Adelaide – Second Ashes Test

Day 1 – 3rd December 2010

The first day of the Second Ashes Test was another tough day at the office for the Australianbatsmen. Amazingly three wickets were down within 15 minutes, on what should have been a batsmen’s wicket. Katich was run out without facing a single ball. Both Katich and Watson seemed indecisive over a dangerous run and Trott struck with a direct hit. Ricky Ponting was then dismissed off of the first ball he faced, caught by Swann off the bowling of Anderson. Clarke was dismissed for two by the same pairing.

Mike Hussey, Australia‘s saviour from the First Test, came to the crease. He and Watson managed to take the score to 93 at lunch, without further loss. But Watson was dismissed almost straight after lunch for the addition of only 3 runs, caught by Pietersen, once again off of Anderson‘s bowling. Hussey was joined by his Western Australian team mate Marcus North and the two of them batted well together adding 60 runs. North seemed to be seeing the ball well, but still edged a ball to Priorfor Finn‘s first wicket of the match. Haddin, the last of Australia’s recognised batsmen, came to the crease and together with Hussey, added another 50 runs, before Hussey was caught by  Collingwoodoff of the spinner Swann, seven runs short of his 13th Test century.

As expected the Australian tail did not wag. Haddin hung around to be the last man dismissed for 56. But Harris, Doherty, Siddle and Bolinger managed only 9 runs between them. Australia were all out for 245. Anderson was the pick of the English bowlers, picking up 4 for 51 off of 19 overs. Swann claimed two wickets and Broad and Finn one a piece.

England had to face one over before the close of play, which they negotiated without a problem, for the addition of a single leg bye.

On this performance there will be more calls for changes in the Australian line up. It should be Ponting and Clarke that are looked at, but you can bet your life it will be Marcus North the press call for to be dropped.

Things are not looking great for Australia. This attack does not look strong to me and unless the batsmen can seriously turn things around in the second innings, this could be their first loss of the series.