The Ashes: Second Test

England took a significant stride towards retaining the Ashes with a whopping victory over a poor Australia in Adelaide.

Andrew Strauss' side won by an innings and 71 runs as an expected downpour failed to save the Aussies on the final morning. The tone was set in the very first over on the first morning when, after Simon Katich had been run out without facing a ball, skipper Ricky Ponting was then caught at slip by Graeme Swann off James Anderson for a first ball duck.

Only two runs were on the board when the duo hooked up again to remove the struggling Michael Clarke, leaving the home side bewildered and beleagured on 2-3. A partnership of 94 between Shane Watson and Michael Hussey steadied things a little for Ponting's side, but Anderson then struck again, having Watson caught in the gully by Kevin Pietersen for 51, and leaving Australia on 96-4.

Much like in the first test match it was Hussey and Brad Haddin who provided most of the resistance with the bat. After Marcus North was removed by Steven Finn for 26 the pair put on 51 to guide Australia to 201-6. However, the remaining four Aussie wickets fell for just 38 runs as the hosts were bowled out for 245 on what looked a more than decent batting track.

There was only time for one over at England's openers, much to the disgust of Ponting for whom clearly the strain was beginning to show. In a petulant display of whining and finger-wagging he accused Strauss and Alistair Cook of time-wasting as they saw out the final over of an eventful first day.

If Australia had had a bady day at the office on day one their troubles really started to mount when England batted. Strauss went cheaply for the second time in the series, but by the time Michael Clarke caught Jonathan Trott off Ryan Harris for 78 England had moved on to 176-2. With eight wickets in hand they were only 69 runs behind the Australians' first innings total. Worse was to come for the Aussie bowling attack as Pietersen entered the fray alongside Cook. The pair put on a walloping 275 for the third wicket, with Cook finally caught behind by Haddin off Harris just two runs short of 150.

Pietersen just went on and on, putting on another 101 alongside Paul Collingwood who was out lbw to Watson for 42. That left England 452-4, holding a lead of 207 as Ian Bell came to the crease. The Warwickshire batsman looked just as comfortable as those who had gone before him, helping Pietersen past his double century as England cruised serenely past 500. Pietersen eventually found Katich off the bowling of Xavier Doherty (left arm spinner, anyone?) for 227 yet still Strauss chose not to declare. Instead Matt Prior came in for some much needed practice, and was able to add 27 off just 21 balls before England finally folded their cards in on a barely conceivable 620-5.

All of which left Australia needing 376 in their second innnings just to make England bat for a second time. They were praying for rain on the final day. It had been forecast, but in the event came too late to save Ponting's side from a humiliating defeat. Despite offering credible resistance second time around, Australia could only find 304 in their second knock, with Swann claiming 5-91. The England spinner reminded everyone why he was being touted as England's key man before the series began, putting an ordinary performance in Brisbane in the first test well and truly behind him in this one.

There were also second innings wickets for Anderson (2-92), Finn (2-60) and even Pietersen whose dismissal of Clarke for 80 proved vital. The Australian vice-captain was caught by Cook, and with him went any realistic hopes the Aussies had of saving the match and going to Perth for the third test all-square. Instead, Ponting knows that his side must now win at least two of the three remaining tests to regain the Ashes from English clutches.

A lack of consistency in selection probably won't help Ponting. He is on the verge of becoming the first Australian captain to lose three Ashes series and has been thrown a few curve-balls by the selectors ahead of the Perth clash. Phil Hughes has had to come in to replace the injured Katich, but out by choice have gone Doug Bollinger, Doherty and North to be replaced by Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Steve Smith. Michael Beer is a real left-field selection as a left-arm spin option, sparking a fair bit of chat in the Australian press that the selectors might not be entirely sure what they are doing. Beer surely won't make the final 11, and so of the others only Smith seems likely to provide any genuine spark. Johnson toiled horribly in Brisbane and was dropped for the Adelaide clash, while Hilfenhaus was also deemed not good enough following his performance at the Gabba. Quite what has happened since to change the minds of the Australian selectors is a mystery as baffling as the inclusion of Beer. There's clearly a fair bit of desperation creeping into the decision-making processes.

By contrast England's only real problem is the injury to Stuart Broad. The Nottinghamshire quick has a side strain that will rule him out of the rest of the series (cue gags about the state of Ponting's side) and so England will need to find a replacement. Chris Tremlett was a front-runner before a creaky performance in the tour match against Victoria, so the selectors may yet opt to go for the more experienced Tim Bresnan. Anderson flew home to attend the birth of his child but should be back in time to play, while again Swann will provide the spin option as England look to put the series beyond their old rivals.

It is very difficult to see how Australia can take the 20 wickets they would need to win this one and get back into the series. Four of England's top seven are averaging over 100 in the series so far, while Prior's century in Victoria served notice that he too is well capable of piling on the runs if called upon. Expect England to be celebrating by the end of the fifth day's play at the WACA.