Ashes Bet

Following a comprehensive 277 run defeat in the first Test Match of the 2006 Ashes series in Brisbane, England went into the 2nd Test Match in Adelaide against Australia desperate to level the series.

England won the toss and chose to bat first, the tourists made a shaky start but a magnificent partnership of 310 runs between Kevin Pietersen who made 158 and Paul Collingwood who made a career best 206, helped England to post a mammoth total of 551-6 declared.

Ricky Ponting made his second consecutive century to aid Australia's reply, but the home side were 312-5 in their first innings at the end of day 3 and at this stage only two results seemed possible, an England victory or a draw.

Michael Clarke joined, Ponting as a centurion on day 4, as the home side managed to post a total of 513, England then closed day 4 on 59-1 with an overall lead of 97.

Despite their seemingly healthy position in the match, England managed to squander the initiative with they had had for much of the Test Match on the final day.

Australia managed to run through England on day 5 bowling out the tourists for a meagre 129, Shane Warne was the hero for Australia as he finished with figures of 4-49.

England's 2nd innings collapse left Australia needing 168 to win the 2nd Test Match and take a 2 nil lead in the series, the home side did lose the wickets of their openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer relatively early, but Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke held their nerve and in the end Australia were able to seal an epic 6 wicket victory.

Australia gained so much confidence from winning a match that 90% of the time, they had been on the back foot, indeed Ponting's men would regain the Ashes in the next Test Match in Perth, and they went on to complete a 5-0 series whitewash.