Daily News Channel
England regained the Ashes with a 197-run victory over Australia on the fourth day of the fifth and deciding Test to spark scenes of joyous celebration at The Oval on Sunday. Michael Hussey scored a defiant 121 to hold up the home side, who had been strong favorites after setting Australia a near-impossible 546 for victory
A day at the Test match is always a special occasion for cricket fans, and even more so when England are playing Australia and the Ashes are on the line.
An inspired five-wicket spell by Stuart Broad saw England dramatically turn the tables on Australia in the deciding Ashes Test at The Oval on Friday. The young paceman ripped through the Australian top order to leave them reeling on 133 for eight at tea on the second day. Replying to England’s 332, Australia reached 73 without loss until Broad trapped Shane Watson leg before wicket for 34.
Australia completed a comprehensive victory over England in the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley, Leeds, winning by an innings and 80 runs inside three days to level the series at 1-1 with just the deciding Test match at The Oval still to play. Resuming the third morning in a seemingly impossible position, trailing by 261 runs on 82 for five after Australia’s first innings 445, England’s daunting task became all the more difficult when they lost two wickets inside the first hour.
England are heading for a humiliating defeat in the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley after crumbling to 82 for five wickets in their second innings by the close of the second day. Marcus North made his second century of the Ashes series and shared a 152-run stand with vice-captain Michael Clarke as Australia took a first innings lead of 343 and then turned the screw in the final session.
England batsman Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the Ashes series after undergoing surgery for an ongoing Achilles tendon injury. Pietersen was assessed by a leading specialist where the decision was made to undergo surgery which will rule him out of all cricket for six weeks. ECB Chief Medical Officer, Nick Peirce, said in a statement: “Following a consultation, involving scans and testing, with the world’s leading Achilles specialist, Kevin Pietersen underwent surgery on his right Achilles tendon.
For most of his life, until he was well into his 60s, Frank McCourt wasn’t a writer, he was a teacher. But it is as a writer, the author of the wildly successful memoir Angela’s Ashes, that he will be remembered. He died on Sunday in New York of meningitis.