Bedraggled Poms pray for rain or a miracle (England getting outslugged at the Ashes)

[depakid]

HAVING demoralised England with the bat, Australia made two crucial strikes with the new ball before driving rain forced the fourth day's play to be abandoned in Cardiff, stalling the touring team's quest for a first-Test victory.

Embattled England captain Andrew Strauss and star batsman Kevin Pietersen retreated to the dressing room with their country in deep trouble at 2-20 after Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus broke through during a seven-over burst before tea. England were praying for more rain after Ricky Ponting declared at 6-674, Australia's fourth-highest total in Ashes cricket, with a lead of 239 runs.

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Four Australian batsmen reached three figures - a phenomenon not achieved in Ashes combat since 1938 when England had four century-makers - and the bad joke for the home side was that five England bowlers conceded more than 100 runs for the innings.

Marcus North and Brad Haddin plundered 125 not out and 121 respectively, making the English attack look far less threatening than the storm clouds gathering over Sophia Gardens.

The England bowlers looked completely bedraggled after 181 overs in the field....

Not since the Trent Bridge Test of 1938 have four batsmen in an innings reached centuries in Ashes combat. North capitalised on the lacklustre bowling and sloppy fielding to raise his second hundred in the three Tests since making his debut in Johannesburg, further demoralising England with a 200-run partnership with Haddin. The gloveman timed some beautiful straight drives on his Ashes debut and punished Anderson with three consecutive fours before stepping down the track to Swann into the next over and cracking a six over mid-wicket.

More: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/07/11/1247258269357.html?page=2

[Lord Tredegars Macaw]

1. And the miracle duly arrived...

Match drawn in remarkable atmosphere in Cardiff.

I must admit that when the Admirable Collingwood fell for 74 I feared that the game was up.

For Monty Panesar and James Anderson to repel the Aussies amid almost unbearable tension and save the match was incredible.

Ah, Test cricket.........O how I love you so!