Oz media hits out at England's 'time-wasting' bowling tactics in Oval Test

The Australian media has hit out at England's under-fire 'go-slow tactics' in the final Ashes Test at The Oval, saying that the hosts' bowlers had wasted valuable time and opportunity in their probable act of damage litigation.

According to News.com.au, English bowlers used every devious tactics short of hiding the stumps to delay bowling to their archrivals, which however, heartened the tourists greatly as they managed to retain control of the final Test in the second day also.

The report further said that Stuart Broad was reduced to bowling long hops to Steve Smith, who made his maiden Test century, while rookie all-rounder James Faulkner smashed three fours in an over from Broad, unthreatened by his attack.

Stating that England's action was one of the many role reversals in a Test where Australia has managed to reverse their misfortune, the report also said that although rain can be blamed for delaying play on the second day by three and a half hours, however, Broad's time-wasting tactics managed to waste valuable time in the second half.

However, the report admitted that England's tactics may mean that it is taking of its foot from the pedal in a match, which is probably meaningless to them, although it backed the Australian batsmen to leave the country with improved confidence and a slightly more settled line-up.