England win last ODI to avoid a clean sweep by Australia | Swan swam england to victory

Swan saved England from a humiliating 7 - 0 whitewash with a brilliant 5 wicket haul which restricted Australia to score a meager 176. Only Ricky Ponting managed to score a half century but others struggled to the off-spin bowling of Graeme Swan.

Swan took a career best of 5 wickets to rescue England for this humiliating whitewash by Australia.

England 177 for 6 (Denly 53) beat Australia 176 (Ponting 53, Swann 5-28) by four wickets

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Aus vs Eng 5th Test Pictures, Images - Ashes Series Photos

England regaind the Ashes Series by winning 5th test and has given a perfect farewell to Andrew Flintoff who retired from test cricket.

Celebration begins!

Andrew Flintoff with emotional parents.

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England won the 5th Test by 197 runs, won the Ashes Test Series by 2-1

England won the 5th test match against Australia by 197 runs on the 4th day of the match and regained the Ashes test series by 2-1 on August 23rd, 2009 at Oval. Australia chasing a record total of 546 in the 2nd inning all out on 348 runs.

Australia started the day from 80/0 but both overnight openers gone early and then Ponting 66 runs and Hussey 121 runs brought them back in the match but two run outs in 2 overs pushed them on back foot.

Graem Swann took 4 wickets but it's Stuart Broad who bowled magical spell in the 1st inning with 5 wickets got Man of the Match award. Andrew Strauss of England and Michal Clarke of Australia shared the Man of the Series Award.

Australia slipped to 4th place in ICC's test ranking and England up at 5th place.

Match Summary:

England 332 and 373 for 9 dec beat Australia 160 and 348 (Hussey 121, Ponting 66, Swann 4-120) by 197 runs.

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Australia beat England 4th Test | Series tied at 1-1, AUS win by innings and 80 runs

Australia celebrate their win over England in the 4th Test at Leeds, they applaud the crowd

Brief synopsis of the 4th test:

Australia 445 (North 110, Clarke 93, Ponting 78, Broad 6-91) beat England 102 and 263 (Swann 62, Broad 61, Johnson 5-69, Hilfenhaus 4-60) by an innings and 80 runs

Avenging the loss at Lords, Australia bounce back into the series by outplaying a complacent England team to level the series at 1-1.

Some brilliant batting and bowling performance’s by Autralian players fetched them series leveling win. The lowly Mitchell Johnson finally showed form clinching 5 wickets in the second inning of the England batsmen to power Australia to a thumping victory in the Ashes 2009.

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England vs. Australia 4th Test Live Scores, AUS v ENG 4th Test Match Squad

4th test match between Australia and England will be played from August 7th to August 11th, 2009 at Headingley, Leeds. England won the 2nd test and leading the series by 1-0.

Andrew Flintoff is doubtful for today's game as he was struggling in the final net session and Steve Harmission will replace him. Shane Watson has done well as an opener in the 3rd test as Australia will try hard to level the series.


Australia Playing 11 for 4th test:

Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting(c), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin(w), Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Hauritz

England Playing 11 for 4th test:

Andrew Strauss(c), Alastair Cook, Ravinder Bopara, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matthew Prior(w), Andrew Flintoff/Steve Harmisson, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions.

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Shane Watson flourishes as opener for Australia, 3rd Ashes Test Day 1 Highlights

Shane Watson scored a brilliant 62 not out, and proved the Australian team management correct in the gamble of opening the 3rd Test match replacing the out of form Philip Hughes. Shane Watson dealt the Swing and Seam of the English bowling attack with patience and some awesome strokeplay, he actually happened to save the day for Captain Ricky Ponting who chose to bat first on a swing friendly and soggy pitch.

Shane Watson who was out of the game due to a bout of injuries since the IPL 2009 was declared fit and included in the Ashes campaign.

Simon Katich was the only one to get out on a rain affected match with just 30 over happening in the 1st day.

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England vs. Australia 3rd Test Live Scores, AUS v ENG 3rd Test Match Squad, Highlights

England and Australia continues their rivalry for Ashes series as third test match begins from Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at Edgbaston, Birmingham from 11.00 AM local time. England won the 2nd test at Lord's and leading the 5 match series by 1-0.

Australia have to fight back in order to defend Ashes, which they won by 5-0 2 years back. All rounder Shane Watson has been included in the team in place of Phillip Hughes who managed only 36, 4 and 17 in last 2 test matches.

