Tim ensures a Paine-ful loss
ENGLAND will be looking to avoid a humiliating series whitewash at the Riverside on Sunday after slumping to another heavy defeat by Australia at Trent Bridge yesterday.
Wicketkeeper Tim Paine struck 111 in a 163-run stand with Mike Hussey to help the tourists close on an imposing 296-8. Indeed, it proved too much for shambolic England who never recovered from losing captain Andrew Strauss to the second ball of the innings, eventually being dismissed for 185 with tail-ender Tim Bresnan top scoring on 31.
Victory in Durham on Sunday would hand the tourists a 7-0 series success – a feat which has never before happened in international cricket.
And unless Strauss’ men can dig themselves out of this mess and somehow salvage something for the final match, then next week’s Champions Trophy campaign looks set to end in more doom and gloom.
England’s abject display was encapsulated by two run-outs in the space of six balls after Australian captain Ricky Ponting scored two direct hits to see off Matt Prior and Bopara.
Strauss has been England’s most prolific batsman by far this series but he was unfortunate to be caught behind off a Brett Lee delivery which brushed the outside of his shoulder.
Sadly, England never recovered despite Bresnan’s late swansong, although it would have taken a mighty effort to take the plaudits away from Paine, whose 148-ball knock, including 14 fours and six, was worthy of winning any match.
Hussey chipped in with 65, while Cameron White (35) and James Hopes (38) piled on enough middle order runs to ensure James Anderson’s 4-55 accounted for nothing.
“It wasn’t good enough,” a disappointed Strauss said. “We’re not going to make any excuses. The confidence has eroded from all our batsmen.”