England defied the Adelaide traditions by losing the toss but then bowling Australia out for just 245 to take the upper hand in the second Ashes Test.
A remarkable opening to the day saw the hosts crash to two for three before Shane Watson and Michael Hussey rebuilt with a stand of 94. Brad Haddin added a half-century but the lower order crumbled. James Anderson led the way with four wickets for 51 before England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook reached the close without alarm.
Expectations were high for a huge first-innings score at this ground synonymous with 500-plus totals over the first three days. Instead, England struck with the fourth ball of the match.
Anderson appealed for lbw against Watson and in the confusion Watson called Simon Katich through for a single - and Jonathan Trott pounced for a direct hit from square-leg to run the left-hander out, without facing a ball.
The Australian captain Ricky Ponting strode out, and trooped back off, in little more than a minute. Anderson, England's outstanding bowler and deserving of better figures in the drawn first Test in Brisbane, got an outswinger in the perfect spot to any new batsman. Ponting pushed out and edged low to second slip, where Graeme Swann took a neat catch away to his left. It was Ponting's fifth golden duck in his 150th Test, and a major shock to this sell-out crowd.
In his next over, Anderson struck again - an out-of-form Michael Clarke edging an attempted drive to Swann.
Watson survived a DRS review for a front-foot lbw as simulation showed the ball was going over the top of leg-stump, vindicating umpire Tony Hill. England would have had a fourth wicket anyway had Anderson managed to hold on to a one-handed return catch to his left when Hussey chipped a drive back - on three and with the team total still only 12.
The left-hander, who made 195 at the Gabba, also edged Anderson just short of Swann soon afterwards.
readmore
No comments:
Post a Comment