The Hindu : Sport : Collingwood, Pietersen keep battle alive

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Collingwood, Pietersen keep battle alive

Ted Corbett

Collingwood's bravado cost him a centuryStrauss was once again done in by the hook shotPonting did not field because of a bad back

BRISBANE : There is talk of prolonged rain breaking the drought which has forced Queenslanders to leave their cars unwashed and parched their gardens.

They pray daily for their famous storms and they were joined by the England cricketers, who feel they have fought hard enough to merit a draw in the first Test at the 'Gabba.

It is an unlikely outcome to a Test which has been dominated by the Australians but for the first time England looked like a side fit to hold the Ashes as it made 293 for five, with Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen getting near to centuries.

England is still 355 behind and Pietersen and Geraint Jones, the only remaining batsmen will have to bat most of the remaining 90 overs if a draw is to be the outcome. Several times Pietersen has played rash shots but that is the nature of this extraordinary batsman and we must accept him for what he is.

Langer completes century

Ricky Ponting, who did not field all day because of a back problem, continued the Australian innings until Justin Langer completed his century and the lead was 647.

`Mission Impossible' was the only description that fitted England's task and Ponting must have been satisfied, as he lay on the physio's couch, that he had left enough time for Adam Gilchrist to lead the side to victory.

Those of us whose memories stretch back to 2001 recalled that England not only escaped at Leeds when Gilchrist was in charge, because Steve Waugh was injured, but that Mark Butcher led them to an astonishing win.

In its present plight England ought to be wondering if Butcher might not strengthen its middle order but it prefers the untried qualities of the left-handed Ed Joyce who is little younger than Butcher and has much less experience.

Begins badly

England's pursuit of the dream began badly. Andrew Strauss foolishly played another hook like the one that got him out in the first innings and Shane Warne trapped Ian Bell, the only solid batsman of the first innings. Two down for 36 after Warne had begun his trial by spin in the tenth over on a wearing but not vicious pitch.

Cook fell victim to Warne for 43, a promising innings although more than promise was needed. Collingwood and Pietersen showed what could be achieved despite the much telegraphed menace of Warne.

What a stage villain he is as he strides to the wicket, a master of his craft, signalling mystery, magic and mayhem in every twitching finger. The fourth wicket stand may yet be the turning point of this series.

It is a common fallacy that Pietersen is aggressive and Collingwood a journeyman batsman unfit to bat at No. 4 in a Test. Pietersen can also defend astutely and Collingwood hit two sixes as their partnership blossomed so much that there were panicky looks on the faces of Warne and Gilchrist.

Breaking through

As Collingwood approached his third Test hundred, Warne found a way through. He brought in outfielders, and Collingwood danced down the pitch hoping to reach his target with one mighty bang only to be stumped.

Flintoff clearly has too much on his mind. He hit four fours and was then caught on the boundary from a shot that had no place in a rearguard action.

If only Michael Vaughan was fit to take charge, to lift a load from Flintoff's shoulders and calm down the impetuous Pietersen, we might still expect more from England, with or without the storm that was creeping up the Gold Coast as I wrote.

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