Steven Smith, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Ryan Harris, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

England 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Ian Bell, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Graeme Swann, 9 Chris Tremlett, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn.

Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

Feeds: Andrew McGlashan

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

England bid for early Christmas present

Match Facts

December 16-20, Perth
Start time 10:30 (02:30 GMT)

The Big Picture

All both teams want for Christmas is a win, but Australia would settle for a draw as a way of stopping the damage from an opponent showing few weaknesses. England lead the five-match contest 1-0 and will retain the Ashes with a victory, which is the most likely result on the form of the opening two encounters. England have never secured the urn before Christmas in their 133-year history of visits Down Under, and they may never have a better chance.

The series is only 10 days old but already it has taken a toll on both sides. Stuart Broad has been ruled out with a stomach tear and will spend his week in the Test Match Special commentary box instead of the dressing room. Simon Katich's heel problem has forced him out of the side and Australia have called for the type of wholesale changes England teams were mocked for making between 1989 and 2002-03. It's young talent time for the hosts, with Steven Smith (21), Phillip Hughes (22) and Michael Beer (26) coming in, and Mitchell Johnson in favour again after a week spent in the WACA nets.

Apart from which fast bowler to pick to replace Broad, England's main worry is their recent history of giving away hard-won series leads. They allowed Australia to level the 2009 Ashes after four games - but recovered to take the trophy - and also drew in South Africa after earning an early advantage. Australia are praying for more generosity this time.

Form guide

(most recent first)

Australia LDLLL
England WDWLW

Watch out for...

Mitchell Johnson is back. That would have been a scary line once, but over the past two years he has become a man of mystery. Dropped for the first time in his Test career after going wicket-less in Brisbane, Johnson has trained his way back after an intense week working with Troy Cooley, the bowling coach. The WACA is a great venue for Johnson, who has 21 wickets in three Tests, including a career-best match haul of 11 for 159. Australia need that version of Johnson in this fixture, not the ineffective model that appeared at the Gabba.

The new dad James Anderson has been to Lancashire and back over the past week to be at the birth of his second child. Over the next five days he will have to battle jet-lag and an Australia batting line-up that is determined not to be overwhelmed by England's remodelled attack. Anderson's control and swing will be vital, especially when he's running into the breeze of the Fremantle Doctor. He was dropped for the Perth Test on the previous tour, but is such a better bowler than he was four years ago..

Team news

Australia's big question surrounds whether to play Peter Siddle, the bowler who started the series with six wickets on the opening day in Brisbane. Siddle hasn't claimed a victim in Australia's past two innings and Ryan Harris jumped ahead of him in Adelaide. If both Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus, the in-to-the-wind man, come back in, then Siddle will miss out.

Australia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Steven Smith, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Michael Beer, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

Broad's replacement has come down to a two-man race between Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan. Tremlett offers extra bounce with his height while the powerful Bresnan provides greater nous on flat pitches. Whoever gets the nod will have a crucial role to play alongside Anderson, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann.

England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Ian Bell, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Graeme Swann, 9 James Anderson, 10 Chris Tremlett, 11 Steven Finn.

Pitch and conditions

Perth is always talked up as a fast man's favourite but over the past decade it has disappointed. Every year there is excited chatter from the locals that this time it will recapture its past glories. Maybe it will really happen this time. The pitch is expected to start with a tinge of green, but the cracking late in the match is expected to be a far greater concern to the batsmen than early seam movement. Sunny conditions are forecast throughout the game, with maximum temperatures above 30C.

Stats and trivia

• England have won only one of 11 Tests at the WACA, with that victory coming in the Packer-depleted era of 1978-79
• Australia have succeeded in 21 of 39 games here, with only nine losses. Five of those were against West Indies.
• Ricky Ponting is the leading the run-scorer in Tests at the WACA with 933, two more than Allan Border. David Gower is the best of the overseas players with 471 in five matches
• If Alastair Cook is wanting to add the highest score at the WACA to his Brisbane ground record, he must beat Matthew Hayden's 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003-04
Quotes
"I feel like it's part of my job as a bowler and I see myself as the leader of the attack here, so it's important I think about what went right for us in the last two games and what we can improve on for this game." James Anderson had plenty time to ponder his game during 48 hours of flying in the past week "Being a short opening batsman, [the bowlers] like it up around your ears and face as much as they can. Often it's not the short balls that get you out, it's the follow-up balls." Phillip Hughes is ready to have his mettle tested against the short ball

From Cricinfo.com

Ponting backs Johnson's WACA record

Australia's fast bowlers have gathered in Perth, uncertain of who will be carrying the drinks when the third Test begins on Thursday. The captain Ricky Ponting has said there will be strong competition between the fast men, with Mitchell Johnson back in the mix after being dropped along with Ben Hilfenhaus for the Adelaide Test.

