AUSTRALIA vs ENGLAND At Brisbane
The Ashes
1st Test, Day 1
The most anticipated cricketing event of the year, the first test of the Ashes here at Brisbane and the atmosphere is amazing. We are in for a thrilling match and both sides will be wanting to get off to a winning start in this huge series. Simon Katich and Andrew Strauss are down at the toss, it just seems so different not having Ricky down there for the toss but Simon Katich's first game as captain couldn't be any bigger. Andrew Strauss has called heads and it has landed on heads. The pitch is a beauty but Strauss has decided to send Australia into bat. Would the decision pay off?
Now let's have a look at the team sheets. Australia have played the expected top 7 and have decided to play 3 pace bowlers and Hauritz, with Mitchell Johnson the unlucky guy not to get selected in the starting XI with Bollinger, Hilfenhaus and Hazlewood the 3 pace bowlers. England have meanwhile also played a pretty expected lineup apart from the fact that Paul Collingwood has been dropped down to 6 with Bell slotting in at 5 after some good form found in the tour matches. Anderson, Swann, Tremlett and Finn are England's 4 bowlers. Here are the 2 lineups before we go down to the pitch for today's play.
Australia
Simon Katich (c)
Shane Watson
Usman Khawaja
Michael Hussey
Michael Clarke
Callum Ferguson
Brad Haddin (wk)
Nathan Hauritz
Ben Hilfenhaus
Josh Hazlewood
Doug Bollinger
England
Andrew Strauss (c)
Alastair Cook
Jonathan Trott
Kevin Pietersen
Ian Bell
Paul Collingwood
Matt Prior
Graeme Swann
James Anderson
Chris Tremlett
Steven Finn
James Anderson held the new ball as the crowd were loud and were waiting for the first ball. Simon Katich was on strike, as James Anderson ran in and bowled a beautiful ball first up going across the left hander and beating the edge, a great ball to start things off in this Ashes series. The next ball was short and wide though and the skipper latched onto it sending it through point for a boundary and the first runs of the day. The rest of the over was played out for no runs. Watson also his his first boundary of the day in the second over, driving Finn through the covers for 4. Australia started off well, scoring runs at a reasonable rate but it was Katich who fell first, Finn bowling it full and straight and Katich missed it and the umpire raised his finger, Katich out for 14. Katich didn't bother about reviewing it and walked off, Australia 29/1. England only bowled 7 more balls before the rain started to fall and the umpires called the game to a halt and the covers were brought on. The rain continued to fall for about half an hour before it stopped and they were back on with 12 minutes remaining in the session. They got through 3 and a half overs before lunch, with Swann bowling the last over of the session and Khawaja hitting his first runs off that over with a boundary as Australia went into the lunch break at 38/1, Watson 19*.
Finn bowled the first over after the lunch break and Watson took to him hitting 2 boundaries in the first 3 balls as he looked to get going. Finn really was getting taken to as Khawaja hit 3 fours off him in his next 2 overs. Finn got a straight one to Watson as it hit him on the pads and everyone went up. The umpire raised his finger again and Watson was on his way but he immediately reviewed it. It was a legal delivery, it hit Watson in line but height is definately an issue. And hawkeye shows it just going over the top. Watson will survive and a review has been used to good use by Australia. Watson was given another life off Finn when he edged to Swann at second slip but he put it down and Watson moved to 34*. Finn was steaming when Swann also dropped Khawaja only a couple of overs later and would England be made to rue missed chances. Paul Collingwood took the vital wicket of Watson though in the 32nd over, a thick edge flying towards point and Bell pulled off a spectacular dive to take the ball one handed and Watson was on his way for 39. Khawaja was hitting most of his runs in boundaries and he was showing he deserved to replace Ponting as he moved into the 40's. Hussey had just started to get going when tea was called after 44 overs, Australia going into the break at 126/2, Khawaja 44* and Hussey 16*.
