Siddle, Clark put Aussies on top in fourth Test

Peter Siddle took his Test-best figures and Stuart Clark marked his return to international cricket with three wickets as Australia bowled out England for just 102 at Healingly here on Friday.

England, who won the toss, were routed on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test with Siddle taking five wickets for 21 runs in 9.5 overs and Clark three for 18 in 10 as Australia looked to level the five-match series at 1-1.

Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, then made 78, before falling short of his third hundred at Headingley in as many Tests, to help his side to 196 for four at stumps - a lead of 94.

Michael Clarke was 34 not out and Marcus North seven not out after Ponting and opener Shane Watson shared a second-wicket stand of 119.

Clarke was hit flush on the helmet by a Stephen Harmison bouncer on 27 and then, after several minutes of treatment, survived a huge appeal for caught behind following another short ball from the Durham quick.

Australia were on the verge of building an impregnable lead when fast bowler Stuart Broad took two wickets for four runs in six balls to have both Ponting and Michael Hussey lbw.

Australia, who had lost three wickets for 18 runs in 19 balls in total, were then 151 for four.

But that was nothing compared to England's collapse.

Clark took three wickets in quick succession as England, who won the toss, slumped to 72 for six at lunch before Siddle polished off the tail with four wickets for three runs in 14 balls.

Matt Prior (37 not out) and opener Alastair Cook (30) were the only England batsmen to make it into double figures in an innings that featuring four naught and lasted less than 34 overs.

Clark, after Australia dropped off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, made a dramatic return in what was his first Test in nine months after an elbow injury and selectorial preference had kept him out.

The 33-year-old upheld his reputation for economical accuracy by taking three wickets for five runs in 21 balls.

source by:cricketnext.in.com

Ponting becomes Australia's leading Test scorer

Ricky Ponting became Australia's highest test run-scorer on the second day of the third Ashes test against England on Friday.

Ponting passed Allan Border's mark of 11,174 runs when he reached 25 but he added only 13 more runs before edging a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior off England seamer Graham Onions.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland led the congratulations for his captain.

"I have heard Ricky talk about being inspired to win the right to wear the baggy green when, as a kid, his uncle, Tasmanian fast bowler Greg Campbell, was chosen to tour England in 1989," Sutherland said in a statement.

"He is now on his fourth tour to England and while I know personal records are not an interest for him, I also know cricket fans everywhere will celebrate this milestone as a worthy achievement by this extraordinary cricketer."
Former captain Border also praised Ponting.

"Clearly, I am a great admirer, having been involved in Ricky's selection in many great Australian sides, and having enjoyed watching him closely on more occasions than I can remember as a cricket media commentator as well," Border said.

"It is not just the number of runs he has made, it is how he has made them as a dominant force, leading from the front and scoring at a rate previous champions would have regarded as unthinkable."

Ponting moved up to third on the all-time list with 11,188 runs, behind Indian Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored 12,773, and West Indian Brian Lara, on 11,953.

Flintoff sleeping with an ice machine to stay fit for the Ashes

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been sleeping with an ice machine in an attempt to stay fit and help his side win back the Ashes.

According to former fast bowler and now Telegraph cricket correspondent Derek Pringle, Flintoff is seen as an inspirational figure in the England camp, and every effort is being made to keep him fit and running in spite of his pain.

"I have this machine that I put on the knee every night. It gets in the way a little bit. It wraps around my knee and compresses it, half-an-hour on, half-an-hour off, throughout the night," Flintoff said Tuesday. It is not the first time England have used a machine to try to put one over the Australians. In 2005, their use of the Merlin bowling machine was cited as a major factor in combating Shane Warne, though with the wrist-spinner taking 40 wickets in the series its success was relative.

In England's practice on Tuesday, Flintoff undertook a 10-minute trundle at a stump followed by a short net in which he sent down 11 balls.

According to Pringle, reading Flintoff's body language is never easy.

"He looked pensive, especially when sitting down to put his pads on (which he did twice) then, later, while lacing up his bowling boots. Earlier, he spent 10 minutes chatting with Steve Bull, the team psychologist, though this might have been about the weather rather than his personal expectations for this match," says Pringle in his report.

Flintoff is not the only one with fitness.

cloud hanging over him after Ian Bell twisted his right ankle playing football on Monday.