Mitchell Johnson is back in the mix despite his disappointing efforts at the Gabba © Getty Images

Mitchell Johnson is back in the mix despite his disappointing efforts at the Gabba © Getty Images

Johnson, Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris have all been named in Australia's 12-man squad, and although there is a chance that all four could play, Ponting always prefers to have a specialist spinner on hand. If that means Michael Beer plays alongside the allrounder Steven Smith, one of the pace bowlers must sit out.

The early indications are that it won't be Johnson, who is viewed as the most dangerous man in the attack, although his recent form has been poor. Johnson has a strong record at the WACA, where he has taken at least five wickets in all three of his Tests, and it was the venue of one of his greatest spells of bowling, when he took 8 for 61 against South Africa in 2008-09.

"He's taken an eight-for here so he has to come back into the reckoning considering it's a game we have to win," Ponting told the Australian. "I've always used him as a strike bowler but unfortunately he wasn't able to deliver in Brisbane. He's had a chance to get away and sort things out and he has worked exceptionally hard in Adelaide. Hopefully we'll see some good stuff from him in Perth this week."

Johnson was working with the bowling coach Troy Cooley in the nets at the Adelaide Oval while his team-mates were on their way to an innings defeat, and Ponting was pleased with his progress. He was also happy with the efforts of Siddle, who took a hat-trick on the opening day of the series but hasn't picked up a wicket since that first innings at the Gabba.

"Sids had none-for in Adelaide but I think he bowled a lot better than that," Ponting said. "I thought he got better as the game went on and never got any results to show for it. I'm very comfortable with the way he's going and I was very impressed with (Ryan) Harris. To come back into the side and bowl that way was really exciting. He's someone who will bowl well at the WACA."

The Australians have already used five different fast men - Johnson, Hilfenhaus, Siddle, Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger - in the two Tests, and the full-time selector Greg Chappell said there weren't a lot of options around the country. Trent Copeland and Mark Cameron have been impressive in the Sheffield Shield this season, while Peter George is also bowling well, having made his Test debut in India in October, but Chappell believed the proven men were the way to go in a crucial Ashes Test.

"Well, there are not a lot of options," Chappell said in an interview with his brother Ian in Brisbane's Sunday Mail. "Mitch was, up until very recently, our best wicket-taker and the one most likely to win a Test or to help us get 20 wickets. If we can get him bowling well, he's still the most dangerous bowler we have."

The players gathered on Sunday in Perth, where Phillip Hughes and Michael Clarke had arrived early to spend extra time working with the batting coach Justin Langer. The third Test is not expected to be easy for the batsmen, with word from the WACA curator Cameron Sutherland that the game could be over in four days.

"We're going to aim for a fair bit of grass on top this year," Sutherland told Perth's Sunday Times. "Certainly we want a result and we're confident that we'll have a pitch that will produce a result."

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Hughes 'blown away' by Beer shout

Merv Hughes was a selector until two months ago, but even he was caught off guard by Michael Beer's call-up for this week's Perth Test. The inclusion of the left-arm spinner Beer, who played the first of his five first-class games in October, was a major surprise given the delicate state of the series, which England leads 1-0.

"I must admit I was a little bit blown away by it," Hughes told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Having been in the selection system for the last five years you know the process that they watch the games and obviously he's impressed the selectors at the games he's played this year. I actually didn't hear the team. Someone said a left-armer from WA had been picked, I actually thought it might have been Aaron Heal."



Michael Beer wasn't  on the radar of former selector  Merv Hughes © Getty Images

Michael Beer wasn't
 on the radar of
former selector
 Merv Hughes
© Getty Images



The chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said of the decision that having a left-arm orthodox spinner would be a good option for Australia in the future. The first one they tried, Xavier Doherty, was axed after two Tests, and Steve O'Keefe, who played in the Australia A match against England in November was surprisingly overlooked.