Khawaja brought up his fifty shortly after tea, after running a quick single where Strauss just missed the stumps. It was Finn again who struck though and Khawaja only added one more boundary to his fifty, as he chipped it straight to Anderson at mid off who took a simple catch, Khawaja out for 54, Australia 147/3. Hussey and Clarke continued onwards as againn, England failed to take 2 wickets in quick succession. With about 10 overs left in the session, the vice captain fell after smashing it straight back to Graeme Swann who held on to a blinder, although did look in a bit of pain as Clarke had to go for 22, Hussey still not out on 32. So Callum Ferguson was at the crease, on debut. What could he do? Facing Swann, it was thrown up on a good length but Ferguson came charging down the wicket and working it over the top with the spin for 4. What a shot first ball in test cricket! Ferguson kept going at a reasonable rate while Hussey worked his way towards fifty at the other end. England would have wanted a late wicket but were unable to get one as Australia finished the day at 207/4, Hussey with a good knock of 41* while Ferguson had got himself into test cricket with 16*, coming off 28 balls. Both sides have both their reviews remaining, with Watson the only player to review and getting the out decision overturned. Finn was the pick of the bowlers with 2/65 from his 24 overs, although unlucky not to have more with Swann dropping Watson and Khawaja earlier on off his bowling. Tremlett had been underused, only bowling 8 overs for 18 runs in the entire day while Anderson also only bowled 11 overs, and going for 17 runs. Swann had figures of 1/54 from 17 overs and Collingwood also bowled a lot of overs, 14 overs as he took 1/40. So here are the bowling figures. We hope you will join us for Day 2's action.
James Anderson - 0/17 (11)
Steven Finn - 2/65 (24)
Paul Collingwood - 1/40 (14)
Chris Tremlett - 0/18 (8)
Graeme Swann - 1/54 (17)
Steven Finn took 2 Important Wickets on Day 1 of the Ashes
The major cricketing event for both Australian and English fans of the year and fans wouldn't have been disappointed by what they saw earlier today although rain had interrupted play during the first session, for about an hour. Katich in his first match as captain lost the toss and were sent into bat. He got things started off by hitting the second ball of the series for 4 but only added 10 more to his total, before falling to Steven Finn as he was trapped in front. Rain fell down soon after though and Australia only went into lunch, one wicket down. Watson and Khawaja continued onwards after lunch, as both were given lives, both by Graeme Swann off Finn's bowling. Watson didn't make the most of his life though, only scoring 5 more as Collingwood took the wicket of him for 39.
Khawaja battled through to 50 though but Finn got him soon after, when he chipped it straight to Anderson at mid on. Clarke was the only other casualty though, Swann striking after not having the best day in the field. Ferguson started off well by hitting his first ball for a boundary and got through to stumps on 16*, Hussey regaining his Test form with 41* as Australia finished the day at 207/4 and the match was still in the balance going into Day 2. Would the English bowlers rip through the rest of the Australian batting order or would it be Australia's day tomorrow?
I am hoping for a good partnership between Hussey and Ferguson here of at least 100 runs. That would make sure that Australia reach to a total of 300+.
AUSTRALIA vs ENGLAND At Brisbane
The Ashes
1st Test, Day 2
Day 2 of the 1st test and the match was still in the balance, Australia 4 wickets down going into the start of the day. Hussey and Ferguson would have to keep going on though to establish a strong platform for Australia. So Anderson would open the bowling again on Day 2. The first over of the day was a good one, Anderson finding the edge of Hussey but it flew through 4th slip for four, the only runs coming off the over. Tremlett was given the ball from the other end and the move payed off as the big wicket of Hussey fell, not really going at the ball and the ball caught the edge and travelled quickly to Swann at first slip who after having a shocking day in the field yesterday held onto a great catch down low with one hand. Just the start England wanted as Haddin made his way to the crease.
Collingwood was brought on to replace Anderson after only bowling one over and Ferguson smashed him for 2 fours. Ferguson may have been in some nice form but he fell to Steven Finn, trying to work it to the legside but chipped up to Anderson at short cover who took the catch and Ferguson was on his way for 28, a reasonable innings from the Australian debutant. Haddin and Hauritz tried to work things back for Australia but Haddin became Tremlett's second victim when he got a jaffa cutting back in and knocking the top of off stump and Haddin was out for 10. Hauritz scored his second boundary the next over but fell only 2 balls later, Swann getting one to turn sharply, going right through the gate to hit the middle stump and Hauritz wasn't happy, out for 9, but the turn was promising for him as Australia would be bowling in the last innings. Hazlewood, Australia's other debutant didn't last long but at least scored a run before he edged Anderson to Swann who took a more simple catch than his first, taking it in 2 hands at chest height, still fielding at first slip. Hilfenhaus tried to smash Swann out of the park next over but missed a straight one as it hit him on the pads. The umpire raised the finger and Hilfenhaus was out for 2. He reviewed the decision as it was the last wicket but to no luck as it was plumb. Only half way through the first session and Australia were already all out. A session dominated by the English, taking 6 wickets, Swann in the action with 2 wickets today as well as 2 catches to finish with figures of 3/66 while Finn also took 3 wickets. Here was the Australian scorecard before we come back with England's innings.
