Australia captain Michael Clarke could have been forgiven for cutting a disconsolate figure on Sunday, after watching his side lose the first Ashes Test by 14 runs against. Instead, Clarke felt Australia had proved a point to the pundits who had predicted England would walk the series 5-0.
‘I hope we get a bit of respect by the way we’ve played. People who’ve written us off, I think we might have showed enough to change their minds. I think our boys should hold their heads high, Clarke said. The tourists were just 15 runs away from winning the Test and also breaking the record for the highest successful run chase by a last wicket Test pairing. Brad Haddin and James Pattinson put on 65 for the final wicket, taking their team from 231-9 to 296.
‘If I’d used my reviews better, I’d have had an opportunity to correct it when there was a howler. I don’t think the Test was decided on one DRS decision. There were plenty of times when we could have done things better. We’ll learn from that,’ Clarke said. The tense finale drew comparisons with the second Ashes Test at Edgbaston in 2005 when England had seemed to be on course for a comfortable win, only for Brett Lee and Kasprowicz to put on 59 for the final wicket. Australia needed just three runs to win when Kasprowicz gloved Harmison behind to Jones to seal a thrilling win.
‘I hope we get a bit of respect by the way we’ve played. People who’ve written us off, I think we might have showed enough to change their minds. I think our boys should hold their heads high, Clarke said. The tourists were just 15 runs away from winning the Test and also breaking the record for the highest successful run chase by a last wicket Test pairing. Brad Haddin and James Pattinson put on 65 for the final wicket, taking their team from 231-9 to 296.
‘If I’d used my reviews better, I’d have had an opportunity to correct it when there was a howler. I don’t think the Test was decided on one DRS decision. There were plenty of times when we could have done things better. We’ll learn from that,’ Clarke said. The tense finale drew comparisons with the second Ashes Test at Edgbaston in 2005 when England had seemed to be on course for a comfortable win, only for Brett Lee and Kasprowicz to put on 59 for the final wicket. Australia needed just three runs to win when Kasprowicz gloved Harmison behind to Jones to seal a thrilling win.