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If the South Africans are “Chokers” in the words of Steve Waugh, then the English cricket team is “Bunglers”. Even the fulfillment of the prayers by the English fans for a century didn’t save England from a defeat by their arch rivals. The grotesque and frustrating display with bat left England outfit in the middle of nowhere.

The so-called successor of Mike Brearley’s, Michael Vaughan (5) again failed and with the career average of just 27 is now struggling for his place in the team. The ‘one-match-wonder’ Andrew Strauss (7) didn’t bother anyone much and Shaun Tait, made him flinch away to pavilion with a short ball, which Strauss guided towards his stumps following the example set by his skipper.

Ian Bell took the onus and played brilliantly for more than 2 hours and stoked 9 fours in every possible direction. He along with the star batsman Kevin Pietersen supported the English ploy of building the innings in initial and middle overs and then capitalizes upon them in the last 15 or 10. But the ploy again failed miserable, when English team didn’t even reach to 250 and in 49.5 overs, just made 247 runs, which were not par excellence with Aussie’s redoubtable batting. Rather self-centered innings by Kevin added 104 runs to the English score. His was the first century after 20 years by any English batsman in the world cup against any test playing nation.

Freddie the promised one again failed and was livid with it. Collingwood’s early and cheap exit was the real shock for then Union Jack. Ravi Bopara’s 21 on 36 balls rang some bells for them but not chimed for enough time. Rest was the story better forgotten. McGrath, Braken and Tait all took triple wickets with 1 for hyper Hogg.

A nice opening stand of solid 57 runs by Mathew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist told the whiff of up-coming win for Australia. Then Ricky Ponting again showed his mettle and manuovered the Aussie ship with such a dexterity even Vaughan was stunned and voice less. Ricky’s 86, suprisinly didnt contain any sixers but had plenty of master-piece shots. Clark’s jubilant half century and Symonds, twenties saw to Australia one step closer to Barbados. There is nothing to write home about English tired bowling.