Australia-England – Fourth Test at Melbourne – Dec 2010 – England won by an innings and 157 runs

England’s win by an innings and 157 runs in this test provide the 93^rd occasion of England winning a test by an innings margin. This win also represents the 26^th occasion of England’s innings win against Australia.

England’s win by an innings and 157 runs in this test provides the seventh innings victory over Australia at Melbourne. Others are – by b innings and 225 runs in Feb 1912 : by an innings and 98 runs in Mar 1885 : by an innings and 29 runs in 1925 : by an innings and 27 runs in Jan 1883 : by an innings and 14 runs in Dec 1986 and by an innings and 04 runs in Feb 1975

Thus England’s win by an innings and 157 runs in this test represents the second largest win by an innings at Melbourne. The largest win was by an innings and 225 runs in Feb 1912

Australia suffered its 40^th innings loss when it went down to England by an innings and 157 runs in this test.

Australia was all out for 98 in the first innings of this test providing the 37th occasion of it being dismissed for a total of 100 and less than 100 in a test innings against various oppositions. Australia’s total provides the 13^th occasion of it being dismissed for a total of 100 and less than 100 runs on Australian soil and for the second occasion at Melbourne. The first occasion was against India when Australia was all out for 83 in Feb 1981.

Australia’s 98 all out represent its lowest total in a completed innings at Melbourne against England and in the Ashes series.

MJ Prior pouched six catches in the first innings providing the tenth occasion of an England wicket keeper effecting six or more dismissals against various oppositions and the fifth occasion of an England wicket keeper effecting six or more dismissasls against Australia. The other four occasions are – RC Russel {06 – all caught} at Melbourne in Dec 1990 : AJ Stewart {06 – all caught} at Manchester in Jul 1997 : CMW Read {06 – all caught} at Melbourne in Dec 2006 and CMW Read {06 – 05 ct and 01 st} at Sydney in Jan 2007.

MJ Prior earned the distinction of becoming the first England wicket keeper batsman to score a fifty and effect six dimissals in a test against Australia. He effected six dismissals in Australia’s first innings and scored 85 in England’s second innings,

MJ Prior’s feat of effecting six dismissals and scoring a fifty {85] in the second innings makes him the only England wicket keeper to perform such a feat against all oppositions.

MJ Prior became the fourth wicket keeper in the annals of test cricket to score a fifty and effect six dismissals in an innings in the same test. The foursome are – MV Boucher of South Africa – 52 and 06 catches vs Pakistan at Port Elizabeth in Mar 1998 : MS Dhoni of India – 52 and 56 not out plus six catches vs New Zealand at Wellington in Apr 2009 and DT Lindsay of South Africa – 69 and 182 plus six catches vs Australia at Johannesburg in Dec 1966 and MJ Prior of England 85 and six catches vs Australia at Melbourne in Dec 2010

DT Lindsay of South Africa {69 and 182 plus six catches at Johannesburg in Dec 1966} and MJ Prior of England {85 and six catches at Melbourne in Dec 2010} are the two wicket keepers to effect six dismissals in an innings and score a fifty in a test against Australia.

MG Johnson and BW Hilfenhaus scored zeroes in the Australia’s first innings and MEK Hussey and BW Hilfenhaus scored zeroes in the Australia’s second innings with which the number of zeroes scored by Australian batsmen against England swelled to 632.

BW Hilfenhuas collected a pair in this test providing the 40^th occasion of an Australian batsman colleceting a pair in a test against England. His pair provides the 22^nd occasion of an Australian batsman scoring ducks in both innings of a test against England in Australia.

BW Hilfenhaus became the sixth Australian batsman to collect a pair against England at Melbourne. Others are – VT Trumper in Feb 1908 : IWG Johnson in Jan 1947 : JB Iverson in Feb 1951 : G Dymock in Feb 1975 and GD McGrath in Dec 1998.

AJ Strauss and AN Cook opened the innings in this test to provide the 100^th innings of their partnership. They became the fifth pair in the annals of test cricket to partners in 100 or more innings. Other pair to have partnered in 100 or more innings are – CG Greenidge-DL Haynes of West Indies {148} : R Dravid-SR Tendulkar of India {129} : ML Hayden-JL Langer of Australia {122} : MS Atapattu-ST Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka {122}

AJ Strauss {69}, AN Cook {82}, IJL Trott {168*} and KP Pietersen {51} scored fifties in England’s innings providing the 63^rd occasion of first four batsmen scoring fifties in an innings in the annals of test cricket. England batsman’s feat provides the 20^th such occasion in the annals of test cricket and fifth such occasion against Australia.

The five such occasions are – at The Oval in 1899 {FS Jackson – 118 : TW Hayward – 137 : KS Ranjitsinhji – 54 and CB Fry – 60} : at Lord’s in Jun 1926 {JB Hobbs – 119 : H Sutcliffe – 82 : FE Woolley – 87 and EH Hendren – 127} : at Leeds in Jul 1948 – first innings – L Hutton – 81 : C Washbrook – 143 : WJ Edrich – 111 and AV Bedser – 79} and at Leeds in 1948 – second innings – L Hutton – 57 : C Washbrook – 65 : WJ Edrich – 54 and DCS Compton – 66}

AJ Strauss {69}, AN Cook {82}, IJL Trott {168*}, KP Pietersen {51} and MJ Prior {85} scored fifties in England’s innings providing the ninth occasion of England’s five or more batsmen scoring fifties in an innings against Australia. England batsmen’s feat provides the third occasion of such a feat against Australia at Melbourne. The other two occasions are in Feb 1925 and Dec 1965,

AJ Strauss’s 69 in this test represent his tenth half century while leadi
ng England. Other England captains to score ten or more half centuries are – MA Atherton {22} : ER Dexter {17} : N Hussain {17} : GA Gooch {16} : PBH May {15} and MP Vaughan {13}

AJ Strauss’s 69 in this test represents his 23^rd half century and 42^nd fifty : AN Cook’s 82 represents his 24^th half century and 39^th fifty : IJL Trott’s 168 not out represents his fifth hundred and tenth fifty : KP Pietersen’s 51 represents his 21^st test half century and 38^th fifty and MJ Prior’s 85 represents his 16 test half century and 19^th fifty.

