Oh No Gilo!
Hoggard Takes Four
By BarmyArmyEngland
December 3 2006
Day 3 of the second test was one to remember for bowler Matthew Hoggard as he took four wickets at Adelaide. For Ashley Giles it was a day to forget as he dropped Australian captain Ricky Ponting on 35 who later went on to get his 33rd Ton.
Ashley Giles will be furious with himself, as the day didn’t go off to a good start for our Ashley. He dropped Australian captain on 35, with what seemed like an easy catch but dropped out of his hands. Ricky Ponting then went on to get his 33rd ton, his Australian record he will most certainly be proud of. England however had everything to smile and cheer about at yesterday morning’s play. Harmison looked brighter in the morning as he was certainly playing better than the first test. Many have questioned his bowling and his recent poor form but I hope to see the Harmison we all know and love back to his old self soon. Australia needed 352 to avoid England forcing the follow on so at the start of the mornings play it was down to Captain Ponting and Hayden to produce the runs for Australia. Yet with Hoggard in the bowling attack the partnership didn’t last long as he dismissed Hayden for a mere 12. Hussey soon followed in Ponting’s footsteps as Hoggard bowled him cleanly out, as he was only 9 short of his century. Clarke and Gilchrist took to the crease until the end of the days play when Australia ended on 312 – 5. We owe it to Hoggard that we are still in this game, if it wasn’t for him I dread to think where we’d be at this moment in time. Gilo is also lucky that he wasn’t the only one failing to get Ponting out. The fourth day resumes at 12:30AM. Next on Hoggard’s agenda was Martyn. Ian Bell took a low but tremendous catch at Gully to see him go for just 11.
Despite Gilo dropping Ponting on 35 earlier in the day, it was Collingwood who missed the stumps in another chance to get Ponting out, however his attempted run out backfired as Collingwood missed the stumps.
Hussey and Ponting both passed the half-century mark with Ponting also getting a century, his 33rdin his career.
England took the option of the second new ball and finally England got Australian danger man Ponting out. Hoggard’s fine outswinger caught the edge of Ricky Ponting’s bat with Wicket Keeper Jones taking the catch safely, which ended the 192 partnership with Hussey.