England, without Kevin Pietersen, who is out due to injury looking good after moral boosting 115 runs win in 2nd test. Ian Bell will replace Pietersen in the middle and the remaining team will be same.

Australia Playing 11 for 3rd test:

Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting(c), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin(w), Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Hauritz

England Playing 11 for 3rd test:

Andrew Strauss(c), Alastair Cook, Ravinder Bopara, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matthew Prior(w), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions.

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Kevin Pieterson out of Ashes 2009, Kevin's Achilles Heel injury keeps him away from ENG v Aus Test Series

Kevin Pieterson undergoes a surgery on his Achilles Heel injury which will keep him away from the Ashes series

Kevin Pieterson had geared up for the Ashes series with pain killing injections but it is not helping him any longer. He limped around in the recently concluded Lord’s Test match against Australia. A leading health specialist consulted for an immediate surgery for the Kevin’s condition which means he will be out of action for the next 6 weeks.

The surgery seemed to be minor one with a small incision to trim the blood vessels and nerves around the inflamed tendon, but it is painful for the payer who has a limp.

Kevin is not happy to miss out on the ashes tour and is raring to get well to at least make it towards the end of the long series.

He says” I was pleased with the previous course of treatment as it allowed me to take part in this Ashes series but unfortunately the injury has recently deteriorated. To leave a winning dressing room at this time is heart breaking but it wouldn't be fair to the team or myself to continue given the severity of the injury. I'll be supporting the team closely and wish them the best of luck as they look to build on the brilliant win at Lord's and reclaim the Ashes."

England will have to replace him with someone of his caliber which is tough to find but the closest who can make it into the side as his replacement is Ian Bell.
Bell getting an opportunity due to the injury of Kevin says ” "I am desperate to play," said Bell. "Having faced the Aussies before I know what to expect from them, and once you have appeared at Test level you want to carry on playing against the best players in the world."

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England beat Australia in 2nd Test - Flintoff leads England to a historic win

Andrew Flintoff took 5 wickets to triumph over Australia in the 2nd Test of the Ashes series at Lords. This being England first win against Australia at Lord has some historic importance to it as well. Flintoff in his final series bowled his heart out with all vigour. His bouncers were targeted perfectly at the batsmen putting them in awkward position to play their strokes.

Australia was completely outplayed in this test match first by Andrew Strauss and now by Andrew flintoff. Graeme Swann too helped in the bowling attack with his offering of spin bowling and claiming wickets at vital parts of the game.

Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin’s partnership which had given some hope for the Australians on day 4 ended early as Haddin was taken by Andrew Flintoff. Mitchell Johnson also put in a brave act by scoring 63 valuable runs.

Andrew Flintoff was declared the Man of the Match a close contender was Andrew Strauss, which determines the one sided win of England.

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Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin keep Australia alive – Day 4 2nd Test at Lords

Brief Synopsis:
Australia 215 and 313 for 5 (Clarke 125*, Haddin 80*) need another 209 runs to beat
England 425 and 311 for 6 dec (Prior 61, Collingwood 54)

Michael Clarke (125*) stunned the Lord’s crowd with an awesome century to keep Australia’s hopes alive of defending the test match here at Lords. Michael Clarke along with Brad Haddin (80*) had a few anxious moments early in the innings but both of them stuck on to the work and revived the drooping Australian side which had succumbed to a few harsh decision by the SA umpire Rudi Koertzen.

Andrew Flintoff and Swann were the thorns in the way of Australia’s inning with great bowling display which kept the Aussie batsmen under check.

Australia need another 209 run with an entire day to go and having 5 wickets in hand.

Can Clarke and Haddin carry on longer can the tail provide any one of these guys to take Australia to a historic win.

Wait and see the match live here:

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Anderson takes 4 Australian wickets, ENG v AUS 2nd Test – Day 2 Update, Highlights

Graham Onions ended Australia's second best partnership that of Hauritz & Siddle who hung around for 44 runs for a 9th wicket stand. He claimed both the tailenders wickets to keep Australia at bay from achieving the follow-on mark of 225. England started briskly to capitalise on the 210 run lead to put up a unachievable target for Australian batsmen.

Yesterday England's batting ended early in the day with Andrew Strauss getting out early after scoring a huge 161 runs. England managed to secure 425 runs with some entertaining cricket towards the end of the English innings.

Australia started badly losing two early wickets of P Hughes & Ricky Ponting (to an unfortunate umpiring decision). Australia never coped with the Seam & pace battery of J Anderson and A Flintoff. Stuart Broad chips in with two late wickets towards the end of the day which was reduced by rain.