"Three weeks ago when he wasn't picked for the Australian A team they couldn't have been thinking about him then because they played [Steve] Smith and O'Keefe in that game," Hughes said. "Michael Beer's a huge surprise. I would have thought there would have been a couple of players in front of him, but I haven't seen games this year."

Beer moved to Western Australia from Melbourne during the 2010 off-season and Hughes said during his time as a selector he had not seen him play. However, despite being surprised by the call-up, Hughes said he had no reason to think Beer would not be up to the task if he plays at the WACA.

"Since Adelaide everyone's been crying out for change and when they make a change everyone sits back and asks why," Hughes said. "We can't cry out for change then question why it's been done. Give the kid a chance, I hope he goes really well. I'm surprised but I'm also excited for him."

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Collingwood shines on dreary day

Paul Collingwood enlivened an insufferably dull day of cricket with three wickets in five overs, before Andrew Strauss scalped the first-innings centurion, Michael Hill, for 4 with his rarely seen left-arm chinaman bowling, as England's pace bowlers aborted their attempts to impress the selectors ahead of the Perth Test, and left Monty Panesar and the declaration bowlers to get through their day's work on a dreadfully slow pitch.

By the close, Victoria had reached 2 for 278 in their second innings, a lead of 310 following England's lunchtime declaration on 2 for 184. With Chris Tremlett, Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan thwarted by the conditions, the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session was Aaron Finch, who set Victoria's tempo with 45 from 74 balls, before miscuing a lofted drive at Panesar and holing out to mid-off.

Thereafter, England were held up by a pair of debutants, the 20-year-old Ryan Carters, who made 68, and the 18-year-old Alex Keath, who turned his back on an AFL contract with Gold Coast to concentrate on a career in cricket. He started uncertainly as Bresnan and Shahzad probed his defences with a hint of reverse swing, but grew in confidence as the afternoon wore on and the sting went out of England's efforts.

It was left to Collingwood's offcutters to make England's long-awaited breakthrough, as Carters stepped across his stumps to be bowled behind his legs, and two overs later he added a second courtesy of a smart one-handed catch by Alastair Cook at silly mid-off, as Matthew Wade drove airily back down the ground. Cook had been off the field apparently nursing a sore back, but his mobility seemed not in the slightest bit impaired.

Panesar, who had bowled tidily but without assistance from the pitch, then added a second as John Hastings swung across the line and top-edged a sweep to Collingwood, running round from slip, who then denied Keath a fifty on debut with a slow, ballooning bouncer that was scuffed through to the keeper. The session then degenerated into farce with the introduction of Strauss and Eoin Morgan, who has yet to bat on this tour, but has now bowled three overs for 37.




Ian Bell made another half-century before England's early declaration © Getty Images

Ian Bell made another half-century before England's early declaration © Getty Images

 

The highlight of England's day, however, was Strauss's third first-class victim, as Hill was adjudged lbw, a touch unluckily it appeared, to a back-of-the-hand delivery that appeared to pitch outside the line of leg stump. Either way, he joined elite company, with Kevin Pietersen and Stephen Fleming the only two other batsmen to succumb to his assortment of long-hops. It was left to Jayde Herrick and Clint McKay to climb into the offerings, with Strauss conceding 51 runs in four overs, and McKay posting 58 not out, his highest first-class score.

"We want to make a competitive game tomorrow, so in order for that to happen we had to allow Victoria to get enough runs to make it competitive tomorrow," explained Ian Bell at the close of play. "That was really the idea behind it."

In the morning session, England's batsmen continued where they had left off in the Brisbane and Adelaide Tests, with Strauss making a boundary-laden 66, and Bell unbeaten at lunch on 60, his fifth consecutive fifty-plus score of the tour.

Strauss, who resumed on 17 not out, offered a chance on 40 when he snicked Herrick to Cameron White at first slip, who shelled a regulation catch, but was otherwise watertight as he brought up his fifty from 79 balls with a sweep off the left-arm spinner Jon Holland. It was Holland who ended his stay via a chip to midwicket.

