Media heaps blame on “clueless” Aussies

Wednesday, 1 December 2010 00:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

BRISBANE (Reuters) - Blame, not credit, was the bitter medicine required after England saved the first Ashes test at the Gabba with a record-breaking second innings, Australia’s media decreed on Tuesday.

Led by Alastair Cook’s unbeaten 235, England batted through two days to rescue a dire position and take a morale boosting draw on Monday at a venue where Australia traditionally puts tourists to the sword.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was once again the whipping boy of a media more used to trumpeting winners and champions than explaining why their team had failed to take more than one wicket in two days of cricket.

“Ashes humiliation - Ponting lets Gabba test slip away,” read the front page of the Australian, while Brisbane’s Courier-Mail splashed the word “Clueless” over an unflattering picture of the Australia skipper.