My picks of the second day:
England's last wickets fell early in the morning, all out for 332 runs, on day two of the fifth Ashes test at the Kennington Oval. Their bowling started just as frustrating, looking dangerous and aggressive at times but not getting the breakthrough they needed before lunch. It could not have turned more dramatically and changed more drastically after the interval though: Australia crashed sensationally, losing ten wickets for just 87 runs in under 30 overs. They got a couple of wickets and some pride back in the last hour-and-a-bit of play but will need much more to drag themselves back into the match with England leading by 230, with seven wickets in hand.
Run of Play: Advantage to...
1st session, England 332 all out, Australia 61 for 0 (271 behind) at lunch: Australia for keeping their cool and grip on the game.
2nd session, Australia 133 for 8 at tea (199 behind): England's bowlers swept the Aussies away, unbelievable, undreamable session!
3rd session, Australia 160 all out (172 behind), England at the end of day two: Australia for scraping back a couple of wickets when it was most crucial and it looked all doom and gloom for them.
Partnership: 61 runs between Shane Watson (30) and Simon Katich (26): The only notable partnership for Australia. Watson and Katich were able to overcome early nerves and shivers, frustrating the opening bowlers. Watson fell first after a delayed start after lunch due to rain, dead lbw from a full delivery by Stuart Broad. The young bowler, who had a point to prove against his doubters of late, then began a role with Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke all falling victim to his spree - two lbw and the last caught low by Jonathan Trott at short extra-cover. The Aussies could not recover from the Broad massacre. Graeme Swann added his sword to the fight, having the only little glimmer of hope and light in the dark and depressing Australian batting line-up caught by Alastair Cook, out for 50 off 107.
Bowling: Stuart Broad starred once again, achieving his third Test five-wicket haul, Graeme Swann helping out with four wickets of his own. That did not leave James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff with much to take, although they created most of the early pressure, to no avail though. The Aussies did not look too much in danger until after the interval, when Broad came into it, explosive and lethal for Australia. Freddie snatched the last one in the end, leaving the Aussies with their lowest total at the Oval since 1997 and their fourth-lowest post-war.
Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson were able to remove Cook, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood, all three of them looking like they did not want to be at the crease in the first place. They did not stay there for long, caught out for nine, four runs and one run respectively. That left captain Strauss on 32 and Jonathan Trott on 8 at the end of the second day.
Ups: Wickets, wickets, wickets - it definitely was worth any money or time spent on the second day. England could not have dreamt up a better start, just like the Aussies in the fourth test. But, careful, the last time England enjoyed a spree like this (third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, day two), Australia were able to bat out a draw... Not this time hopefully!!!
Downs: A couple of the umpiring decisions were horrendous, lbw when it hit the bat, catch when it was nowhere near the bat,... But when you are on a role, things like this swing your way and that certainly was the case for England today. Australia got a lucky decision back, Collingwood's wicket coming off a no ball by the looks of it. It all evens out in the end.
Hero to zero: Not for the first time, I am left wondering what all the fuss is about Freddie Flintoff?! Broad and Swann stole the show, so, why is all the flap and talk always about Freddie, if he, will he, won't he?! And who was KP again???
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