By that stage, however, Bell was fully into his stride, and he posted his fifty with a sweetly timed cover drive off Hastings. Collingwood, whose opportunities on the tour to date have been limited, cracked Holland for a big six into the Members' stand to go to the interval on 29 not out, as England moved to within 32 runs of Victoria's first-innings 2 for 216 before declaring.

Despite the unhelpful nature of the wicket, Bell reckoned that England would be more than content with the work-out that their bowlers had got, especially with the prospect of a livelier surface at the WACA next week.

"It's always nice to get a couple of wickets, but I think it's been a hard wicket for the bowlers," said Bell. "Let's be fair, it's so slow out there, but they've toiled away and it's reverse swung, which is good to see because those sorts of skills which might come in at some point at the WACA.

"They've worked hard, and to be honest with you, it's great going into Perth that all three of them had a good work-out in batting friendly conditions. It's much better that than a green seamer where they've all taken five-for and bowled a couple of good balls but a couple of bad balls as well. They've generally gone at two an over all game and that's exactly what we want going into a Test match."

Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo.

Feeds: Andrew Miller

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

North dropped, Michael Beer in Test squad

Marcus North, Doug Bollinger and Xavier Doherty have been axed, and Australia's selectors have sprung a major surprise by naming the little-known spinner Michael Beer in their 12-man squad for the Perth Test. Phillip Hughes has been picked to replace the injured Simon Katich, while Steven Smith is a strong chance to play after no other specialist batsman was named to replace North.

Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus are also likely to come back in to the side in what could be a four-man pace attack with Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, who the selectors considered the best of the bowlers in the Adelaide loss. But it's the inclusion of Beer that will raise eyebrows, especially with Nathan Hauritz fresh from a first-class century and five-wicket haul for New South Wales.

"Michael Beer replaces Xavier Doherty in the squad," Australia's chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said. "Michael is a left-arm orthodox spinner who has been very impressive at domestic level this year. He took wickets against England in the tour match earlier this summer and we expect he will bowl very well against the English on his home ground."

But Hilditch's comments seemingly ignore the fact that the WACA has been Beer's home ground for only a few months, after he moved from Victoria during the off-season. He has played only three first-class matches at the ground and in his five first-class appearances, all of which have taken place this summer, he has 16 wickets at 39.93 with a best of 3 for 39.

Beer, 26, is a left-arm orthodox bowler who plied his trade in Melbourne club cricket until the end of last season, when he moved to Western Australia in an attempt to launch his domestic career. Against the touring England side last month he 3 for 108 and 2 for 99, and the chances of him winning a place in the starting XI for the third Test must be slim.

One man who will definitely play at the WACA is Hughes, who is not in his best form but was still considered the most likely replacement for Katich, who will miss the rest of the series with an Achilles tendon injury. The pressure on Hughes will be increased after Australia altered the balance of their squad by leaving out the specialist batsman North.

North has had a disappointing start to the Ashes campaign and the strong batting form of Brad Haddin makes it likely that the wicketkeeper will move up to No. 6 with Smith at No. 7. Smith has played two Tests, against Pakistan in England in July, when he was chosen as a legspinner in the absence of the injured Hauritz, and if Beer doesn't play he will be the lead slow bowler in Perth.

"Steve Smith replaces Marcus North in the 12-man squad," Hilditch said. "This is obviously disappointing for Marcus who has played some outstanding Test innings for Australia but it was felt to be the right time to bring the exciting prospect Steve Smith into the Test team. Steve has already had success at international level and will also add to the bowling depth with his leg-spin bowling and dynamic fielding.

"Doug Bollinger has been omitted from the squad. Both Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus did not play in Adelaide but will be strongly considered for selection in the Perth Test match where conditions will suit them. Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle were the pick of our quicks at Adelaide Oval and these four make up the pace attack for the Perth Test match.

Squad Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Michael Beer, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

Feeds: Brydon Coverdale

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Want to watch live free cricket matches

Live Cricket

Shane Warne flattered by comeback talk

Shane Warne has said he is "flattered" at all the talk of a possible comeback to help Australia's struggling bowling attack and stopped short of completely ruling out a return even though it would be a huge admission of the team's current failings.

Warne has arrived in London on a promotional trip for his new chat show and was greeted at Heathrow Airport by photographers and reporters who were only interested in one topic. "Just landed in London it's freezing and was welcomed by press and photographers asking am I making a comeback? What have I missed ?," he posted on his Twitter feed.

