What a difference a week makes.... Roll back to Thursday 24th November and the Ashes series kicked off with the Aussies as seemingly underdogs and on the rack. By the end of the first days play the Aussies had fired a stark warning that they wanted their urn back after dismissing England for 260.
Well England managed to hold off defeat in that test thanks to an incredible 235 not out from Essex batsman Alastair Cook, so still level going into the second test England needed a better start than that of the previous test, and boy did they get it.
An explosive first three overs in Adelaide saw the host 2-3 with the Aussie press ready to attack a forlorn looking Skipper Ricky Ponting who had scored 0. Things got no better for the hosts as they slumped to a dismal 245 all out on a batters pitch... Alarm bells ringing for Australia cricket.
Englands reponse was nothing short of breathtaking, despite losing Skipper Andrew Strauss early, another mind blowing performance from Cook and his partner Kevin Pietersen helped the visitors reach 551-4 at the close of play on the third day, Pietersen still about on 213 not out.
So with a lead of 306 and still with six wickets remaining, hopes will be high that the holders of the famous urn can turn this exceptional batting display into a confident win... a far cry from the opening first day of Test One last week.
Do you think England will win the Ashes Down Under this year, and do you think that Australian cricket is not what it use to be?
Let me know
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