Welcome to the Sports Commentary blog from the Times Online. This is where you can find up to date coverage on the major sporting events. Take a look at the latest Golf, Cricket and Football commentary, or choose other sports from the categories as and when we add them.
Sunday, July 12, 20096.45pm: The aftermath6.45pm: Monty Panesar feels that his buddy Paul Collingwood has had a tremendous effect on his batting; James Anderson is delighted that England will go into the Lord's Test still level in the series. Join us on Thursday for full coverage of the second Test. England 252-9 (Overs: 105) - DRAWTimes analysis: The batsmen swap ends with a bye; Panesar dives for home; and that's it! England and Australia have drawn this first Ashes Test. Anderson and Panesar have been tremendous; Collingwood was the lynchpin of this England innings; and somehow they've clawed a draw back in a game where Australia looked set to win. England 251-9 (Overs: 104)Times analysis: I really cannot over-emphasise how brilliant the resistance of this tenth-wicket partnership has been. England 251-9 (Overs: 103)Times analysis: Another sly trip onto the pitch from Shafayat, and the physio joins him. Ricky Ponting has a face like thunder. England 251-9 (Overs: 101)Times analysis: Anderson gives Panesar the strike back, and they collide as they swap ends. A misfield gives Panesar a four to his name, and takes England past the 250 mark. England 246-9 (Overs: 101)Times analysis: Four overs left, and Bilal Shafayat runs on the pitch with drinks and towels for James Anderson. The umpires are watching, though, and they won't allow any time-wasting. England 245-9 (Overs: 100)Times analysis: Siddle tries an extensive lbw shout against Panesar, but it's going down leg. He then attempts a short ball to intimidate him, and the batsman swerves from it. Some good avoidance from Panesar, who's defended bravely and admirably so far. England 245-9 (Overs: 99)Times analysis: Monty Panesar's bouncing down the track, desperate to take a single and get on strike. He'll get his chance next over. England 244-9 (Overs: 98)Times analysis: And England move into the lead as James Anderson strikes a boundary past third man - and then another fluky four - so Australia will have to bat again whatever happens! England 236-9 (Overs: 97)Times analysis: Panesar keeps strike, and defends to Hauritz. England 236-9 (Overs: 96)Times analysis: Every single Panesar defence is met with great cheers from the Cardiff crowd. Andrew Strauss is hiding his eyes when his number eleven looks keen to run at every available opportunity. England 235-9 (Overs: 95)Times analysis: Good defence from Anderson, surviving some very hopeful appeals. England 235-9 (Overs: 94)Times analysis: Monty Panesar fancies two runs to get off the mark, but Anderson limits him to a single. Wicket! England 233-9 (Collingwood 74 c Hussey b Siddle)Times analysis: And a terrific innings from Paul Collingwood, as he edges across and Mike Hussey needs two chances to hold the catch. The batsman's monumental resistance is over, and now Anderson and Panesar have to bat out eleven overs. England 232-8 (Overs: 93)Times analysis: Maiden - meaning Anderson on strike for the next over. England 232-8 (Overs: 92)Times analysis: Terrible ball from Johnson, offering Anderson too much width, and even a number ten batsman will pack that away to the boundary. England 228-8 (Overs: 91)Times analysis: Hauritz limits the batsmen to three - England trail by eleven. England 225-8 (Overs: 90)Times analysis: Bold decision of Collingwood's to run a single, and Anderson sends him back - if the fielder had managed to hit the stumps with his throw, he was miles out of his ground. England 224-8 (Overs: 89)Times analysis: Ponting has his men crowding the bat of Collingwood, and Hauritz makes a shout for lbw, which his captain then changes into a catch at silly point. Aleem Dar shakes his head at both, and is right to, because first up it's too high, and second time it didn't hit the bat. England 221-8 (Overs: 88)Times analysis: England now trail by sixteen runs. England 221-8 (Overs: 87)Times analysis: James Anderson - who came in as nightwatchman in the first innings - is England's number ten. Wicket! England 221-8 (Swann 31 lbw Hilfenhaus)Times analysis: Another exacting field from Ponting, and Hilfenhaus bowls short to trap Swann plumb. England 219-7 (Overs: 86)Times analysis: Johnson