Code:
AUSTRALIA 1st innings
Player Status Runs Blls 4s 6s S/R
Simon Katich lbw b. Finn 14 34 2 0 41.2%
Shane Watson c. Bell b. Colli'wood 39 90 8 0 43.3%
Usman Khawaja c. Anderson b. Finn 54 127 11 0 42.5%
Michael Hussey c. Swann b. Tremlett 45 133 10 0 33.8%
Michael Clarke c & b. Swann 22 43 5 0 51.2%
Callum Ferguson c. Anderson b. Finn 28 40 6 0 70.0%
Brad Haddin b. Tremlett 10 29 2 0 34.5%
Nathan Hauritz b. Swann 9 19 2 0 47.4%
Ben Hilfenhaus lbw b. Swann 2 12 0 0 16.7%
Josh Hazlewood c. Swann b. Anderson 1 5 0 0 20.0%
Doug Bollinger not out 1 4 0 0 25.0%
Total: 247/10 Overs: 89.0 Run Rate: 2.78 Extras: 22
Day 2 11:03 AM
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AUSTRALIA Partnerships
Batsmen Runs (Balls)
S Katich S Watson ???????????? 29 (56)
U Khawaja S Watson ?????????????????????????? 61 (136)
U Khawaja M Hussey ???????????????????????? 57 (102)
M Clarke M Hussey ?????????????? 33 (87)
C Ferguson M Hussey ?????????????? 32 (73)
C Ferguson B Haddin ??????? 16 (19)
N Hauritz B Haddin ???? 11 (37)
N Hauritz Hilfenhaus ? 4 (3)
Hazlewood Hilfenhaus ? 2 (12)
Bollinger Hilfenhaus ? 2 (9)
Fall of Wickets 29/1 90/2 147/3 180/4 212/5
228/6 239/7 243/8 245/9 247/10
Total: 247/10 Overs: 89.0 Run Rate: 2.78 Extras: 22
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ENGLAND Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts E/R Wds NBs
James Anderson 16.0 6 26 1 1.63 0 0
Steven Finn 25.0 6 70 3 2.80 1 1
Paul Collingwood 16.0 2 48 1 3.00 0 1
Chris Tremlett 11.0 2 23 2 2.09 0 0
Graeme Swann 21.0 3 66 3 3.14 1 4
EXTRAS Wides: 2 No Balls: 6 Leg Byes: 13 Byes: 1
Total: 247/10 Overs: 89.0 Run Rate: 2.78 Extras: 22
Doug Bollinger ran in for the first ball of England's innings to the skipper and it was just outside the off stump and Strauss left it alone. The next ball was straight and Strauss played all around it but the umpire turned down the appeal. Katich asked Haddin and Bollinger and they seemed pretty confident so he reviewed the decision but to no avail as it was only just clipping the top of the stumps and the decision was upheld. Dougie got his man next ball though, when Strauss cut it straight to Ferguson at point who held onto a good catch and the skipper was gone for a duck. Trott got things going with a boundary as England fought back after the early blow. Cook's resistance came to an end just before lunch though, when Watson gave him a ball outside the off stump and the English opener went at it but inside edged it onto his stumps and Cook was very disappointed, out for 15. 2 maidens finished the session as England went into lunch at 39/2, Trott 24*.
Pietersen had trouble getting going and was getting frustrated so Watson put one in slightly short and Pietersen tried to fend it off but only managed an edge through to Haddin and Pietersen was on his way for 6. Bell started off with fire though, smashing his third ball over square leg for 6 before cover driving for a boundary a couple of balls later. England didn't slow down after that, hitting a boundary nearly every over as Trott got through to fifty, coming off 86 balls, while Bell was going at just under a run a ball. Bell's cameo came to an end though, thanks to Watson yet again going straight through him, Bell out bowled for 32 off 35 balls. Ferguson was very lively in the field and took his second catch of the match, to remove Collingwood, diving away to his right to take it in his fingertips and he held onto it so Bollinger had his second wicket, Collingwood out for 1. Hazlewood who had only bowled 4 overs was given the ball with 5 overs to go before tea. He started off reasonably well before his third and fourth balls were full and straight and Trott missed them both but the LBW appeals were turned down but Australia didn't review them. Hazlewood got the big wicket though not having to worry about the umpire turning his appeals down by bowling him out, Trott having to go for 73 as Swann made his way to the crease. He didn't last long at all and Hazlewood was on a hattrick, as Swann edged to Khawaja at second slip for a golden duck but it was the end of the over. The ball was taken from him after that over though but Watson took another wicket before tea, Ferguson taking yet another catch to remove Anderson for 4. England survived the last over of the session to go into the tea break at 140/8, Prior not out on 6.
