We can still win test, says Australia coach Buchanan

By Staff
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ADELAIDE, Dec 2 (Reuters) Australia have not given up hope of winning the second Ashes test despite allowing England to amass 551-6 in their first innings today.

The home side lost Justin Langer for four runs to slump to 28-1 at stumps on day two but coach John Buchanan said a victory was not out of the question with the Adelaide Oval pitch playing so slowly.

''Make 700 and bowl them out for under 150 on the last day,'' Buchanan told a news conference when asked about his team's strategy.

''There's still a win on offering, there's three days to go, but we're not in a position to dictate that right at the moment, but we first have to negotiate the new ball.

''Our job tomorrow is really to negotiate the new ball and once we do that, hopefully we'll have a foundation partnership going, it minimises your risks.'' Australia racked up more than 800 runs for the loss of 10 wickets in their 277 run win over England in last week's first test in Brisbane, but Buchanan said the tourists had improved a lot since then.

They were skittled for 157 in the first innings in Brisbane but made 370 in the second knock before Paul Collingwood (206) and Kevin Pietersen (158) helped them set up an early declaration in Adelaide.

''We would have expected that fightback after the first test match,'' Buchanan said.

''To go out and put those runs together is a good reply.'' CLASS PLAYER Buchanan praised the performances of both Collingwood and Pietersen, who shared a record fourth-wicket partnership of 310 to frustrate the Australian bowlers.

''(Collingwood's) a thorny character. He's hard to dislodge at the best of times and I think he's one player who really has improved his game,'' Buchanan said.

''He values his wicket very highly, he's improved his shot-making ability and certainly improved his footwork against spin so we're seeing some early results of that.

''(Pietersen's) obviously a class player and that interests me why either he or Duncan Fletcher continue to bat him at five.

''I would have thought that he's the outstanding batsman of their side and rather having other players blunt the new ball for him I cannot understand why he's not up the order.'' Buchanan also defended the defensive approach of Australia's bowlers after Shane Warne (1-167), Brett Lee (1-139) and Glenn McGrath (0-107) all conceded over 100 runs in one of the worst collective performances of their careers.

Warne spent large parts of the day bowling around the wicket to Pietersen, pitching the ball outside his legs and allowing him to pad the ball away without trying to score runs.

''I was very happy with what our bowlers did, the strategies they chose or the execution of those strategies, but again England executed their game plan pretty well,'' Buchanan said.

''Shane's approach wouldn't be seen as that of a defensive player, he always has a plan in mind and a means to do that and try to get players out.

''It was a bit of stalemate because we had two very skilled players deadlocked at that point in time.'' REUTERS PDS BD1548

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