Australia say goodbye to the Ashes

Jamie Pandaram in London
August 24, 2009

Last man falls . . . England celebrate winning the Ashes after Michael Hussey is dismissed for 121.
Photo: AP

Jamie Pandara

FAREWELL the Ashes, farewell Andrew Flintoff.

Australia's autopsy into this disastrous 2-1 series failure must now begin, with the team sinking to its lowest Test ranking after the heavy 197-run defeat at The Oval on Sunday.

All the huff and puff of making amends for 2005 came to nought with Australia comprehensively outplayed over four days against an English side resolute in its belief, despite suffering a humiliating third Test defeat. Set an improbable world-record chase of 545, Australia were dismissed for 348 late in the day as long shadows crept across the Kennington outfield.

The shadows will now creep over Australia’s selectors, coaches and players. Ricky Ponting's side has now lost three of its past four series, but this one will hurt most. How England were allowed to come back into the series following their innings and 80-run loss at Headingley is difficult to fathom.

Ponting admitted he faced a tough reception upon his return to Australia.

"No doubt I'll have a few questions to answer when I get back," he said.

"We’ve given everything, 100 per cent since we've been here.

"We haven’t been good enough. [England] won the big moments and they deserve to win the series.

"It was a poor wicket I thought, but it had no influence on the outcome."

Australia have now been relegated to fourth in the ICC rankings. Australia had never been lower than second since the inception of the system in May 2003.

England captain and man of the series Andrew Strauss said the fluctuating series was a highlight of his career.

"It’s a special moment for all of us, the players have had to dig pretty deep.

"We’ve had to show a hell of a lot of character and determination and fight. When we were bad we were really bad and when we were good we were just good enough. As for Freddie, we’re going to miss him, he’s a great advert for cricket, it's not going to be the same without him."

Man of the match Stuart Broad, who took 5-38 in the first innings and has been annointed as England's next superstar all-rounder, also said Flintoff would be sorely missed in the Test arena.

"No one can replace Freddie, he has been fantastic for English cricket and he’s been fantastic to play with," Broad said.

Australia’s man of the series was Michael Clarke, who said: "We didn't get the result but full credit has to go to England."

A dogged Michael Hussey saved his place in the side with 121 runs but he could not save the game for his country. Hussey's first Test century in 16 Tests and 28 innings was also his highest score against England. After Brad Haddin (34) was caught in the deep trying to launch Graeme Swann into the stands - ending a 91-run stand between him and Hussey - the end came quickly as Australia lost 5-21.

Mitchell Johnson (0), Peter Siddle (10), Stuart Clark (duck) and Hussey fell within 30 minutes.

Hussey pushed a Swann delivery to Alastair Cook at short-leg to finalise the issue and the jubilant English players embraced as a raucous audience voiced celebration songs.

A huge flag bearing the St George cross was brought onto the ground and with champagne flowing freely the home-town stars looked at each other in disbelief, having managed the great escape.

Flintoff was destined to produce something magnificent in his final Test and when he threw down the stumps to dismiss Ponting to end a defiant innings The Oval faithful - and the whole of England - had their moment.

The run-out, one hour after lunch, ended an ominous 127-run partnership between Ponting and Hussey and sparked a middle-order collapse that guided England to within a whisper of the urn.

Ponting had shaken hands with Flintoff as the all-rounder came out to bat on Saturday. If only he’d known that same hand would orchestrate his downfall, ending what’s likely to be his final Ashes innings in England, Ponting would have gripped much tighter.

Ponting (66) was called through for a quick single by Hussey, who had guided Steve Harmison's 64th-over delivery to Flintoff at mid-on off, but as the skipper scampered down the unhelpful pitch he would have realised the mistake and stretched out with desperation, only to see the ball pin down the off-stump.

With a frustrated glance at Hussey, and the roar of the crowd as Flintoff raised his arms and basked in the adulation, Ponting spun and trudged to the pavilion as the third umpire's decision lit up the giant screen.

Having failed to contribute significantly with the bat or ball this match, Flintoff rose in the field just as a flicker of hope crossed the minds of Australian fans. Australia lost 3-16 in the 51 deliveries from that dismissal to Marcus North's stumping.

Clarke was run out for a duck six minutes after Ponting. Australia’s vice-captain and leading run-scorer was extremely unlucky in the manner of his dismissal, with a Swann ball flying off his bat onto the foot of short-leg Alastair Cook, then ricocheting to slip Strauss, who broke the stumps half a second before a confused Clarke was able to slide his bat back into the crease.

North (10) attempted to slog-sweep Swann and missed, with Matt Prior whipping off the bails as the batsman could only manage to get his foot on the line.

No meaningful partnership in the series thus far had survived such difficult conditions and near-misses as Ponting and Hussey's, with balls repeatedly beating the bat, pull-shots mistimed, and edges falling short. The vast bulk of deliveries were more likely to yield wickets than runs, but the veteran pair dug in their wrinkled claws in the age-old Australian tradition.

Ponting could have easily been dismissed in the 54th over when he edged a Swann delivery - the ball flew into Paul Collingwood’s boot and was launched into the air, but as the slip fielder raced back to attempt a spectacular catch the ball fell beyond his despairing reach.

Hussey had earlier survived a chance on 21 when another Swann delivery caught the side of his bat and speared between the legs of Collingwood too quickly for a reflex catch. Under immense pressure following a series of failure, Hussey proved his merit on the big stage.

After notching his half-century, Hussey endured a heart-stopping lbw shout from Harmison but the ball was heading too high. Ponting and Hussey stemmed the tide after England's double strike early in the first session had sunk Australia's hopes further.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/08/23/1251001813405.html