The Ashes
The Fourth Test
The dust has settled on the 4th test at
Trent Bridge and I’m still pinching
myself as I’m sure lots of other people are!
England won the 3rd test at Edgbaston in
some style, it was exciting cricket, but
my goodness that was nothing compared
to what happened in Nottingham!
I could sum this test up in very few
words but that’s not my way. I’d been
on the bus from the Park and Ride when
Alastair Cook won the toss, Twitter told
my fellow passengers and I that he’d put
the Australians in to bat. Bowling first?
Surely that was a risk? Well, we’d find out
soon enough.
I’m manic about arriving on time
for my sport, I always try to give myself
plenty of time, I think after the Australian
innings a few more people might make
sure they arrive on time. I was slightly
perturbed that I had 3 guys in fancy dress
next to me but they turned out to be really
great company.
As Stuart Broad took the ball I said ‘I
wonder if Broad will take his 300th wicket
in this over?’ - Well he not only took his
300th but his 301st too! What a start! Chris
Rogers faced 3 balls before being caught
by Alastair Cook - the 4 runs on the board
were extras, the first Duck of the innings.
In came Steve Smith, his one huge
innings at Lords had elevated him to
the top of the pile again as number one
batsman in the world. The 3 remaining
balls saw Smith score 6 runs then….. Get
OUT! Joe Root taking the catch this time!
Australia were on 10 for 2!
Shaun Marsh brought in for his batting
in place of his brother Mitch was in next,
David Warner was out next. This time
Mark Wood got in on the act, bowling the
ball caught by Jos Buttler, Warner had a
Duck and Australia were 10 for 3.
I’d almost stopped noticing who was
coming in there were so many going
out - but Michael Clarke it was joining
Marsh. Turned out the switch of brothers
didn’t really work, another catch from the
bowling of Broad this time by Ian Bell and
another Duck. Marsh was out, Australia
were 15 for 4, England had bowled 16
balls!
To say there was excitement would
be the understatement of the year! It
was completely unbelievable! And there
was yet more to come! I think that rather
than give myself a near heart attack all
over again I’ll summarise the rest of the
Australian innings. THEY WERE ALL
OUT FOR 60!!!
I still find that hard to believe! Stuart
Broad took 8 wickets for 15 runs! All of
those were catches, with the slip cordon
sharing out the spoils. The bets of this
was Broad’s 8th - an amazing, instinctive
catch by Ben Stokes - the look on Stuart
Broad’s face as the catch was taken will be
treasured by many for years!
E