BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – Andrew Flintoff’s presence loomed large over the Ashes series once again as England seized the initiative in the third test against Australia yesterday.
Flintoff’s dashing 74 lifted England to 376 and the touring side ended the fourth day on 88 for two in their second innings, 25 runs behind, leaving England scenting a victory which would put them up 2-0 in the series.
“It will be a big morning for both sides,” Flintoff told a news conference. “Our patience will be tested, it will be attritional cricket. We are quietly confident but we know it will be tough.”
Shane Watson was unbeaten on 34 at the close with Michael Hussey on 18 following the dismissals of Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting.
Katich, on 26, was caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior off Graham Onions and Graeme Swann took the prize wicket of the Australian captain with a perfect off-spinner which bowled him through the gate.
“It was a great ball by Swanny but you need to produce balls like that to get the best players in the world out,” said Flintoff whose bowling inspired England’s victory in the last test at Lord’s.
England resumed in the morning on 116 for two following an hour’s delay.
They lost captain Andrew Strauss for 69 when he edged a catch to wicketkeeper Graham Manou off Ben Hilfenhaus.
The Australian seamers made the most of the favourable conditions and England initially had to work hard for runs.
Ian Bell struck crisp drives through the covers but he was lucky to survive a huge shout for lbw off Mitchell Johnson.
The struggling left-arm seamer bowled a menacing spell to lift Australian spirits and they were raised further before lunch when Hilfenhaus tempted Paul Collingwood, on 13, with a wide delivery which he edged to Ponting at second slip.
England took lunch on 159 for four and Bell reached his fifty just after the interval.
Swinging
Delivery
But he had added only three more when Johnson got his reward by trapping the right-hander lbw with a fine swinging delivery.
Flintoff joined Matt Prior and the pair shared an entertaining partnership of 89 off 97 balls which swung the match England’s way.
Flintoff played a series of crashing drives and Prior also went on the attack before he was out for 41, mis-timing a pull off Peter Siddle and giving a simple catch to mid-on.
Flintoff lifted spinner Nathan Hauritz for six before reaching his fifty with a sweep for four off the same bowler and he was eyeing his sixth test century when he was out.
Attempting to leave a delivery from Hauritz, the ball spun out of the rough and caught Flintoff’s gloves on the way to Michael Clarke at slip.
“It was nice to bat with Matt Prior who is obviously an aggressive player as well,” Flintoff said.
The all-rounder departed to a standing ovation and England’s momentum was continued by Stuart Broad and Swann.
Broad struck 55 off 64 balls, Swann a quickfire 24 and the flurry of boundaries riled Johnson who became involved in a bit of verbal jousting with the batsmen.
Swann gave a simple catch to Marcus North in the covers off Johnson, James Anderson was caught by Manou off Hilfenhaus for one and Broad was last man out, caught and bowled by Siddle.
“It didn’t quite work out as we planned today but hopefully tomorrow we can bat the day out,” Hilfenhaus said.
“We are always trying to win but the rain has probably taken too much time out of the game for us now.”