Another day, another Mike Hussey mini-epic. It seems extraordinary that a man whose career looked to be on its knees after a sustained run of poor form has now surpassed even Bradman by making six consecutive Ashes half-centuries, three of which he has converted into hundreds. Not even the most optimistic Australian selector could have seen that coming.
England’s only real hope was to take early wickets and expose the tail, but Watson and Hussey continued fairly serenely in the morning until Watson fell, frustratingly, just short a hundred again. His inability to make the most of his opportunities to produce really big scores continues to frustrate, but he has been easily the most successful of a pretty dismal Australian top four and his innings here was crucial. Steve Smith also made a useful contribution without looking remotely like a test number six, although his talent is undoubted, but the tail, which played so well in the first innings, fell away. Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris in particular won’t be keen to see too many replays of their dismissals, but by that point the platform had been built by Hussey and Watson and Australia were in a commanding position.
The commanding position had become a winning position by stumps. Johnson, Harris and Hilfenhaus all bowled well in ideal conditions for their talents and England fell away. Only Kevin Pietersen can feel really bad about his dismissal – he seemed to be caught in about eight minds before edging to slip with his bat at a peculiar angle and his feet nowhere. The rest were victims of good bowling and decent catching, although it was obvious that things were going Australia’s way when Ponting’s dropped catch went straight to Haddin. That, however, is the way of cricket and they thoroughly deserved their success.
England will cling to the thought that they had a partnership of 332 for the eighth wicket in the summer, but in reality it is impossible to see anything other than a well deserved Australian win tomorrow.
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