Australia v England, 3rd Test, Perth, 1st day

Australia rue wasted opportunities

Ricky Ponting failed and Australia's batting faltered. The captain has been in such imposing form with 447 runs in the first two Tests his dismissal almost sparked Bradmanesque cries of "he's out". Instead of closing quickly over Ponting's miss and working on a total to shut England out of the game, the Australians added their own mistakes.

Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke deserved to feel the most disappointment at their wasted opportunities. Both were set and scoring freely when they gave up their wickets to cross-bat efforts that needed to be saved until later in the day.

Every Test innings must feel like Symonds' last, but this time he turned up with a mind uncluttered by his predicament. Called in as the allrounder ahead of other deserving batting candidates, Symonds appeared at No. 6 in the second session and swung with freedom until helping Monty Panesar towards his five wickets.

A cut had brought his downfall and he stayed stuck to the crease after seeing Geraint Jones spill the first attempt at the catch and mop up the second. Until then Symonds' strength had been the straightness of his muscular hitting, but he could not control his high-paced tempo and added an unnecessary weapon.

The first of two hefty straight sixes thrust Symonds into double-figures and after five deliveries of Panesar's 13th over he had added 17. It was an awesome display of hitting that few would have bothered to attempt in a Test and in the next over Panesar showed why.

The three times Panesar was driven by Symonds for boundaries he had pitched the ball up, so he slid in a flatter one that over-spun and clipped the edge. Symonds was unable to reduce his intensity and could not believe his decision. Instead of leaving the ball it was the batsman going for 26.

Clarke was already in the dressing room wishing with Justin Langer, who had been too tentative against Panesar in the over before lunch, that they had also been more thoughtful at the crucial moment. The most comfortable and classy batsman of the day, Clarke had eased into the 30s by driving to mid-off and cover and choosing clever quick singles.

He was slightly ruffled by Harmison when popping a shorter delivery just wide of short leg and then unfurled a powerful pull. The problem arose because the ball pitched wide of the off stump and despite Clarke finding the middle it went to Harmison in his follow through. A short innings in which he made batting look so breezy ended with a rush similar to Symonds'.

After Clarke's superb century in Adelaide and an unbeaten finish to the second Test it appeared he had weaned off the impetuous streaks. Work is still to be done and all batsmen are constantly trying to find a suitable balance between attack and defence, but on days when the order limps it is essential. Australia were 4 for 121 when Clarke left Symonds, a man trying to secure his five-day future, with the job of pursuing a sizeable total.

A first-innings of 244 was not satisfactory on this surface and the rashness of the middle-order pair was a huge benefit for England. Clarke and Symonds need only to look to Michael Hussey as an example of someone who plays with perfect pace.

The start was difficult so Hussey waited for the situation to improve and then picked off the bowlers, particularly Panesar, who was taken for a string of square drives. Unfortunately for Hussey he was stranded on 74 when the innings closed and it was a horrible position for a No. 4 to find himself. His less thoughtful team-mates deserved to apologise.

Nice effort by Panesar odd he wasn't in the team from day 1. but as expected the wicket is a bowlers dream with the Aussies hitting back
[quote]
Aussie bowlers grab control



December 15, 2006 12:00am
Article from: Herald-Sun




A HIGH-CLASS bowling performance earned Australia the advantage over England on day two of the third Ashes Test.

The onslaught with the ball also gave Andrew Symonds the chance to cement the allrounder's spot.

Symonds' 2-8 from four overs left England teetering at 6-122 at lunch, which ensured the home side was on top at a critical juncture in the match after conceding the tourists first-day honours.

With England unable to build a partnership of any substance, Australia's first innings total of 244 suddenly looked sizeable on a wicket still playing well, although it is expected to slow the longer the match runs.

Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark also claimed wickets today to leave the pressure of carrying England's innings firmly on the shoulders of Kevin Pietersen, who was 27 not out at the break.

Australia showed its intentions in the opening overs of the day by building the pressure on England's batsmen through some tight bowling, and it was not long until McGrath had Paul Collingwood (11) snapped up in the gully by Matthew Hayden.

England opener Andrew Strauss was then dealt his second questionable decision in succession, after compiling a steadying 42, he was adjudged caught behind off Clark despite doubt the left-hander had got any bat on a delivery slanting across him.

Although Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist went up immediately, Strauss stood his ground for a moment after umpire Rudi Koertzen slowly raised his finger, and was consoled by Pietersen as he left the ground.

Strauss was also unluckily given out bat pad in the second innings of the second Test in Adelaide, which triggered England's calamitous collapse and sent it spiralling to 2-0 down in the series.

Symonds again found the WACA wicket to his liking when, bowling his medium pacers around the 130km/h mark, he enticed edges from England skipper Andrew Flintoff (11) and the sorely out-of-nick wicketkeeper Geraint Jones (duck), which left England 6-114.

Flintoff had earlier wafted loosely at a couple of Brett Lee fireballs and eventually got an edge to Symonds, which Shane Warne snaffled at slip moving low and to his right.

In Symonds' next over, Jones slashed to backward point to register his third successive duck, after zeroes in the Lilac Hill festival match and during the tour match against Western Australia, and a double failure of one and 10 in Adelaide.[quote]

latest score
Current Innings Previous Innings
Batting - Australia - 1/13 (4.0)
Hayden, ML: 4 off 6
Ponting, RT: 9 off 17
Current run rate: 3.25


Bowling - England
Hoggard, MJ: 1/9 (2.0)
Flintoff, A: 0/4 (2.0)



Australia
1st All out for 244, 71.0 overs.
England
1st All out for 215, 64.1 overs.

Not looking too good for England is it?