Australia vs England, 2nd Test at Adelaide, Dec 03 2010 - Ball by Ball Commentary

England win by an innings and 71 runs, and take a priceless 1-0 lead with three Tests to be played. Swann had been identified as the man to spearhead England's push on the fifth day and he's done just that, finishing with 5 for 91to bowl England to their 100th Test win over Australia. The hosts suffer the ignominy of their first innings defeat at home since their capitulation to the West Indies at Perth in 1993 and, to be brutally honest, it's hard to see them bouncing back to win two of the next three games to reclaim the urn. Stranger things have happened, of course, but Australia will need something truly inspirational.

Andrew Strauss's decision to bat on on the fourth morning is vindicated by the eventual result - the 69 runs added tallying nicely with the victory by an innings and 71. England will be slighted dented by the loss of Broad, but they've got the likes of Chris Tremlett, Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan as back-up. Tremlett, in particular, could be a real handful at the WACA, while Shahzad has the ability to reverse the old ball.

"We got off to a shambolic start to the Test match, and it was always going to be hard to fight back from there," says Ricky Ponting. "We needed to make a big score in the first innings and 245 was never going to be enough. We also put down a few crucial catches in the field. It's just those little things which are literally slipping through our hands at the moment, you can't give good players second and third chances. We've got to go away and do some soul-searching. England have kept us under real pressure, and we've got to find a way to cope with that."

"You're always thinking back to what happened here four years ago and asking 'could Australia find a way to get back into this game?' but we were pretty clinical out there. A lot of boxes ticked in this game," says Andrew Strauss, adding the obligatory comment about being careful of complacency. "When you're confident things start happening for you as a matter of course, you don't have to push it," he says of England's dramatic start to this Test with the ball.

"Even when Hussey was getting them back in the game, they weren't going anywhere and we always find if we could just get one wicket we'd be ahead again. Swann did a great job of strangling the batsmen in the first innings too. Batsmen like to score runs, and if they can't they get a bit edgy," adds Strauss, who also makes special mention of how pleased he is that KP has his swagger back.

"We've got some good momentum, but the guys are pretty tired after back to back Tests and certainly some of the bowlers will need a rest. And maybe some of the batsmen too. The loss of Broad will be very big, he's been a senior bowler for us, but we've got three guys bowling well and who are all chomping at the bit to get out there. We'll take into account how they bowl at the MCG, but I do have some plans.

"To put the ghosts of four years ago to bed is really good for us. The last six days or so have been outstanding cricket for us."

Well, it all happened very quickly in the first session and it's a surprisingly early finish for your commentary team. From me, Liam Brickhill, and Sahil Dutta it's goodbye. Thanks for all the mail, we do read absolutely everything and try to get as much in as possible. Your company has been warmly appreciated on some long winter nights here at Cricinfo Towers in London. Before you go, Brydon's Coverdale's bulletin is, as always, well worth a read - although possibly not if you're a fan of Australia. Goodbye for now.

Finn replaces Anderson

Ian: "Must be time for us to suck it up and take some lip from the Poms!! They have had to cop it for long enough. Lets hope we don't have to take it for as long as they have had to."

This, from Sean, is inspired: "Sung to Black Eyed Peas tune, Where is the Love?

"Wickets crashing wickets falling

The Pommies laughing at the mauling

Can we practice what they bowl

Put an end to KP's roll?

Father Father Father help us

Send some guidance from above

Cause people got me got me questioning

Where is the rain?(where is the rainx3)(the rain2x)"

Three slips, two gullys, a short leg and a short extra for Bollinger

Just to add to Australia's woes we have news coming in that Simon Katich is out of the series with an Achilles injury. More on that as when we get it.