Hazlewood was given the first over after lunch so it was the hattrick ball. 4 slips, a gully, point, short leg and short mid on and short mid off in place for the ball to Prior. The ball needed to be straight though but it wasn't as Prior left the hattrick ball alone and the field went back to normal. Tremlett didn't do too badly with the bat but was finally dismissed by Hauritz, trapped in front for 15, the review making no difference in the decision made. Finn started off well by hitting 2 boundaries in 4 balls but didn't last a ball longer as he edged through to Haddin off Bollinger and he was out for 8, Prior finishing 16* as England were bowled out for 178, the deficit 69. Watson was the pick of the bowlers taking 4/43 off 12 overs but all the bowlers bowled well. Here was the scorecard.
Code:
ENGLAND 1st innings
Player Status Runs Blls 4s 6s S/R
Andrew Strauss c. Ferguson b. Bollinger 0 3 0 0 0.0%
Alastair Cook b. Watson 15 40 3 0 37.5%
Jonathan Trott b. Hazlewood 73 124 17 0 58.9%
Kevin Pietersen c. Haddin b. Watson 6 25 1 0 24.0%
Ian Bell b. Watson 32 35 6 1 91.4%
Paul Collingwood c. Ferguson b. Bollinger 1 12 0 0 8.3%
Matt Prior not out 21 41 4 0 51.2%
Graeme Swann c. Khawaja b. Hazlewood 0 1 0 0 0.0%
James Anderson c. Ferguson b. Watson 4 10 1 0 40.0%
Chris Tremlett lbw b. Hauritz 15 20 3 0 75.0%
Steven Finn c. Haddin b. Bollinger 8 5 2 0 160.0%
Total: 178/10 Overs: 52.4 Run Rate: 3.38 Extras: 3
Day 2 3:33 PM
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ENGLAND Partnerships
Batsmen Runs (Balls)
A Strauss A Cook 0 (3)
J Trott A Cook ????????????????? 39 (74)
J Trott Pietersen ????? 13 (50)
J Trott I Bell ????????????????????????? 59 (70)
J Trott Colli'wood ???? 10 (33)
J Trott M Prior ??? 9 (15)
G Swann M Prior 0 (1)
J Anderson M Prior ?? 5 (17)
C Tremlett M Prior ????????????? 30 (45)
S Finn M Prior ????? 13 (8)
Fall of Wickets 0/1 39/2 52/3 111/4 121/5
130/6 130/7 135/8 165/9 178/10
Total: 178/10 Overs: 52.4 Run Rate: 3.38 Extras: 3
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AUSTRALIA Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts E/R Wds NBs
Doug Bollinger 11.4 4 36 3 3.09 0 0
Ben Hilfenhaus 11.0 4 30 0 2.73 0 0
Shane Watson 12.0 3 43 4 3.58 0 0
Josh Hazlewood 7.0 3 11 2 1.57 0 0
Nathan Hauritz 9.0 2 43 1 4.78 0 0
Simon Katich 2.0 0 12 0 6.00 0 0
EXTRAS Wides: 0 No Balls: 0 Leg Byes: 2 Byes: 1
Total: 178/10 Overs: 52.4 Run Rate: 3.38 Extras: 3
Still about 20 overs to be bowled in the final session and a chance for either side to get on top of the innings. Watson started very strongly as he raced away into the 20's but his fun was ended on 27, when he was hit on the toe by Tremlett and the umpire had no other option to give him out, Watson knowing he was plumb walked back to the pavilion. That was the only wicket that fell during the day though as Katich and Khawaja battled through to stumps to go to 70/1 at the end of the day. Who would come out on top on Day 3? It is Australia who is in control at the end of day 2 but would they be able to press home their advantage? Here are the English bowling figures before we leave and we hope you will join us tomorrow for Day 3's play.
James Anderson - 0/30 (8)
Steven Finn - 0/12 (2)
Chris Tremlett - 1/6 (3)
Paul Collingwood - 0/14 (6)
Graeme Swann - 0/8 (4)
Australia were pretty well set for a decent total, but they just got no runs out of their last five partnerships, which is crucial in low scoring matches.
Bollinger, Watson and Hazlewood have however put them well on top with the ball, and they've had a pretty good start to their second innings.
With a 139 run lead and nine wickets in hand, they should really go on to win from here, as anything over 300 will be a very hard chase.
