England have won the Ashes series after nine wickets fell in the final session at the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground as Alastair Cook's side beat Australia by 74 runs.
Australia started the evening session 120-1 with David Warner and Usman Khawaja at the crease and they continued to put the England bowlers to the sword as they advanced to the 150 mark.
However, Graeme Swann removed Khawaja as the batsman missed a straight ball and was given his marching orders by umpire Aleem Dar.
Aussie captain Michael Clarke arrived at the crease and tried to quell the England attack lead by Stuart Broad, who was roaring into the wicket sending down deliveries of 90mph.
Broad finally got his man with a brilliant delivery, with seamed away from Clarke and removed his off stump. Steve Smith soon followed as he attempted to pull the ball and hooked the ball onto his stumps.
Shane Watson struggled to the crease with an injury and lasted 11 balls before he fell lbw to Tim Bresnan for two and Brad Haddin fell in the next over to Broad, and wasn't saved by a review.
Broad was bowling a devastating spell, with every ball looking like a potential wicket taker and he continued to fire when he trapped Ryan Harris in front for 11. He cleaned up Nathan Lyon with a leg stump yorker leaving England on the brink.
Bad light forced Cook to turn back to Swann and Joe Root and Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird kept them at bay for a five overs before the sun came out at the Emirates ICG.
Broad returned from the Lumley End and snagged the final wicket when Siddle looped the ball to James Anderson at mid-off to send the ground into raptures, as the Three Lions sealed their series win at the first Ashes Test at the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground.
History will be made as Durham hosts the 4th Investec Ashes Test at Emirates Durham ICG August 9th-13th. This is the page for all your information and behind the scenes stories and pictures!
Monday, 12 August 2013
Australia in strong position at Tea
Australia are in command of the 4th Investec Ashes Test at the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground as they need just 179 runs to win with nine wickets remaining.
Openers Chris Rogers and David Warner resumed after lunch and rain break with the score at 11-0. England thought they had Rogers caught behind from a delivery from James Anderson, and umpire Tony Hill raised the finger.
However, the Middlesex batsman reviewed the decision almost immediately and replays proved he hadn't edged the ball and as a result Hill was forced to overturn his decision.
Rogers had another fortuitous moment when he was dropped by Swann at second slip off the bowling of Tim Bresnan.
He and Warner made England pay for their mistake and they brought up the 50 partnership in the 13th over.
The pair continued in the same fashion as they powered past the 100 run mark, the Aussies first century opening partnership of the series.
However, just before the Tea break, Graeme Swann struck and removed Rogers for 49, as he was caught at slip by Jonathan Trott.
Warner continued to frustrate England along with Usman Khawaja to leave the Aussies 120-1 at the break.
Openers Chris Rogers and David Warner resumed after lunch and rain break with the score at 11-0. England thought they had Rogers caught behind from a delivery from James Anderson, and umpire Tony Hill raised the finger.
However, the Middlesex batsman reviewed the decision almost immediately and replays proved he hadn't edged the ball and as a result Hill was forced to overturn his decision.
Rogers had another fortuitous moment when he was dropped by Swann at second slip off the bowling of Tim Bresnan.
He and Warner made England pay for their mistake and they brought up the 50 partnership in the 13th over.
The pair continued in the same fashion as they powered past the 100 run mark, the Aussies first century opening partnership of the series.
However, just before the Tea break, Graeme Swann struck and removed Rogers for 49, as he was caught at slip by Jonathan Trott.
Warner continued to frustrate England along with Usman Khawaja to leave the Aussies 120-1 at the break.
Australia need 288 to win the 4th Test with five sessions to play
Australia need 288 to win after the first session on day four of the 4th Investec Ashes Test at the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground.
Centurion Ian Bell and Tim Bresnan saw off the old ball, but when Ryan Harris was introduced into the attack with the new ball he removed Bell for 113 clean bowling him with a delivery that kept low.
Matt Prior arrived at the crease but lasted only a ball as he was bowled by a great delivery from Harris, that bounced and struck his elbow before clattering into the stumps.
Stuart Broad survived the hat-trick ball from Harris, unlike his previous Ashes experience when Peter Siddle got three in a row in Brisbane in 2010.
Bresnan and Broad took the attack to the Aussie bowlers as the racked up several boundaries before Harris returned to bounce out Broad with a snorter of a delivery, which hit the top of the bat and rose in the air before being claimed by Steve Smith for 13.
England were scoring crucial runs as they took their lead past the 250 mark with Bresnan and Swann at the crease as Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon took punishment from the pair.
However, it was that man Harris again who returned to the attack to dismiss Bresnan five short of his half-century as he caught and bowled the Yorkshireman leaving the Three Lions 317-9.
Swann hit three more flashing boundaries before number 11 James Anderson fell for a duck as he edged the ball from Lyon behind to Brad Haddin.
Aussie openers Chris Rogers and David Warner came out for a tricky 15 minute spell and saw off the England attack despite one scare, as the Three Lions reviewed an lbw shout from Broad against Rogers, but the ball pitched outside leg stump, as they tourists finished 11-0.
Centurion Ian Bell and Tim Bresnan saw off the old ball, but when Ryan Harris was introduced into the attack with the new ball he removed Bell for 113 clean bowling him with a delivery that kept low.
