My picks of the second day:
Confidence and chins of the England squad were much higher just before lunch after the tailenders frustrated the Aussies and helped reach a good total of 435 all out. But thereafter the Aussies did not look back and taught England a valuable lesson about what virtue patience and a solid partnership are in test cricket.
Run of Play: Advantage to...
1st session, England 435 all out, Australia 39 for 0 (396 behind) at lunch: England for frustrating Australia and reaching a much higher total than expected.
2nd session, Australia 142 for 1 (293 behind) at tea: Australia with a strong partnership and patient quality cricket from Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich.
3rd session, Australia 249 for 1 (186 behind) at the end of day two: Australia for showing no sign of losing patience, quality or wickets.
Hero to zero: England could not capitalise on their positive morning stance set by the tailenders. The wind got well and truely knocked out of their sails. They need to get a grip and wickets, soon!
Partnership: 189 runs between Simon Katich (104) and Ricky Ponting (100): Just untouchable. Apart from a couple of weak lbw-appeals and when Katich was dropped on 10 by Andrew Flintoff earlier in the day, they were dominant and unimpeachable. Australia gave England a valuable lesson in how to form and keep a partnership going through patience and no stupid sweeps. Test match cricket is nothing like One Day or Twenty20 and England will have to learn that and adjust their batting.
Bowlers: Andrew Flintoff was the only one able to put pressure on the Australian batsmen and was the only one who got a wicket on the day, too. Phillip Hughes's bottom-edge taken well by Matt Prior with both gloves, was the first and last blood that went to England. James Anderson, Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann never looked able to capitalise, not being able to get anything out of the pitch.
Ups: England's tailenders made their side proud, especially Graeme Swann's unbeaten 47 with Stuart Broad and James Anderson chipping in, too. They made the total much more respectable and defendable and the confidence much higher for England.
Downs: Not getting anything out of the pitch. Australia thrived at what they are best and legend at, especially their captain Ricky Ponting - giving a commanding performance and making England look ineffective and frustrating them. Patience is a virtue.
Hero to zero: England could not capitalise on their positive morning stance set by the tailenders. The wind got well and truely knocked out of their sails. They need to get a grip and wickets, soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment