STUART BROAD RAPS BATTERS
Ashes dream decimated at Headingley
England need a hero | says Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen says we need an Ian Botham figure to rally the troops
STUART BROAD blasted England's brainless batsmen as our Ashes dreams were decimated at Headingley yesterday.
England face a humiliating drubbing in the Fourth Test inside three days after collapsing to 82-5 in their second innings - still 261 runs away from avoiding an innings defeat.
And all-rounder Broad admitted: "We're disappointed because we've made the same mistakes again in the second innings that we made in the first.
"We've lost wickets in clumps. To lose five wickets for only 23 runs was really disappointing.
"I thought the Australians bowled fantastically but it was a shame we made the same mistakes."
Ravi Bopara was out first ball, Ian Bell made just three, Paul Collingwood four, England skipper Andrew Strauss 32 and fellow opener Alastair Cook 30.
And Broad - who had earlier claimed a career-best 6-91 as Australia chalked up a whopping first innings total of 445 - added: "Australia have some highly talented players but we are focusing on what we have done badly in this game."
England still need 82 runs to avoid their heaviest ever Ashes defeat on home soil.
Only a miracle will stop Australia levelling the series today and heading to the Oval for the final Test requiring just a draw to retain the Ashes.
This article has 6 comments
I think it is time we woke up and clearly made decsion like getting experince players like BOYCOTT AND Botham,GOWER AND ALEX STEWART TO PASS THE EXPERINCE AND THE KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SITAUION AS HEADINGLY APPEARED TO THEM .The rule is simple bowl to the wicket and pitch it up and swing it if you can and keep tidy not leak runs and when you bat concentrate on every bowl and try to read the ball and play the stroke or definsive stroke its not rocket science but a simple acceptance that we have not done this that is why we are at 1-1 and potential to loose the series.Good luck but i just think ECCB is to SCARED AND THEY HAVE SHOWN RUTHLESNESS TOWARDS HARMISON BUT NOW TRY SHOW THE SAME BY BRINGONG BACK EXPERINCE PLAYERS LIKE ROB KEY AT NO3 AND USE GREATS FOR HELP TOWARDS EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG.
By D Patel. Posted August 9 2009 at 7:07 PM.
I think the England collapse is down to our national English disease, not just in cricket.
One or two decent results and we strut around assuming we can beat the world.
Then, filled with this arrogance we collapse in disarray.
It will happen with the England football team if we win our World Cup qualifying group, as we ought to do.
You can make as many changes as you like to the cricket team as you like, but until they adopt a professional public humility come-win-or-lose, things will never change.
By John. Posted August 9 2009 at 12:56 PM.
The selectors need to breath a little life into the squad. Three,four and five have failed this series.
Reward the paying public with some young fire.
The openers have had to score and or tail wag this series, no guts in the engine room.
Have some guts selectors try out some fresh blood at the Oval, quite honestly they cannot be worse
By Philip Pearce. Posted August 9 2009 at 9:14 AM.
England might make a start by looking as though they are proud to play for their country. The Australians wear their country's "green baggy" cap with pride on entering the field and when interviewed. Contrast that with England's equivalent of a "kiss me quick" hat bought at some seaside stall. Pathetic!
By Callan. Posted August 9 2009 at 8:03 AM.
As an Englishman living in Australia I yet again face the humiliation of having a second rate England cricket team as my national side. This game has showed England up to be what they really are, second rate at best. To hear the captain before the start say the team was up for a win is quite simply a joke. To call this team professional is an exaggeration. It actually makes you wonder if the team had thoughts of an early loss finish to get back to playing golf. I don't know how much these players get financially from the ECB for playing but they should give their match fees back because they absolutely do not deserve being paid.
By nigel patrick. Posted August 9 2009 at 6:39 AM.
Time to bring the young ones in Denly and Rashid for example, Bell and Collingwood out, Bopara down to 5, but give the young ones a chance. Harmison is a waste of time, worst bowling I have ever seen from an England player, Anderson was injured, Onions still not comvinced yet, but no one better, Swan never will be a test match spin bowler. But the batting line up this Summer has had weakens shown all over it after the openers have gone.
By brian wilkinson. Posted August 9 2009 at 3:01 AM.