Earlier, his Daily Telegraph column made a brief mention of the debate in Australia, which has led the creation of a fund and a website - bringbackwarne.com - that is aiming to raise enough money to bring Warne out of retirement. "We offer the Rescue Fund to the King of Spin," the website says, "pleading with him once again to don the baggy green and attempt us to win back the Ashes."

"There has been a bit written in Australia and people have been asking me about making a comeback," Warne wrote in the newspaper. "All I can say is that it is very flattering to hear those words."

However, he preferred to look at what options Australia could take among their current players. It is almost certain that Xavier Doherty won't be retained after taking three wickets in his first two Tests and being punished by the England batsmen.

"Do they opt for Nathan Hauritz or a wrist-spinner like Steve Smith?", Warne wrote. "Do they play two spinners or none at all and prepare a green, grassy wicket in Perth? That would be a big gamble against England's seam attack.

"The pitch is not fast and bouncy these days, so maybe you get a local guy who knows the Perth conditions, like left-arm spinner Michael Beer. Sometimes horses for courses works. Australia have to explore all options and win this next match to get back into the series. They need to look at all avenues and go all out for a win."

Beer, 26, has taken 16 first-class wickets in five matches at 39.93. He played against England in their opening tour match at Perth and claimed 5 for 207 but conceded runs at five per over.

Hauritz is favoured for a recall, and hit a hundred as nightwatchman for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia having gone wicketless in his first innings. However, in his previous Shield match, against Western Australia at the WACA, he took a five-wicket haul.

"Whenever you're dropped you are always looking to perform well," Hauritz said. "I've been lucky enough to take some wickets and score some runs but the job's only halfway done. I was dropped for not doing my role in the side. I've got to go back to first-class cricket and prove I can do that and restore the faith in the selectors and the captain. If you're taking wickets, scoring runs and playing the role they want you're put in their faces."

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Ponting slumps after Adelaide failures

Ricky Ponting has fallen out of the world's top 20 batsmen for the first time since 2001 following his double failure in Adelaide as Australia were crushed by an innings-and-71 runs in the second Ashes Test. The man who removed him for a first-innings golden duck, James Anderson, has risen to a career-best No. 3 in the bowling rankings while Graeme Swann has closed the gap on Dale Steyn at No. 1.

Ponting didn't survive the opening over in Adelaide, when he was caught at slip first ball, and could only manage 9 in the second innings before he was removed by Swann. It meant he had only 70 runs in four innings for the series, 51 of those in the second innings in Brisbane as the match was drawn.

Anderson overtook Zaheer Khan to secure third spot following his match figures of 6 for 143. He began the match in stunning style by removing Ponting and Michael Clarke as Australia slumped to 3 for 2 and then, on the final morning, found himself on a hat-trick after claiming Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris.

The Adelaide Test was a forgettable
match for Ricky Ponting
© Getty Images

Swann, meanwhile, bounced back from a disappointing performance in Brisbane by playing a key role in England's innings-and-71-run victory. He took two important wickets in the first innings, but came into his own second time around as he bagged five on a wearing pitch.

He is now just 14 points behind Steyn at the top of the table and, if he performs well in Perth and Melbourne, has a chance to finish the year as the leading bowler in the world. However, Steyn will be looking to consolidate his position when he leads South Africa's attack against India in the Test series that starts on December 16

After conceding 620 runs it's not surprising that Australia's bowlers slipped, with Doug Bollinger sliding four places to No. 13 and Peter Siddle, who hasn't claimed a wicket since his Brisbane hat-trick, slipping three to No. 17.

England also made significant gains on the batting front, with Jonathan Trott continuing his rise after securing a career-best position last week and moving further up to sixth place, while Alastair Cook's mighty form has seen him climb to No. 13 and he now has the most points of his career. Kevin Pietersen is also marching back up the ladder after ending his lean run with a career-best 227.

The one bright spot for Australia has been Mike Hussey's form and he gained ten places following his match double of 93 and 52 in Adelaide. Michael Clarke's second-innings 80 has prevented him from slipping down the list.

