The Ashes 2017: We look at the top 5 Adelaide Oval Tests featuring Australia and England
THE Adelaide Oval has proven an Ashes enigma for the Aussies and the Poms should be emboldened heading into the second Test. Still, some of the best Tests have seen the hosts come out on top.
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THE Adelaide Oval has proven an Ashes enigma for the Aussies and the Poms should be emboldened heading into the second Test. Still, some of the best Tests have seen the hosts come out on top.
Here are five of the greatest Ashes Tests from Adelaide.
2006 — Amazing Adelaide (Australia won by six wickets)
This frequently populates lists of great Ashes Tests — and for good reason.
Australia somehow conjured up some magic late on to produce a stirring victory when a draw — or even an England win after two dominant days to start the Test — looked far more likely.
At the time, Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting called it ‘the best Test win I’ve ever been a part of.’
“To turn a Test match around like that, it just doesn’t happen.”
Victory certainly looked forlorn when Paul Collingwood (207) and Kevin Pietersen (158) featured in a partnership of 310 as the Poms amassed 6-551 declared.
Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke responded with centuries but the Aussies were still 38 runs behind when their innings came to an end late on day four.
Enter Shane Warne!
The great spinner turned in one of the spells of his career as England’s batsmen suddenly went into their shell.
When Jimmy Anderson was last man out after a 41-minute stay for just one, England had succumbed for 129 in 73 overs.
Australia needed 168 from 36 overs and the hosts pursued their target with vigour.
Michael Hussey proved the stabilising force after a slight wobble with an unbeaten 61 as the hosts grabbed the victory with 3.1 overs to spare.
2013 — Mighty Mitch (Australia won by 219 runs)
Australia may have piled on over 600 runs in their first innings but it was the impact of Mitchell Johnson that was the real story behind this comprehensive victory.
Johnson — fresh off a nine-wicket haul in the first Test in Brisbane a week earlier — was at his intimidating best, bowling at a truly frightening pace and getting some impressive reverse swing.
He set the England batsmen up by peppering them with short balls before tempting with a fuller offering. Four of his seven wickets in that first dig rattled the stumps.
The hosts reached 9-571 before declaring on the back of centuries from Michael Clarke (148) and Brad Haddin (118).
England were bundled out for 172 and only three batsmen reached double figures.
Captain Clarke didn’t ask them to follow on even though the deficit was just under 400.
David Warner — as is his want — dominated the second innings with an unbeaten 83 as Australia set England 531 to win.
Johnson was less effective but Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris stepped up to knock over England for 312.
1995 — Delicious Devon (England won by 108 runs)
The Poms interrupted what was shaping as another pedestrian Ashes tour to produce a performance of real substance and character in landing their first win in Adelaide for 16 years.
And central to their success was a much-maligned fast bowler.
On his day Devon Malcolm was unplayable. Six months earlier he had taken 9-57 against South Africa at The Oval.
But all too often he was troubled by inconsistencies and against Australia he never reached any dizzy heights — except in this Test.
Australia won the first two Tests in a canter but England showed glimpses of fight in a draw at the SCG to raise hopes of a strong showing in Adelaide.
And with Mike Gatting leading the way with 117, the Poms posted a decent 353.
Greg Blewett then scored an unbeaten 102 on debut, Mark Taylor 90 and Ian Healy 74 as the Aussies built a lead of 66. Malcolm picked up 3-78, knocking over the tail in quick time.
England were in trouble at 6-189 — a lead of just 123 — before a late cameo from Phil De Freitas (88) gave the Poms a big shot at victory.
Malcolm removed Taylor and Michael Slater cheaply before picking up the key wicket of Steve Waugh with a delivery the Aussie star barely saw.
Chris Lewis then ripped through the middle order to leave the hosts at 8-84 chasing 263 for victory.
Healy and Damien Fleming put up a brief fight but it was Malcolm who sealed the victory by trapping Peter McIntyre leg before.
1937 — Destructive Don — (Australia won by 148 runs)
Rarely does a cricket ground reminisce pass without the mention Sir Donald Bradman.
And Adelaide was certainly one of his more productive venues. In seven Tests, Bradman averaged 107.77.
He scored a brilliant unbeaten 299 against South Africa in 1932. Sixteen years later he pommeled the Indian attack for another double century.
The Poms didn’t emerge unscathed either.
The Ashes 80 years ago was an incredible series. The Poms won the first Test, Australia — despite being dismissed for 80 in their first innings — won the second Test in a canter before Bradman smashed 270 in a huge third Test success.
Then it was off to his home ground.
Bradman actually played little part in Australia’s first innings total of 288, contributing just 26.
England countered with a solid 330.
Then Bradman took over. The Aussie skipper produced an innings of immense quality to steer the hosts into an impregnable position.
His 212 included just 14 fours and took almost seven-and-a-half hours but in the context of the game — and the series — it was invaluable.
Set 392 to win, the Poms were reeled in by chinaman bowler Chuck Fleetwood-Smith who took 6-110 and ultimately fell 148 runs short.
1982 — Classy Chappell (Australia won by eight wickets)
Former Aussie skipper Greg Chappell put a defining mark on his career by breaking his Adelaide century duck and propelling Australia to a 2-0 series lead.
Chappell never really enjoyed much success in Adelaide — scoring just 583 runs at an average of 35.
He had only three times gone past 50 from 14 previous innings before — at age 34 — he finally delivered.
Against a quality attack led by Bob Willis and Ian Botham, Chappell hit 18 boundaries in an imperious 115, while Kim Hughes contributed 88 before being run out as Australia reached 438.
The home side’s pace attack then went to work as Rodney Hogg, Jeff Thomson and Geoff Lawson restricted the Poms to just 216.
Forced to follow on, David Gower caressed 114 as England threatened to make a game of it.
But Lawson smashed through the tail to give Australia a relatively easy task of 83 for victory.
And, yes, Chappell was there unbeaten at the end of it as well.
Originally published as The Ashes 2017: We look at the top 5 Adelaide Oval Tests featuring Australia and England
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