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| December 18, 2006 | Monday | Ziqa'ad 26, 1427 |
‘Australia ready to celebrate Ashes victory’
PERTH, Dec 17: Fast bowler Glenn McGrath said Australia were getting ready to celebrate regaining the Ashes with just five wickets needed to wrap up the series.
McGrath dismissed defiant opener Alastair Cook then nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard just before stumps on Sunday to leave Australia poised to win the third Test on the last day on Monday.
England would need to bat through the final day to salvage a draw or pull off a miracle to win after slumping to 265 for five chasing 557 to win.
But McGrath said the Australians were confident of finishing off the tourists on Monday to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and regain the Ashes they lost last year.
“As soon as that last wicket falls, hopefully at some stage tomorrow, then we can start celebrating and the Ashes will be back home,” McGrath told a news conference.
McGrath said Australia knew they still had their work cut out getting the next two wickets but were confident of polishing off the tail once they made the breakthrough.
“If we can get some early wickets, then hopefully we can wrap it up,” McGrath said.
Australia's bowlers were forced to work hard on Sunday with Cook making 116 and Ian Bell 87 to stall their push for victory.
The pair batted through the first three and a half hours of the day in a 170-run partnership for the second wicket and it was not until the final session that Australia finally turned the screws.
“I thought he (Cook) batted exceptionally well. He set himself up for a long innings and walked off with a hundred,” McGrath said.
“He was prepared to do the hard work and wait until we bowled a bad ball before he scored. He really applied himself well.”—Reuters
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