by Arthur Crabtree » Sat Aug 15, 2015 6:57 pm
The gates closed at 8.40 with thousands locked outside, many with stories of epic journeys for the news crews, undertaken in vain. Out in the middle, Hoggy got Langer first ball with a great outswinger, and the crowd was set at fever pitch for the whole of the day.
If Langer's now accustomed trauma eyed trudge off the field is becoming a familiar sight, and betrayed Australian fears, England only attacked cautiously, as if fearful that Australia would make the 423 runs needed to win. England were creating a chance an over, but most flew into gaps. Gotta remember that when these players were younger, Australian cricketers haunted their dreams. Vaughan was eleven last time he saw England raise the Ashes. Bell was four. They are born into a world where Australia win.
Freddie's bounce and carry is prodigious and it pushes the batter back into a zone where his swing can be deadly. He took 4-71 in 25 overs in the day. Martyn was lbw to Harmison off a big inside edge. At last, I thought, payback for Slater's not out when clearly run out at Sydney, 1999. Simon Jones got Clarke with one of the best balls I've ever seen, a huge inswinger that plucked out the off stump with Pup leaving the ball, foolishly thrusting his bat way above his head, his castle in pieces. Gilo took a sensational catch off Katich in the gully, but his lack of wickets on the last day was one of England's few disappointments. Apart from the big disappointment.
With two down at lunch Australia were in the game. At 264-7 after tea it looked like it was England's to win. It had looked like wickets all day, but Warne and Ponting stuck. Ponting was resolute, scoring his fifth Ashes hundred, and, I suspect, the one he'll be remembered for over here. He demonstrated that a ton of talent is no equal for a mere drop of resilience when evaluating a great act in sport. Warne was pretty lucky, but got off some hits, and for an awkward few overs, an Australian win loomed into view. This was memorably cut off when Geraint snaffled Warne off Strauss' knee, a moment in which time stopped stone dead.
Ponting was 156, with four overs to bowl, when he gloved a short ball to the keeper. He was distraught. He batted for seven hours, but his dismissal risked it would be for nothing.
Which left Lee and McGrath four overs to see out for the draw. Lee was again immense. If it's hard to take that England came so close, there is at least some justice in him again resisting so hard, and not being unrewarded twice, after the loss at Edgbaston. Jones was off the pitch with an injury. Harmi was spent. Even so, Freddie, who was magnificent all day, might have seized the day. And Stephen Peters fluffed a run out that would have seen England home, and made his name.
Australia were pretty fortunate to draw this, and quite pleased too, to judge their celebrations. Lord's seems a long time ago, a different contest. The story now is of England's aggression and Australia's resistance. But doubt remains. Can England survive playing so well and not winning? Or is everything different now?
I always say that everybody's right.