Speed kills pedestrian English

England's hopes of saving the Ashes were left in tatters on Friday after Steve Waugh’s Australians ruthlessly and predictably seized co...

England’s hopes of saving the Ashes were left in tatters on Friday after Steve Waugh’s Australians ruthlessly and predictably seized control of the third Test.

Needing to win to keep the series alive after massive defeats in the first two Tests, England’s fragile batting once again self-destructed as the tourists were bowled out for 185 in less than 65 overs.

SCOREBOARD

England (1st Innings): M.Trescothick c Gilchrist b Lee 34; M.Vaughan c Gilchrist b McGrath 34; M.Butcher run out 9; N.Hussain c Gilchrist b Lee 8; R.Key b Martyn 47; A.Stewart c Gilchrist b McGrath 7; C.White c Martyn b Lee 2; A.Tudor c Martyn b Warne 0; R.Dawson not out 19; C.Silverwood c Hayden b Gillespie 10; S.Harmison b Gillespie 6.
Extras (lb2, nb7): 9. Total (all out): 185
Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-69, 3-83, 4-101, 5-111, 6-121, 7-135, 8-156, 9-173.
Bowling: McGrath 17-5-30-2, Gillespie 17.2-8-43-2, Lee 20-1-78-3, Warne 9-0-32-1, Martyn 1-1-0-1
Australia (1st Innings): J.Langer run out 19; M.Hayden c Tudor b Harmison 30; R.Ponting batting 43; D.Martyn batting 20.
Extras (b4, lb2, nb8): 14. Total (for 2 wkts): 126
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-85
Bowling: Silverwood 4-0-29-0, Tudor 8-0-51-0, Harmison 8-2-26-1, White 3-1-14-0.

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In reply, Australia raced to 126 for two at the close of the first day, leaving them just 59 runs in arrears with eight first innings wickets in hand and on course to wrap up victory inside three days.

Ricky Ponting, showing no signs of slowing up after making centuries in the first two Tests, belted six fours and a six to finish the day unbeaten on 43 with Damien Martyn not out 20.

Australia lost their openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden cheaply but refused to take the foot off the throttle as they quickly set about wiping out their deficit, scoring at just under 5.5 runs per over.

Langer was run out for 19 attempting a third run and Hayden departed for 30 caught hooking in the deep but they proved to be little more than minor hiccups for the Australians as they continued their relentless pursuit of victory.