England's tail fails to wag
Australia retains the Ashes with a 205-run win
Posted: Tuesday December 15, 1998 11:29 AM
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English captain Alec Stewart looks on as Glenn McGrath celebrates taking a wicket AP |
ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) -- Australia trounced England by a mammoth 205 runs to retain the Ashes for a record equaling sixth successive time at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.
Fast bowler Glenn McGrath triggered another collapse either side of lunch on the last day as England, chasing a mammoth 443 runs to win, was bowled out for 237 runs just 24 minutes after the break.
"It hurts a lot," skipper Alec Stewart said after the humiliating defeat. "We came here with the intention of regaining the Ashes but we haven't played to our full potential. We have under-performed in this series so far."
Stewart top-scored for England with an unbeaten 63 as his side lost 5-16 off 27 balls in 24 minutes after resuming the day on 122 for four.
"When it comes to the crunch we haven't performed. They are the best side in the world and when they get in winning positions they stay in winning positions.
"We have good patches but we don't have enough good patches. Australia batted and bowled better than us. I've played in a losing Ashes side for the last 10 years and it hurts."
England's second-innings collapse followed the first innings debacle of losing 7-40 in just 64 minutes on the third morning.
"If our top seven batsmen can't get the runs on the board, you can't expect the tail to do it for you," Stewart added. "The difference in the two sides have been the tail. Our's hasn't wagged at all in the last few years."
Stewart refused to agree that English cricket has deteriorated.
"`What I believe is that the other countries have improved. We have to produce cricketers with mental strength and talent."
Once Australia claimed the prized wicket of Mark Ramprakash for 57, the right hander took away with him England's hopes of salvaging an unlikely draw.
But Stewart with his first major contribution in the series and John Crawley (13) took the side within two balls of the break when disaster struck.
Crawley's edge to second slip Mark Waugh began triggered the collapse.
McGrath armed with the second new ball took 4-15 in 21 balls to hurry an Australian win. He finished with 4-50 and enjoys an Ashes tally of 58 wickets in 11 tests.
Justin Langer, who complemented his career-best unbeaten 179 with a fine 52 in the second innings was voted man-of-the-match.
Mark Taylor, with his 25th win in 48 tests as captain, said his side enjoyed the "mental edge" over their opponents and had enjoyed doing it without bowler Shane Warne.
"We have certainly got the mental edge over England, there is no doubt about that, and that comes from a number of good performances over the last 10 years or so," said Taylor.
"The pattern has been set in the series with two tests remaining. It is a feeling of relief as well as a great thrill after the disappointment in Brisbane."
England narrowly escaped defeat in the first test when the weather intervened.
"Lot of us treat the Ashes series very highly. We have taken on different challenges in world cricket and Ashes is a very special one."
Taylor felt there was an "enormous gulf" between the two sides because of Australia's depth.
"There are a lot of players outside keeping the pressure on everyone in the current team," said Taylor. "That's the reason we are so strong."
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