Let’s wait and see if Australia can save the follow-on and if England would anyways take the follow-on.

Follow the Live match here:

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England v. Australia Live Scores, 2nd Test – The Ashes 2009 2nd Test Live Scorecard

Australia start badly losing two early wickets. Anderson being the successful bowler taking both Philip Hughes & captain Ricky Pontings wicket. Few moments earlier England collapsed at 425 all out with Andrew Strauss going to early blows by the Australian speedster Ben Hilfenhaus (clinching his best ever figures of 4 wickets for 89 runs ) and Peter Siddle restricted England's steady growth of first innings score.

161 runs by Andrew Strauss held England to a respectable total at the end of day 1 of the Second Test of the Ashes series. England scored 364 at the loss of 6 wickets where the day saw an awesome start by England and then Australia taking 6 wickets by stumps.

Andrew Strauss clearly the star of the day in immense form showing his batting skill with a wide repertoire of strokes. He is just 16 runs away from his personal highest test score.



An interesting tie is on the offer, do not miss it:

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England draws First Test against Australia – The Ashes 2009, Match Review

James Anderson celebrates the moment of a enormous effort to save the 1st Test of the Ashes 2009

Brief synopsis:

England 435 (Pietersen 69, Collingwood 64, Prior 56) and 252 for 9 (Collingwood 74, Hilfenhaus 3-37) drew with

Australia 674 for 6 dec (Ponting 150, Katich 122, North 125*, Haddin 121, Clarke 81)

A sigh of relief for England as the tail wagged along with some brilliant batting performance by Paul Collingwood (performed well in both innings) helped them to draw the 1st test match of the Ashes Series.

Paul Collingwood the saviour for England in both the innings with scores of 64 and 74 and capturing the crease for long hours averted a loss for England was due. The result left a hapless and irritated Ricky Ponting the Aussie captain who had doubts on the English Sportsmanship in terms of wasting time.

The game is still alive and open with both teams to make a mark.

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Australia vs England 1st Test Video Highlights - Aus vs Eng 2009 Ashes 1st Test Video

Watch Australia Vs England Video Highlights of 1st Test Match (Ashes 2009)

England's incredible draw effort - Collingwood 74 off 245 and the tail

Scoreline: England pull off super draw 252/9 – Collingwood 74 (245), Anderson 21 (53), Monty 7 (35), Swann 31 (63), Flintoff, 26 (71), Broad 14 (47) | Nathan Hauritz 3 wickets

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England v. Australia Live Scores, 1st Test – The Ashes 2009 Day 2 Live Scorecard

England 336 for 7 Kevin Pietersen 69, Paul Collingwood 64, Matt Prior 56)
Australia bowling - Mitchell Johnson, Hilfenhaus & Peter Siddle each taking 2 wickets and Nathan Hauritz claiming 1

A scintillating 1st day of The Ashes Test series opened with the match swinging both sides. Early on Australia started well with Mitchell Johnson with his wide variation of balls knocking two early wickets and putting England under immense pressure at lunch. England was saved by Kevin Pieterson & Paul Collingwood with an awesome partnership which sailed out England of danger of a collapse early on in the test match. Australia didn’t have much answer to the twosome who applied themselves very well to score 138 runs in 41 overs. Australia gained momentum towards the end of the day picking up wickets and taking control of the match but England managed to score a comforting 336 for 7 wickets with Matt Prior scoring a quick knock of 56 runs but giving it away at the death of the game for day 1.

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England Test Team for Ashes Series - Eng Test Squad

England selectors has selected Graham Onions ahead of Steve Harmison, who took six wickets against Australia in practice match in the 13 members team.

England Ashes Squad:

Andrew Strauss (capt)

Alastair Cook

Ravi Bopara

Kevin Pietersen

Paul Collingwood

Ian Bell

Matt Prior (wk)

Andrew Flintoff

Stuart Broad

Graeme Swann

James Anderson

Graham Onions

Monty Panesar

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Australia vs England Ashes Series Schedule, Timing

2009 Ashes Series between Engalnd and Australia will start from 8th July, 2009 with first test of 5 match series followed by 2 T20's and 7 ODI's.

