ENGLAND SAY WACA WACA’ AFTER A GREAT FIRST DAY

England say ‘WACA WACA’ after a great first day

England enjoy another great day’s play in the 2010 AshesIt was an enthralling day of test cricket and once again showed why the longest version is the real test. A day when England shot on top in the first session thanks to pitch and great fielding but Australia counter-attacked to get themselves back in the contest although they still have a mountain to climb.

Australia came into the third test of the Ashes at the fastest wicket (at least till recently) knowing fully well that only a win will keep them in the hunt to regain the urn. And what a start it was. No, not for the Aussies but for the English. Winning the toss on an unusual wicket at the WACA was a first blessing from heaven. I say unusual because of late, the curator at the WACA is more dependent on a tinge of fresh green grass on the first morning to keep that bounce and pace reputation of Perth.

This is in complete contrast to those heady days for a curator when he needed to do very little and yet you could see a Curtly Ambrose belt out a 7 for 1 in a spell of quality fast bowling. Perth was always known for pace and bounce and not much for movement but with curator Cam Sutherland leaving sufficient green on the surface, the team winning the toss was always going to bowl. It is an old saying in cricket that the rub of the green goes with the brave soldier. It was only apt then that Andrew Strauss won the toss and decided to use the leather first.

Australian openers ambled to the crease and gave enough reasons to believe they were very edgy. Phil Hughes was playing test cricket after nine months and he was sure feeling the heat looking at the tinge of green on the surface. And bowling at him was Chris Tremlett, who was lucky to be playing due to the injury to Stuart Broad, which knocked him out of the remainder of the series.

3 Aussie batsmen get 50s but none get a 100

'Twiggy' as Tremlett is fondly called whacked off the stumps of Hughes in his very first over. It was a delightful sight for Tremlett's dad who had travelled all the way from England to Perth only to catch a glimpse of his son in action. The Aussie fan knew what was coming. Ponting would come into the crease with so much pressure he would have never felt before in his 15-year test career, which incidentally started at the same venue against Sri Lanka.

But, he adopted the 'break the shackles' approach, which if it works can get you out of the slumber in a matter of minutes or maybe a few hours. But, if it doesn't work, it can spell further doom and question wisdom as a captain. The 'Punter' looked breezy in slamming 3 boundaries in just 10 balls but got out in the fashion he has been in recent times.

Wickets fell in a hurry and Australia's gamble of playing Steven Smith ahead of a Michael Beer proved futile as the leg-spin all-rounder could make only 7 runs although he stood tall giving good support to the in-form Mike Hussey, who went about his business as usual. It questioned the conventional wisdom of picking a team for the first innings of a match while it should actually be picked for the last three days.

At 69 for 5, even a die-hard Aussie fan would not have given the team a semblance of a chance of going past the Adelaide first innings disaster of 245. Unexpectedly, the Aussies counter-attacked with Hussey and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin. The duo put on 52 quick runs and propelled Australia to respectability. Mitchell Johnson celebrated his comeback with a polished half century, which ironically was also the top score by an Aussie batsman. Hussey and Haddin also got 50s but the problem for Australia was none of them went on to make a big hundred.

Tremlett was England's star bowler

For England, their quicks made the best use of not only bouncy but even seaming conditions at the WACA. Tremlett was the pick of the bowlers picking 3 for 63 while their strike bowler James Anderson finished with 3 for 61. Steve Finn chipped in with 2 wickets. It was unusual that Strauss over-used Graeme Swann on day one on a wicket with so much green in it but the world's best off-spinner did not disappoint as he finished with figures of 2 for 52. Australia folded up for 268.

England began their reply on a solid note as their star openers Alistair Cook and captain Andrew Strauss saw off the new ball and ensured England ended the day without a loss of wicket. Australian bowlers Ryan Harris and Ben Hinfenhaus bowled well and saw the ball flying past the outside edge of English batsmen on a number of occasions but without luck.

England finished at 29 for no loss, which means they now trail the Aussies by 239 runs. After an absorbing first day, it will now be interesting to see if the Australian bowlers can make good use of early morning conditions on day two. England will feel reasonably satisfied with their position in this test match although they could have been at a much better position.
It should set up a fascinating second day's play at the WACA. Do join MSN for Live scorecard and instant match report from Perth.

Source: India Syndicate