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Version 5 Version 6
Duo put Australia back in command Australia build massive advantage
(about 3 hours later)
Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds put England to the sword on the second day as Australia wrested back control of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne. Andrew Symonds hit a fine maiden Test century and Matthew Hayden plundered 153 as Australia ended day two of the fourth Test 213 runs ahead of England.
The hosts were struggling on 84-5 in reply to England's 159 in the morning. Andrew Flintoff, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison struck in the morning to leave the Aussies on 84-5, 75 behind.
But Hayden accelerated from a slow start to reach his 27th Test century in 170 balls, while Symonds also recovered from an uncertain beginning to hit 61. But Symonds (154) and Hayden added 279 before the latter and Adam Gilchrist fell to Sajid Mahmood before stumps.
The duo had put on an unbroken 142 by tea with Australia - 3-0 up in the series - cruising on 226-5, 67 ahead. Australia - 3-0 up in the series - closed on 372-7, with England looking weary and short of inspiration.
It marked quite a turnaround after England had put their Boxing Day batting misery behind them with a fine bowling display in the first session. It was a complete turnaround from the first session, when the tourists put their Boxing Day batting misery behind them with a fine bowling display.
Skipper Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard were right on target from the off, causing Ricky Ponting and Hayden plenty of problems with a combination of probing lines and movement through the air. Flintoff and Hoggard caused Ricky Ponting and Hayden problems with a combination of probing lines and movement through the air.
Ponting skied a pull off Flintoff to Alastair Cook at mid-wicket before Hoggard, who was carrying a slight rib injury, comprehensively bowled the prolific Mike Hussey.Ponting skied a pull off Flintoff to Alastair Cook at mid-wicket before Hoggard, who was carrying a slight rib injury, comprehensively bowled the prolific Mike Hussey.
Things got even better for the visitors when Steve Harmison's extra bounce induced Michael Clarke into edging behind during his first over, a wicket maiden. When Harmison produced a pearler that bounced and seamed away to have Michael Clarke caught behind in his first over, England were in charge.
Hoggard was arguably the pick of England's bowlers at the MCG However, with clouds gathering over the MCG, things stopped happening for them.
Hayden and Symonds rode their luck outside off-stump and the stand could have ended two balls after the lunch interval if Sajid Mahmood had hit the target from mid-off and run out Hayden. Hayden and Symonds did have to ride their luck early on, looking nervous outside off-stump.
But it was not long before the burly Queenslanders launched a succession of powerful strokes, finding the deep MCG boundaries with ease at times. Mahmood recovered to take two wickets late in the day
Symonds hammered Hoggard high over cover from successive deliveries before brutally lofting him over mid-wicket and the pressure seemed to lift when he reached his third Test fifty off 79 balls. And the stand could have ended two balls after lunch if Mahmood had hit the target from mid-off and run out Hayden.
Hayden, inspired by his friend's aggression, was also starting to free his arms and swung Hoggard over backward square-leg as the century partnership came up off 150 balls. But it was not long before the shackles which had previously prevented Symonds from blossoming as a Test player were cast off and he found the deep boundaries with embarrassing ease at times.
There were a couple of glimmers of hope for England in the last 40 minutes before tea: Collingwood got his fingertips to the ball when Symonds drove Flintoff high towards gully. Hoggard was thrashed high over cover off successive deliveries and lofted brutally over mid-wicket and there were scenes of delirium when he battered Paul Collingwood over long-on to reach three figures against the country of his birth.
And Monty Panesar had a confident lbw shout against the all-rounder rejected by umpire Rudi Koertzen. Symonds celebrated further by blasting Kevin Pietersen over deep mid-wicket and down the ground before bludgeoning Hoggard twice through the covers in awesome displays of his power.
But Australia's comfort was encapsulated by the sight of Hayden crashing the left-arm spinner down the ground for six and over wide mid-on to bring up his fifth century in the last six Tests at the MCG. Friend and fellow Queenslander Hayden was inspired by that aggression and also freed his arms.
Normal service had been resumed. He crashed left-arm spinner Monty Panesar down the ground for six and over wide mid-on to bring up his fifth century in the last six Tests at the MCG.
His increasing contempt for the bowling was illustrated when he dispatched the wayward Mahmood over long-on for a mighty six.
Mahmood returned late in the day to induce edges from Hayden and Gilchrist to the wicket-keeper and Collingwood at second slip.
And England did have reasonable shouts for lbw against Symonds on 52 and 142 from Panesar and Flintoff.
But by the end even the 31-year-old's mis-timed shots were flying away to all parts, with the force very much with him and his team.