da bet esporte： Player reaction from the fourth and decisive day of the second Ashes Test at Edgbaston
da lvbet： Steven Lynch at Edgbaston07-Aug-2005
Michael Vaughan: “A fitting end to a great game of cricket” © Getty Images
Not surprisingly, after the nerve-jangling end to an utterly astonishingTest match, Michael Vaughan still looked a bit pale when he faced thepress afterwards. “It was a fitting end to a great game of cricket,” hesaid. “But I really didn’t think it was going to get that close …”Two runs were all that separated the two teams at the end, the closestmargin in Ashes history. But Vaughan said he was always confident, atleast once the first stumbling-block was removed: “I always felt once wegot Shane Warne out we were only one ball away from victory. It wasobviously tight, and the pressure was there. The fielding team was underpressure, but as the target gets closer the batsmen are under morepressure too.”The result leaves the series – which, incredibly, has so far matched theunprecedented hype which preceded it – all square at one-all, going intonext Thursday’s third Test at Old Trafford. Vaughan admitted that Englandjust had to win today: “If we’d have lost the game and gone 2-0 down Idon’t think we’d have come back from there – not against a team like this.We’ve had two great matches now, and the next three will be no different.There are some outstanding individuals on show, and you’re going to seegood cricket.”Vaughan paid tribute to Andrew Flintoff, the Man of the Match. “He’s hadsome great performances before, but to do it against Australia, thatcertainly is an outstanding achievement. I thought the last-wicket standbetween Fred and Simon Jones was the real momentum swing in the game, andthen his first spell last night was a turning point too.”England will now take a couple of days off. Vaughan explained: “You’ve gotto unwind. We’ll relive the moment today, but Monday and Tuesday areimportant days to relax before we meet up for practice on Wednesday. Youcan’t think cricket all the time, or you’re going to get dazed.”Especially in this series, he might have added.Flintoff himself wasn’t exactly dazed, but he had to admit that things hadbeen a bit close for comfort out in the middle. “There were a lot ofnerves, we were getting a bit anxious, and I started to think about thatICC [Champions Trophy] final against West Indies last year. But we knew itonly takes one ball – we were just hoping it was going to come quickerthan it did though.”He bowled a lot this morning, but reckoned he still had something in thetank. “I had a few overs left – but the runs were ticking down, weren’tthey! Adrenalin was getting me there.” And the shoulder injury he pickedup yesterday didn’t seem to be a factor: “I was worried yesterday when Iwas batting, but I pulled up fine. It was a bit stiff this morning, butI’ll see how I feel tomorrow – I might have to give the physio a call. Butif there were any real problems I don’t think I’d have been able to bowl22 overs.”Ricky Ponting, Australia’s captain, said it was probably the best match hehad ever been involved with. “It was the most nerve-wracking end to a Testthat I’ve seen. Actually it’s up there with any game of cricket I’ve everplayed in – Tests, tight World Cup semi-finals, everything.”And while Ponting was generous in defeat, he said his side would take asmuch out of the match as England would. “I don’t feel shattered at themoment. I’m actually very proud of the way we played. I thought it wasoutstanding – we were very close to pulling off what would have been anunbelievable victory.”Asked whether he preferred tight, testing matches like this, or flatteningthe opposition the way the Aussies so often do, Ponting laughed. “I’drather be flattening ’em – at least I’d have some fingernails left!”Finally Ponting admitted that bowling first after winning the toss mighthave been a mistake. “Yeah, I will admit that the wicket did less than Iexpected on the first day, I guess I was wrong there. I expected a littlebit of moisture under the pitch, and the overhead conditions came into ittoo – if it had been a bright sunny morning it might have been different.”
