Trott puts England’s Ashes 2009 hopes on track
Ton-up Trott grounded the Aussies and it left England eyeing a stunning Ashes triumph as they closed in on a series-clinching victory in the fifth and deciding Test at the Oval on Saturday. With the weekend crowd building up steadily throughout the day, Australia were given a victory target of 546 and in reply they were 80 without loss – still needing a further 466 runs to reach what would be a new Test record fourth innings victory total of 546.
The day belonged to debutant Trott who scored a chanceless 119 and remained the centrepiece of England’s second innings 373 for nine declared in a match where a win would see them regain the Ashes by taking the series 2-1.
Openers Shane Watson (31 not out) and Simon Katich (42 not out) ensured Australia made a sound start to their imposing chase.
“I knew I was there or thereabouts. I just had to put in the hard yards in county cricket and I’m thankful I got the opportunity,” Trott said after the end of the day’s play. England, at tea, were 290 for seven. Trott was 83 not out and Graeme Swann 34 not out, with part-time Australia spinner Marcus North taking Test-best figures of four for 98.
The visitors grabbed the new ball immediately after tea but England responded by thrashing their pace bowlers for 83 runs in 12 overs. Swann, dropped on 47 by Ponting, made a dashing 63 off just 55 balls as he added 90 for the eighth wicket with Trott at better than a run-a-ball. Trott, retained his composure although on 97 he nearly played on to Ben Hilfenhaus. But his clipped four off the swing bowler took him to a hundred in 182 balls.
The 28-year-old became the 18th England batsman to make a century on Test debut and the first to do so against Australia since Graham Thorpe at Trent Bridge in 1993. His hundred was only the second by an England batsman this series after captain Andrew Strauss’s 161 in their 115-run second Test win at Lord’s. He was the last man out, caught by North off Stuart Clark.
Interestingly, Four years ago an Oval hundred by a South Africa-born batsman Kevin Pietersen had helped regain the Ashes for England. Trott’s innings may yet enable them to do so with a win. Strauss declared to set Australia would be a new fourth innings victory total, surpassing the 418 for seven made by West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.
Australia will go all out to chase 546 but they have to bat out of their skins if they nurse hopes of reaching the momentous target. Watch out this space for more on the fourth day of this eventful Test.
