Can England bowl Australia out |
England left themselves nearly two days to bowl out their hosts at the Adelaide Oval. In reply Australia notched up 238 runs, with Pietersen taking the key wicket of the session,
Australia started there second innings with Shane Watson hitting 57 and Simon Kaitch who was struggling with an Achilles injury registered 43 runs, the Aussie’s started to fight back with an opening stand of 84 before Watson was bowled by Finn and caught by Strauss.
Graeme Swann took two early-afternoon wickets seeing off Simon Kaitch and Captain Ricky Ponting who only managed 9 runs after being caught low down to his left by Paul Collingwood at slip...
Michael Clarke then went on to hit 80 runs and Mike Hussey 44 not out, they were a constant thorn in England's side, having frustrated the visitors. The tourists had done well to reduce 134-3, with Graeme Swann (2-72) striking twice and Steven Finn claiming his eighth wicket of the series.
With the last ball of the day Kevin Pietersen bowled Michael Clarke, who refused to walk but after an official review the decision was made that Clarke was given out.
Graeme Swann has said that if England is able repeat the level of performance they reached today then they can secure the win.
He added; "We need a bit to go our way in that first session and we need to bowl as well as we did today,"
"I think that if we can do that we can win this game.
"Is will be a case of sticking to our guns and seeing what happens."
Speaking on Kevin Pietersen’s last ball, who earlier had a record-breaking test score of 227, the spinner added; "We toiled hard in the last session and a half with very little luck so some time you need a bit of inspiration," said Swann.
"Who else but KP to come on and give you it?
"He went straight in and said 'I'm an all-rounder, I'm an all-rounder' and I still think he is in there shouting it now."
Can England do it or will Australia bat out the whole day with only seven wickets remaining?