Matt Prior arrived at the crease but lasted only a ball as he was bowled by a great delivery from Harris, that bounced and struck his elbow before clattering into the stumps.
Stuart Broad survived the hat-trick ball from Harris, unlike his previous Ashes experience when Peter Siddle got three in a row in Brisbane in 2010.
Bresnan and Broad took the attack to the Aussie bowlers as the racked up several boundaries before Harris returned to bounce out Broad with a snorter of a delivery, which hit the top of the bat and rose in the air before being claimed by Steve Smith for 13.
England were scoring crucial runs as they took their lead past the 250 mark with Bresnan and Swann at the crease as Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon took punishment from the pair.
However, it was that man Harris again who returned to the attack to dismiss Bresnan five short of his half-century as he caught and bowled the Yorkshireman leaving the Three Lions 317-9.
Swann hit three more flashing boundaries before number 11 James Anderson fell for a duck as he edged the ball from Lyon behind to Brad Haddin.
Aussie openers Chris Rogers and David Warner came out for a tricky 15 minute spell and saw off the England attack despite one scare, as the Three Lions reviewed an lbw shout from Broad against Rogers, but the ball pitched outside leg stump, as they tourists finished 11-0.
Aussies at the Emirates Durham ICG
Several touring groups from Australia are here at the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground, we caught up with a couple of people to talk about their experiences of the north east so far.
Kevin Dale, Melbourne
"I think it's a very nice oval and very well presented. It's a very good pitch as well, hopefully we can build on it in the future.
It's a pretty place, we've had really nice weather up to this week. That's just the way of an English summer. We've had a look at the Riverwalk and it's lovely.
"The pitch is excellent and it makes for very entertaining cricket. It's going to be very close and that sort of cricket is the best.
Diane Denton, Newcastle, Sydney
"It's a nice personal ground. It's nice and small so it's very good and we're planning to go for a walk along the river.
"The Castle is lovely and we're planning a closer inspection later, we've been here for three weeks and it's been fantastic."
Kevin Dale, Melbourne
"I think it's a very nice oval and very well presented. It's a very good pitch as well, hopefully we can build on it in the future.
It's a pretty place, we've had really nice weather up to this week. That's just the way of an English summer. We've had a look at the Riverwalk and it's lovely.
"The pitch is excellent and it makes for very entertaining cricket. It's going to be very close and that sort of cricket is the best.
Diane Denton, Newcastle, Sydney
"It's a nice personal ground. It's nice and small so it's very good and we're planning to go for a walk along the river.
"The Castle is lovely and we're planning a closer inspection later, we've been here for three weeks and it's been fantastic."
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Hat-trick of Ashes centuries - Stumps on day 3
Ian Bell scored his third hundred of the series to bring back England from 49 for 3 to 234 for 5 and set up a big day at the Emirates Durham ICG on Monday.
Bell came to the crease with England's lead just 17 and walked back to the pavillion unbeaten with his team leading Australia by 202.
Kevin Pietersen fell six short of 50 to the bowling of Nathan Lyon, as he edged the ball to Chris Rogers, after a rescue partnership with Bell of 106.
Jonny Bairstow made 28 before being caught behind, leaving nightwatchman Tim Bresnan to play out the final overs with Bell, the century hero.
Bell came to the crease with England's lead just 17 and walked back to the pavillion unbeaten with his team leading Australia by 202.
Kevin Pietersen fell six short of 50 to the bowling of Nathan Lyon, as he edged the ball to Chris Rogers, after a rescue partnership with Bell of 106.
Jonny Bairstow made 28 before being caught behind, leaving nightwatchman Tim Bresnan to play out the final overs with Bell, the century hero.
The voice secret - honey and lemon
Jonathan Agnew had to "sharpen up" the next morning ready for commentary after Ian Botham's annual barbecue at his North Yorkshire home for cricket friends and colleagues on Saturday night.
"I have to look after my voice and on tours it becomes quite an issue – I’m a big honey and lemon in water man every day on tour for about a month. It really helps when you are broadcasting all day every day."
Before the Test started, Jonathan met his radio sparring partner Geoffrey Boycott for a live stage show in Newcastle to raise money for the PCA Benevolent Fund.
The pair were dubbed by Wisden as "The Lennon and McCartney of cricket broadcasting". Jonathan joked: "To be honest I’m not quite sure which is which - 'Little and Large' might be more appropriate maybe.
"But seriously I love working with Geoffrey - we are a good, if unlikely, combination. But in commentary at Durham when I was explaining the DRS I thought he was going to hit me!"
The Benevolent fund helps professional cricketers who fall on hard times and also supports families.
"A very good example of its importance is the help the fund has been able to provide for the family of former Surrey left-arm quick bowler David Thomas, who had multiple sclerosis and died in the early 1980's aged 53.
"That was well before his time. It's a very very worth cause and it's nice to be able to do something to support it," added Jonathan.
Agger's dogs tail!
Test Match Special commentator Jonathan knows Durham well and has been visiting for years, although he never played cricket at Durham.
"It is incredible to see how the place has changed, developed, transformed, improved but one thing has always been the same – it is how friendly it is to come here and it is a lovely rural set up. A feature of coming up here is the people who have always been so pleased to see us," he said.
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