Ashes agony for England in Adelaide

12 April 2012

England's dreams of retaining the Ashes were dealt a savage blow when a dramatic final-day collapse enabled Australia to complete an emphatic six-wicket victory in the second Test.

Resuming the final day at the Adelaide Oval 97 runs ahead on 59 for one, England knew that a solid batting performance would all but end Australia's slim hopes of claiming an unexpected victory.

But just as the tourists seemed to have weathered the early pressure, they lost nine wickets for 60 runs to be dismissed for 129 and Australia, chasing a victory target of 168, sealed victory by reaching the total for the loss of four wickets with 19 balls remaining.

The shock triumph gives Australia a 2-0 lead in the series and effectively ends England's hopes of retaining the Ashes as no side in the 123-year history of the compeition has ever come back to level the series after going two behind.

Only once in the last 70 years has a team overturned that deficit to win the series - Australia won on home soil in 1936-7 after England claimed a 2-0 advantage - while no side has ever lost a Test with as big a first-innings-declared total as England's 551 for six.

Once again the chief architect of England's demise was legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne, who finished with figures of four for 49 from 32 overs having claimed incredible figures of 27-11-29-4 bowling unchanged from the Cathedral End all day.

Glenn McGrath wrapped up the innings despite last man James Anderson surviving for 41 minutes to leave Australia facing what appeared a stiff victory target.

That was underlined with England striking twice in the opening six overs with Justin Langer cutting Matthew Hoggard straight to point and Hayden being brilliantly caught by Collingwood running back to mid-wicket.

England were given renewed hope by claiming two wickets in successive overs after Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey forged an 83-run stand off only 91 balls with Ashley Giles having the Australian captain caught at extra cover for 49 while Damien Martyn's struggles continued when he was caught at gully off Flintoff.

But Hussey continued to hit an unbeaten 61 and hit the winning runs off Anderson to complete a remarkable victory in front of a capacity Adelaide Oval crowd.

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