Brilliant Australia blow India away in Melbourne

The most gripping day of the Melbourne Test ended in an anti-climax with Australia crushing India by 122 runs.

Australia had their backs to the wall at the start of Day 4, but their positive intent and perfect execution of bowling plans laid low their opponents. India were bizarrely defensive with the ball and showed no stomach for a fight with the bat chasing a stiff 292.

One of Australia’s finds of the season, James Pattinson, and Peter Siddle made the most of India’s trigger-happiness with the bat. They bowled in the right areas — Pattinson’s high pace in particular troubled every batsman — and India obliged them with outside edges.

This was the sort of wicket were the home team also made the same mistakes with the bat. But the key to winning this game was building partnerships. Australia had several; India, none.

India let momentum slip

In the morning session, Mike Hussey, Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus thrived with MS Dhoni’s conservative field settings that allowed them to pick easy singles and score the occasional boundary.

India, 230 runs behind at the start of the day, let the momentum drift. No team has chased more than 250 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground since 1961.

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir fell cheaply. The contest practically ended when Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli fell within a few overs of each other in the noon session. What came to hurt India bad was their conservative tactics against the Australia lower order.

Their last four wickets added 119 runs in the first innings and 92 in the second. In a low-scoring game such as this, 211 runs were a lot to give away to the tail-end. To Australia’s credit, they fought tooth and nail and the 60 runs they added this morning caused a seismic momentum shift.

Pattinson took seven wickets in the game, and batting at No. 10, was unbeaten in both innings in making 18 and 37. But this wouldn’t have been possible had Dhoni applied greater pressure on him his partners.

Former Australia captain and commentator Ian Chappell in particular was critical of Dhoni’s methods. Today, he described them as “... ridiculous... an absolute blue print on how to lose a Test match.” India proved him right.

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1:59 AM

Fourth Test: Ashes live score and latest summary - Headingley, Leeds

Australia's Michael Clarke (R) hits out watched by England's Paul Collingwood during the second day of the fourth Ashes cricket test match at Headingley Carnegie cricket ground in Leeds, England, August 8, 2009.

Live Scorecard
Australia win by an innings and 80 runs

England First Innings 102 all out
Australia First Innings 445 all out
England Second Innings 263 all out Batsman Runs Fours Sixes
Strauss lbw b Hilfenhaus 32 4 0
Cook c Haddin b M Johnson 30 4 0
Bopara lbw b Hilfenhaus 0 0 0
Bell c Ponting b M Johnson 3 0 0
Collingwood lbw b M Johnson 4 0 0
Anderson c Ponting b Hilfenhaus 4 1 0
Prior c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 22 3 0
Broad c Watson b Siddle 61 10 0
Swann c Haddin b Johnson 62 7 1
Harmison not out 19 4 0
Onions b Johnson 0 0 0

AUSTRALIA HAVE WON THE FOURTH TEST MATCH BY AN INNINGS AND 80 RUNS.

At the end of play day 2, England have almost all but lost the game. Australia were all out for 445 runs and England came to bat for their second innings with a massive first innings deficit of 343.

Strauss and Cook appeared to make a good start but both got out in their 30s and Bopara got out for a golden duck as expected. He is not a number 3 batsman and despite failing repeatedly to show the class and temperament required for a number 3 position the selectors continued to persevere with him. A solid number 3 position may have helped prevent an England collapse in both the innings.

Following the departure of Bopara, Bell and Collingwood followed suit getting out for 3 and 4 runs respectively.

England ended the day at 82/5 still 261runs behind. Australia will look to wrap up the match within couple of hours on Day 3.

Swann is the only English bowler to have an economy rate of less than 3 (2.63 to be accurate). Broad has 3.00, but partly due to bowling so wide to the off stump. England's main strike bowlers Anderson and Harmison have an economy rate in excess of 4 runs and Anderson has 4.94 runs per over. Not a pleasant reading if you are an English fan.

North creams two fours in an Onions over, both through the off side. One beyond square and another through the cover region.

Johnson gets a short delivery from Harmison and goes for the pull/hook shot but gets the edge and the ball goes high over the slips and the keeper for four runs.

Wicket with the new ball. England have struck with the second new ball of the innings. Harmison with a short delivery that was quick on Haddin who went for a pull but completely mistimed it and scoops it up and a nice and easy catch taken by Bell. Haddin goes for 14 runs

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10:56 AM