For the full rankings click here

© ESPN EMEA Ltd

Related Links

Players/Officials: James Anderson | Michael Hussey | Ricky Ponting | Graeme Swann | Jonathan Trott

Series/Tournaments: England tour of Australia

Teams: Australia | England

Swann bowls England to innings victory

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

England have one hand on the Ashes after Graeme Swann bowled them to victory with a five-wicket haul in Adelaide, where neither rain nor the lower order could save Australia on the fifth morning. The significance of the win cannot be underestimated, as it gives England a 1-0 advantage heading in to the third Test in Perth, which starts in a week and a half.

The triumph came when Swann turned a ball through the gate to bowl Peter Siddle, completing his five-for and confirming the margin of an innings and 71 runs. It was a devastating morning for Australia, who began the day hopeful that they could survive for a draw with six wickets in hand, but it took England less than 90 minutes to skittle the remaining Australians.

Last time England took a series lead in Australia, it was 1986-87, and they did not give it away. And as the holders of the urn, Andrew Strauss and his men will retain the Ashes unless Australia can win at least two of the remaining three Tests, a monumental task given that they have now gone five Tests without tasting victory, stretching back to the series against Pakistan in England.

There will be changes for both teams at the WACA, with England forced to look to Chris Tremlett or Tim Bresnan, due to a series-ending abdominal injury to Stuart Broad. Australia will have to find a new opener as Simon Katich's Achilles tendon problem has ruled him out of the rest of the series, while Xavier Doherty and Marcus North will also face a nervous wait to see if they keep their places.

North could have saved his position by salvaging a draw for Australia on the final day, but he was one of the wickets to fall cheaply as England wrapped up the contest before lunch. The visitors knew a thunderstorm was expected later in the afternoon, and after they made the initial breakthrough by getting rid of the established Michael Hussey for 52, they tightened the noose on Australia's lower order.

Hussey and North resumed at 4 for 238 after the loss of Michael Clarke from the last ball of play on Monday, and it took only six overs for England to get a sniff of victory. Hussey was dropped by Matt Prior off the bowling of Swann but didn't survive a second chance when he top-edged a pull off Steven Finn and was comfortably taken at midwicket by James Anderson.

There was a roar from Anderson as soon as he had the ball safely in his hands, knowing that the in-form Hussey was the big breakthrough England required. Brad Haddin followed soon afterwards for 12 when he edged behind off Anderson, and England were in to Australia's long tail, with North carrying the home team's slim hopes at the other end.

Anderson quickly found himself on a hat-trick when Ryan Harris made unwanted history by completing a king pair, leaving a ball that swung back in and struck him in line with the stumps. Out of desperation more than belief, Harris asked for a review, but there was no way he was going to be saved, and neither were Australia.

There was no hat-trick for Anderson when he began his next over but he didn't really mind, as in the meantime Swann had removed North, the last of Australia's specialist batsmen, for 22. This time the review system did overturn a decision; Tony Hill gave North not out as he came forward with bat and pad close together, Swann wanted a referral, and the replays showed it was pad first, hitting the stumps, and a potentially career-busting blow for North.

Swann bowled outstandingly on the final day, and deserved his 5 for 91. In the absence of Broad for much of the innings, he sent down 41.1 overs, and collected the final two wickets when he sneaked the ball under the bat of Doherty for 5 and then finished off Siddle.

And it all happened under the most perfect, sunny skies. If Australia were hoping for storms, their prayers were not answered. In truth, they never recovered from the hurricane that struck on the first morning when they were 3 for 2. And now, England need only one more victory to retain the Ashes.

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

Feeds: Brydon Coverdale

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

2nd Test Match - England won by an innings and 71 runs

Australia Vs England

England won by an innings and 71 runs

Australia 1st Innings - 245/10                  

Batting

1. S. Watson - c Pietersen b Anderson - 51 - 7(4s), 1(6s) 
2. S. Katich - run out (Trott) - 0
3. R. Ponting - c Swann b Anderson  - 0

4. M. Clarke - c Swann b Anderson - 2
5. M. Hussey - c Collingwood b Swann- 93 - 8(4s)
6. M. North - c †Prior b Finn  - 26 - 4(4s) 
7. B. Haddin - c Finn b Broad - 56 - 3(4s), 1(6s)
8. R. Harris - lbw b Swann - 0
9. X. Doherty - run out (Strauss/Cook/†Prior) - 6 - 1(4s)
10. P. Siddle - c Cook b Anderson - 3
11. D. Bollinger - not out - 0

