England head into next week’s Ashes opener brimming with confidence after a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Australia A on the fourth and final day of their tour match at the Bellerive Oval yesterday.
Skipper Andrew Strauss hit the winning runs to clinch England’s second victory on their Australian tour to wrap up a meticulous preparation for the first Brisbane Test, starting on Thursday.
Pacemen Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan relished their first bowling opportunities on tour with the first-choice Test pace trio of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steve Finn rested ahead of the first Test.
Bresnan captured 4-86 in Australia A’s second innings of 301 to finish with six wickets for the match, while Tremlett took 3-67 for seven wickets.
Australia A, with skipper Cameron White hitting 111, forced England to bat a second time to get the required nine runs for victory.
England’s Test opening pair Strauss and Alastair Cook only took nine balls to polish off the runs, with Strauss clipping Peter George for four to seal the victory and remain 9 not out, with Cook on 2 not out.
The highlight of England’s four days in Hobart was Ian Bell’s commanding knock of 192 in the first innings, putting the Warwickshire right-hander in great heart for the Ashes battle.
Tremlett missed out on a hat-trick in the morning session after dismissing wicketkeeper Tim Paine (2) and Test leg-spinner Steve Smith (0) with consecutive deliveries, before O’Keefe saw him off.
Tremlett also captured the wicket of discarded Test opener Phillip Hughes.
Hughes offered a hefty edge to Strauss, who took a head high catch at first slip for 81 in the 61st over.
Paine was beaten by a Tremlett delivery that kept low and jagged back, trapping him in front of the wicket.
Smith, named in the 13-man Australia squad for the Gabba Test, played no shot to the first ball he faced from Tremlett, shouldering arms he was mortified to see his off-stump knocked back.
White played a captain’s knock, smacking 13 fours in his century off 172 balls. He became one of spinner Monty Panesar’s three wickets when he tried to hit him over the leg-side only to get a faint edge to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Panesar, who finished with 3-63, snared Mark Cameron two balls later for a duck, trapping him leg before wicket and first--innings top scorer Steve O’Keefe was caught by Kevin Pietersen for 27.
Bresnan got the last wicket, having George (4) caught by Tremlett at mid-off.
Ashes sledges
Australia and England Tests are not only one of cricket’s most fabled contests, they have also produced some of the best insults, or “sledges,” in the countries’ bitter sporting rivalry.
Here are some of the best:
“You are a damned lot of sneaks.”
— England’s W.G. Grace to Billy Midwinter, The Oval, 1877.
“A cricket tour in Australia would be the most delightful period in one’s life, if one was deaf.”
— England fast-bowler Harold Larwood, during the 1932-1933 Bodyline tour.
“Leave our flies alone, Jardine, they’re the only friends you’ve got.”
— An Australian spectator to England cricket captain Douglas Jardine during the Bodyline tour.
“Bowl him a grand piano and see if he can play that instead.”
— Australian spectator.
“Don’t bother shutting it, son, you won’t be there long enough.”
— England’s Fred Truman to an incoming Aussie batsman as he opened the gate on his way out to the middle at Lord’s.
“A fart competing with thunder.”
— Graham Gooch on England’s chances in Australia in 1990-1991.
“Mate, if you just turn the bat over, you’ll find the instructions on the other side.”
— Australian bowler Merv Hughes to England’s Graeme Hick.
“There’s no way you’re good enough to play for England.”
“Maybe not, but at least I’m the best cricketer in my family.”
— England fast bowler James Ormond’s retort to Mark Waugh, brother of Australia captain Steve.
“Take a good look at this arse of mine, you’ll see plenty of it this summer.”
— England’s David Steele to Australia wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh.
“Shane Warne’s idea of a balanced diet is a cheeseburger in each hand.”
— Australia’s Ian Healy, 1996.
“We’re fat, we’re round, three dollars to the pound.”
— England’s “Barmy Army” supporters during the 2006-2007 series in Australia.
“I’m completely different from [Kevin] Pietersen. He would turn up to the opening of an envelope.”
— England’s Andrew Flintoff, earlier this year.
SOURCE: AFP, SYDNEY
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