strays down the legside and concedes a streaky boundary behind from Collingwood - the first four to come off his bowling so far. England 215-7 (Overs: 85)Times analysis: Four more for Swann through cover. England 211-7 (Overs: 84)Times analysis: More wide stuff from Johnson, which brings up the 50 partnership. England 208-7 (Overs: 83)Times analysis: Swann begins to rack up a few runs; Collingwood has faced over 200 deliveries now. England 202-7 (Overs: 82)Times analysis: Mitchell Johnson looks appalled and horrified that a wide is called, when it's so far away from the target area it could almost be called Harmisonesque. England 201-7 (Overs: 81)Times analysis: And here is Ben Hilfenhaus, taking the new ball with two deliveries left in the over. England 200-7 (Overs: 80)Times analysis: And there, finally, is the 200. It's been a very difficult innings - and now the new ball is due. England 194-7 (Overs: 79)Times analysis: Ricky Ponting's moving his fielders about, endeavouring to get Swann on strike by any means possible. England 189-7 (Overs: 78)Times analysis: England are now just 50 runs behind Australia. England 186-7 (Overs: 77)Times analysis: Collingwood is fiercely set on keeping this resistance going. England 182-7 (Overs: 76)Times analysis: Katich has a go for the first time this innings, as we count off the overs before the new ball. Incidentally, he got five wickets in his last two Tests, in South Africa, so he's not just marking time before the quicks come in. England 181-7 (Overs: 75)Times analysis: Hauritz continues, and Swann is probably relieved to have a break from his battle with Siddle for the time being. England 180-7 (Overs: 74)Times analysis: Siddle tries to swing it into Swann, and instead the batsman picks that up and drives it away for four. The next delivery, Swann plays right back at the bowler and into Paul Collingwood's stumps. England 173-7 (Overs: 73)Times analysis: Not long until the new ball now. Incidentally, the squad for the Lord's Test will be announced tomorrow at 2.30pm. England 170-7 (Overs: 72)Times analysis: Siddle's raring to resume his battle against Swann. The batsman is bruised but unbowed so far. England 166-7 (Overs: 71)Times analysis: And just as the session sparks to life, it's over. That's time for tea, and time for Graeme Swann to apply some ice to those war-wounds. Join me in 20 minutes to see what happens in the final session of this first Test. England 166-7 (Overs: 70)Times analysis: Graeme Swann gets his hand bashed by a delivery from Siddle that he fails to watch, and there's a delay while he gets it looked at. When he's back at the crease, he takes a smack on the elbow too as he ducks, which means the physio has to run back on, having barely made it up the stairs. And then there's another blow to the bottom hand with the last ball, and Swann and Siddle have a little carp at each other. England 165-7 (Overs: 69)Times analysis: Nathan Hauritz has six wickets in the game so far, three in each innings. England 164-7 (Overs: 68)Times analysis: And there, finally, is Paul Collingwood's fifty. England 159-7 (Overs: 67)Times analysis: Graeme Swann comes to the crease - and Paul Collingwood's still teetering on a half-century. Wicket! England 159-7 (Broad 14 lbw Hauritz)Times analysis: Broad is struck on the knee-roll, and that's out. He looks disgruntled. England 159-6 (Overs: 66)Times analysis: Siddle shouts for lbw against Collingwood, but it's a tad high and that doesn't impress Billy Doctrove. England 158-6 (Overs: 65)Times analysis: Ponting's chirping away at Broad, who's taking a bit of time adjusting his gloves ready to take strike. England 157-6 (Overs: 64)Times analysis: Broad edges and it doesn't carry to Ponting! There's no pace in the pitch else he'd have been a goner. England 151-6 (Overs: 63)Times analysis: After another drinks break (extended sessions today) Broad gets himself off strike with a single from a Hauritz no-ball. England 148-6 (Overs: 62)Times analysis: And it's time for a bit of pace again. Siddle tries to tempt Collingwood into pulling at a short ball, but he's thwarted. England 147-6 (Overs: 61)Times analysis: Collingwood attempts a pull and manages to strike it as far as Ponting's ankles, much to the delight of the crowd. The next shot goes for four, though. England 143-6 (Overs: 60)Times analysis: Hauritz calls for a drink; Siddle warms up in the middle; North lobs it in.
|  |