 Bowling

1. J. Anderson - 51/4 
2. S. Broad - 39/1
3. G. Swann - 70/2
4. S. Finn - 71/1
5. P. Collingwood - 8/0

England 1st Innings - 620/5 d                  

Batting

1. A. Strauss - b Bollinger - 1
2. A. Cook - c †Haddin b Harris - 148 - 18(4s)
3. I. Trott - c Clarke b Harris - 78 -  11(4s)
4. K. Pietersen - c Katich b Doherty - 227 - 33(4s), 1(6s)
5. P. Collingwood - lbw b Watson - 42 - 5(4s)
6. I. Bell - not out - 68 - 8(4s), 1(6s)
7. M. Prior - not out - 27 - 2(4s)

Bowling

1. Harris - 84/2 
2. P. Siddle - 121/0
3. D. Bollinger - 130/1
4. S. Watson - 44/1
5. X. Doherty - 158/1
6. M. North - 62/0

Australia 1st Innings - 304/10                  

Batting

1. S. Watson - c Strauss b Finn - 57 - 10(4s)
2. S. Katich - c †Prior b Swann - 43 - 6(4s)
3. R. Ponting - c Collingwood b Swann - 9 -  2(4s)
4. M. Clarke - c Cook b Pietersen - 80 - 11(4s)
5. M. Hussey - c Anderson b Finn - 52 - 5(4s), 1(6s)
6. M. North - lbw b Swann - 22 - 3(4s)
7. B. Haddin - c †Prior b Anderson - 12 - 2(4s),
8. R. Harris - lbw b Anderson - 0
9. X. Doherty - b Swann - 5 - 1(4s)
10. P. Siddle - b Swann- 6 - 1(4s) 
11. D. Bollinger - not out - 7 - 1(4s)

Bowling

1. J. Anderson - 92/2 
2. S. Broad - 32/0
3. G. Swann - 91/5
4. S. Finn - 60/2
5. P. Collingwood - 13/0
6. K. Pietersen - 10/1

Pietersen's 150 pushes England further ahead

Kevin Pietersen brought up his first Test century in 18 months as England put the foot down to extend their lead to 204 runs at lunch on the third day. Australia finally ended Alastair Cook's long and patient innings when he was caught behind for 136, but Paul Collingwood stepped in to ensure the building continued without missing a beat.

And with the in-form Ian Bell padded up to come in next, Australia's task won't get any easier as the afternoon progresses. By lunch, England were 3 for 449, having added 132 to their overnight total, with Pietersen in vintage touch on 158 - the same score he made in the Adelaide Test of 2006 - and Collingwood on 40, on another hot and exhausting day of 30-degree weather in Adelaide.

Australia's only cause for celebration came when Cook, on 148, feathered a thin inside edge off Ryan Harris to Brad Haddin, who hurled himself to his right to take an athletic catch. Cook's dismissal left him on 450 runs from his three innings so far this series, more than any Australian batsman managed throughout the entire 2009 Ashes campaign.

It was a well-deserved wicket for Harris, who was easily the best of Australia's bowlers, although he didn't have much competition in an attack that struggled for impact. But any bowling attack around the world would have trouble containing Pietersen in the sort of mood he has displayed during this Test.

For Australian fans, seeing Pietersen in this touch, it is impossible to believe he had not scored a Test hundred since the tour of the West Indies in March 2009. He was forceful through the off side, driving hard and finding gaps, and regularly walked at the fast men to thump deliveries through midwicket with disdain.

His century, which came with a clip off his hips from his 158th delivery, brought a screeching roar from Pietersen that would have fitted into a horror movie, which was pretty much how the Australians were viewing the Test. By lunch, he'd also passed 150, and with eight sessions remaining in the Test, who knows what sort of score Pietersen will end up with.

Adding to Australia's problems, the left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty was providing little threat to any of the right-handers, but the right-arm offspinner Marcus North spun a few sharply out of the footmarks. That means that in whatever fightback Australia's batsmen can muster in the second innings, they'll have to counter a dangerous Graeme Swann.

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

Feeds: Brydon Coverdale

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

The Ashes Cricket mug memorabilia Buy it now