My picks of the first day:
Only 30 overs were bowled after a rain-drenched outfield delayed the start of play on day one of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Shane Watson made an impressive Ashes and test match opening debut, replacing an out-of-form Phillip Hughes and frustrating the England bowlers after Australia won the toss and chose to bat. He ended the day unbeaten on 62, just 16 away from his best score in Test cricket with captain Ricky Ponting unbeaten on 17, having passed 20,000 career runs and leaving Australia comfortable at 126 for 1.
Run of Play: Advantage to...
1st session, Australia 104 for 1 at the end of day one: Australia after enjoying a much dreaded late session, leaving England frustrated after they got nothing and nowhere with their bowling.
Partnership: 85 runs between Shane Watson (39) and Simon Katich (46): Australia understandably chose to bat first on the slow pitch after winning the toss. Katich capitalised most from England's frustration and thrashed in 46 runs off 48 balls with some soft, cool and easy boundary shots. He was eventually out lbw, second ball and appeal lucky for Graeme Swann. Ricky Ponting got off the mark with a firmly shot boundary, bringing up the 100 for Australia. The captain eventually settled down after an anxious start and passed 20,000 career runs. Watson stayed on his merry way throughout the session, not shying from some beautiful boundary shots. Frustrating start for England, Australia definitely the happier.
Bowling: There was a little bit of swing for James Anderson early on, but Andrew Flintoff was not able to create any pressure or threat whatsoever. Graham Onions and Stuart Broad were leaking boundaries all over the pitch, punished by precise shots. Skipper Andrew Strauss lost his patience with his seamers eventually and turned to Swann just over an hour into play, which finally brought the breakthrough. We will have to wait and see who Strauss will turn to to start the second day as England need wickets and wickets fast. So far, nine times out of ten, his bowling changes and decisions have been good and crucial.
Ups: Strauss once again got his bowling change spot-on and a wicket from it. That was the only cheer England had in the short and only session of the day. They can hopefully build on it and get the Aussies worried early on day two - 'they' not being the seamers on this pitch.
Downs: The weather, the field, the bowling and the Aussies chilling on it. Hardly any cricket having been played, the only little play we have seen has been frustrating for England, the day saw 22 boundaries in total. Let us hope we will not see a repeat of that on day two.
Hero to zero: After winning the man-of-the-match award for the second test, Flintoff will want to forget today as soon as possible. He could not get anything out of the pitch, to no surprise under the circumstances though. Hopefully, Freddie will come back stronger tomorrow and hit the Aussies hard.
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