MJ Prior’s 85 in this test represent the 52^nd occasion of an England wicket keeper batsman scoring a fifty against Australia. This knock represents his third fifty against England. Other two occasions are – 56 at Cardiff at Jul 2009 : 61 at Lord’s in Jul 2009. Thus his 85 in this test represents highest test score against England.

IJL Trott’s 168 not out in this test provide the 228^th occasion of an England batsman scoring a hundred against Australia. This knock represents IJL Trott’s third hundred against England – 119 at The Oval in Aug 2009 : 135 not out at Brisbane in Nov 2010 and 168 not out at Melbourne in Dec 2010. Thus 168 not out in this test represent his highest individual innings against England.

AJ Strauss and AN Cook added 159 runs for the first wicket and IJL Trott and MJ Prior added 173 runs for the sixth wicket in this test. These two partnerships represent the 299^th and 300^th three figure partnerships by England batsmen against Australia.

AJ Strauss and AN Cook added 159 runs for the first wicket in this test providing the 61^st occasion of England batsmen posting a three figure stand for the first wicket against Australia.

IJL Trott and MJ Prior added 173 runs for the sixth wicket in this test providing the 29th occasion of England batsmen posting a three figure stand for the sixth wicket against Australia.

England became the second team to post 300 plus century stands against a specific opposition. It has posted 300 century stands against Australia. Australia was the first team to post 300 plus century stands against a specific opposition. At the end of this this test it has posted 306 century stands against England.

PM Siddle captured 6 for 75 in this test providing the 121^st occasion of an Australian bowler capturing six or more wickets in an innings against England. His figures represent the 68^th occasion of an Australian bowler capturing six or more wickets in an innings against England in Australia.

PM Siddle captured 6 for 75 in this test providing the 28^th occasion of an Australian bowler capturing six or more wickets in an innings in a losing cause against England. His figures represent the 13^th occasion of an Australian bowler capturing six or more wickets in an innings in a losing cause against England in Australia.

PM Siddle’s 6 for 75 in this test represent his fourth five wicket innings haul in tests. Other three occasions are – 6 for 54 vs England at Brisbane in Nov 2010 : 5 for 21 vs England at Leeds in Aug 2009 and 5 for 59 vs South Africa at Sydney in Jan 2009.

England’s 513 in this test provide the 24^th occasion of England posting a total of 500 plus runs in an innings against Australia.

PJ Hughes was dismissed run out for 23 in the second innings providing the 196^th occasion of an Australian batsman run out against England. It also provides the 46^th occasion of an Australian opening batsman run out against England.

SR Watson scored 54 in this test providing the 278^th occasion of an Australian opening batsman scoring a fifty against Australia. SR Watson’s 54 in this test represent his seventh fifty as an opening batsman against Australia. SR Watson became the 15^th Australian opening batsman to score seven or more fifties against Australia.

SR Watson scored 54 in this test providing the 183^rd occasion of an Australian opening batsman scoring a half century against Australia. SR Watson’s 54 in this test represent his seventh half century as an opening batsman against Australia. SR Watson became the ninth Australian opening batsman to score seven or more half centuries against Australia. Others are – MA Taylor {15} : WM Lawry {13} : W Bardsley {08} : AR Morris {08} : RB Simpson {07} : KR Stackpole {07} : VT Trumper {07} and WM Woodful {07}

SR Watson {54} and BJ Haddin {55 not out} scored fifties in this test providing the 951^st and 952^nd occasion of an Australian batsman scoring a fifty against England

SR Watson {54} and BJ Haddin {55 not out} scored half centuries in this test providing the 654^th and 655^th occasion of an Australian batsman scoring a fifty against England

BJ Haddin’s 55 not out in this test provide the 52^nd occasion of an Australian wicket keeper batsman scoring a fifty against England.

MJ Prior {85} and BJ Haddin {55*} scored fifties in this test providing the 12^th occasion of rival wicket keeper batsmen scoring fifties in Australia-England test series.

MJ Prior {85} and BJ Haddin {55*} scored fifties in this test providing the 83^rd occasion of rival wicket keeper batsmen scoring fifties in the annals of test cricket.

SR Watson’s 54 in this test represent his 15^th test half century and 17^th fifty, while BJ Haddin’s 55 not out represents his eighth test half century and 11^th fifty.

RJ Harris of Australia was absent in this test in the second innings providing the 140h occasion of a batsman absent hurt in a test innings in the annals of test cricket.

RJ Harris was absent hurt in the second innings of this test providing the 28^th occasion of an Australian batsman absent hurt against various oppositions and 16^th such occasion against England. AK Davidson was the last batsman absent hurt against England at Nottingham in Jun 1956.