Ashes Test Series:

1st Test Match:

Wednesday, 8th July to Sunday, 12th July, 2009
Australia vs England
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Timing: 11:00 local, 10:00 GMT, 3.00 PM IST

2nd Test Match:

Thursday, 16th July to Monday, 20th July, 2009
Australia vs England
Lord's, London
Timing: 11:00 local, 10:00 GMT, 3.00 PM IST

3rd Test Match:

Thursday, 30th July to Monday, 3rd August, 2009
Australia vs England
Edgbaston, Birmingham
Timing: 11:00 local, 10:00 GMT, 3.00 PM IST

4th Test Match:

Friday, 7th August to Tuesday, 11th August, 2009
Australia vs England
Headingley, Leeds
Timing: 11:00 local, 10:00 GMT, 3.00 PM IST

5th Test Match:

Thursday, 20th August to Monday, 24th August, 2009
Australia vs England
Kennington Oval, London
Timing: 11:00 local, 10:00 GMT, 3.00 PM IST

Twenty20 International Series:

1st Twenty20:

Sunday, 30th August, 2009
Australia vs England
Old Trafford, Manchester
Timing: 14:30 local, 13:30 GMT, 7.00 PM IST


2nd Twenty20: Day/Night

Tuesday, 1st September, 2009
Australia vs England
Old Trafford, Manchester
Timing: 19:00 local, 18:00 GMT, 12.00 Mid-Night IST

ODI Series:

1st ODI: Day/Night

Friay, 4th September, 2009
Australia vs England
Kennington Oval, London
Timing: 13:00 local, 12:00 GMT, 5.30 PM IST

2nd ODI:

Sunday, 6th September, 2009
Australia vs England
Lord's, London
Timing: 10:15 local, 09:15 GMT, 2.15 PM IST

3rd ODI: Day/Night

Wednesday, 9th September, 2009
Australia vs England
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
Timing: 14:30 local, 13:30 GMT, 7.00 PM IST

4th ODI:

Saturday, 12th September, 2009
Australia vs England
Lord's, London
Timing: 10:15 local, 09:15 GMT, 2.15 PM IST

5th ODI: Day/Night

Tuesday, 15th September, 2009
Australia vs England
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Timing: 14:30 local, 13:30 GMT, 7.00 PM IST

6th ODI: Day/Night

Thursday, 17th September, 2009
Australia vs England
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Timing: 14:30 local, 13:30 GMT, 7.00 PM IST

7th ODI: Day/Night

Tuesday, 20th September, 2009
Australia vs England
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Timing: 10:15 local, 09:15 GMT, 2.15 PM IST

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Australia’s top order crumble as Pepler Sandri strikes

Australia recovered well after the top order of Australia slumped to 114 for 5 just after lunch on the first day of their first preparation match against Essex before The Ashes. The middle order and the tail wagged with Brad Haddin and M Clarke getting a good partnership which revived the middle order and then the bowlers Brett Lee (47*) Nathan Hauritz (65*) held the innings with a strong batting display.

Earlier South African born Pepler Sandri took three important wickets that of Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich and MJ North.






Australia vs Essex - Scorecard after day 1

Australians 1st innings		R	M	B	4s	6s
PJ Hughes	b Sandri	15	35	26	3	0
SM Katich	c Yardy b Sandri	49	137	98	8	0
RT Ponting*	c †Hodd b Wright	8	22	16	2	0
MEK Hussey	lbw b Kirtley	32	79	48	6	0
MJ Clarke	c & b Rayner	45	131	78	4	1
MJ North	c †Hodd b Sandri	1	5	6	0	0
BJ Haddin†	c Sandri b Rayner	69	117	119	7	3
B Lee	not out	47	98	80	5	1
NM Hauritz	not out	65	95	78	12	0
Extras	(b 5, lb 3, w 1, nb 9)	18
Total	(7 wickets; 90 overs)	349	(3.87 runs per over)
To bat PM Siddle, SR Clark, BW Hilfenhaus

Essex Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
RJ Kirtley	18	4	61	1	3.38
PSE Sandri	13	1	73	3	5.61
LJ Wright	10	2	33	1	3.3
RSC Martin-Jenkins	12	2	56	0	4.66
OP Rayner	26	4	66	2	2.53
WAT Beer	11	0	52	0	4.72

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Shane Watson & Andrew McDonald selected over Symonds as Allrounders for Ashes Tour 2009

The fight for the top allrounder position in the Australian test team ends with Andrew Symonds not making it in the playing XI for the forthcoming Ashes tour of England. Andrew McDonalds was the other surprise option for the allrounder position along with ShaneWatson.

A tough decision for the Australian Cricket Board to select the team. Andrew Symonds recent behavior which has kept him in the news off late, might have offered a negative point in his dropping from the Ashes test team.

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