Seems like a bowling wicket here. Both team's couldn't provide a big total. All bowlers bowled very well. Australia should go on here and win this match.
It's an excellent pitch, lol. I was trying to get a good game where the RR was not 1.5-2 runs an over and draws where only 3 innings were played without a score of over 350 and no rain at all.
But I finally got a realistic result playing on an excellent pitch.
AUSTRALIA vs ENGLAND At Brisbane
The Ashes
1st Test, Day 3
We were ready to go for Day 3 and it was Swann who was going to start, bowling to Usman Khawaja. It was a day that England really needed to win to get back into this game, really behind, with a 139 deficit on this pitch that has turned out to be very bowler friendly. Khawaja would be looking for another fifty to cement his spot in the eleven. Howzat!!! First ball brought a huge appeal for caught behind. Prior loooked convinced and both Swann and Strauss at slip also looked pretty confident. Strauss went upstairs after the umpire ruled it not out. Definately was a noise but nothing was shown on hotspot and the video umpire has not overturned the decision and Khawaja survived and a wasted referral for England. It was a very slow start for Australia and England pressed further and got the big wicket of Khawaja, Collingwood getting the edge and Prior took a simple catch and the umpire gave him out this time and he was on his way for 16. It was a double blow for England as they got the skipper out the next over, Katich inside edging Swann onto his stumps for 42. Clarke and Hussey turned the game around though with some quick runs but Finn broke the partnership though just under 10 overs before lunch, with Clarke cutting but Pietersen took a stunning catch in the gully and the vice captain was out for 31 off 41 deliveries. Hussey slowed down a bit after that wicket while Ferguson was getting himself set but they didn't lose another wicket in the session, going into lunch at 177/4, Hussey 47* and Ferguson 12*.
Hussey brought up his fifty a few overs after lunch but broke free after that, scoring at about a run a ball after that. Hussey was taking all the pressure of Ferguson which helped him as he also started hitting some boundaries as he moved towards a maiden test fifty on debut. Hussey moved on into the 90's and was set to be the first player in the series to score a century. James Anderson was still looking for his first wicket but these batsman were looking superb at the crease and both went into the tea break 2 runs short of their milestones, Australia 269/4 at tea, England really needing a few breakthroughs in the final session after not failing to take any in that session.
Ferguson really was concentrating and brought up his deserved fifty with a boundary off Tremlett through the covers. Hussey didn't have the same luxury though, 15 balls without scoring another run but a loose ball from Tremlett gave him the opportunity to cut over point for 4 and Hussey was ecstatic, a century to his name which has really put Australia in a dominating position. Ferguson couldn't do what Khawaja did earlier in the year [scoring a hundred on debut] as he ballooned one straight to Collingwood at point off Tremlett's bowling. Swann got the needed wicket of the dangerman Hussey, as Prior took a good catch down the legside and Hussey was out for 112, raising his bat to the crowd as he walked off the field. Hauritz got out for a golden duck as he became Tremlett's third victim when he edged it through to Prior who had taken his third catch of the innings as Australia were 7 wickets down. Tremlett was on fire as he took another wicket, Hilfenhaus edging straight to Strauss at first slip who took a comfortable catch and Hilfenhaus was out for 4. Haddin and Hazlewood proved to be good resistance as they battled through to stumps to take a 407 run lead at the end of day 3, the score 338/8, Haddin 22* off 66 balls while Hazlewood was showing his batting qualities on 15 not out. Another good day of cricket, seeing some excellent bowling from Chris Tremlett and a great century from Mr Cricket. Come and join us for tomorrow's play and hopefully it will be as good as today.
James Anderson - 0/65 (25)
Steven Finn - 1/55 (16)
Chris Tremlett - 4/63 (23)
Paul Collingwood - 1/54 (19)
Graeme Swann - 2/96 (30)
Hussey was in Sublime Touch as he Scored a Brilliant Century
Tremlett and Swann did the job for the English. Tremlett seemed to have bowled some wonderful deliveries to pick up the wickets that he did. Swann would of troubled them dearly, as he is the best spinner in the world.
It's good to see Hussey pick up a century (just like in my game). He will be happy with that.
haha, we've got to make things as realistic as possible (apart from the stupid Aussie selectors of course) so Hussey has to be scoring centuries and all the runs
I wouldn't say Swann is the best spinner in the world, only because he's played not as great test teams lately (Bangladesh and Pakistan) so his rating is higher than it probably would had he played better teams. I still would say Vettori is well ahead of him and Hauritz on the same level as him even though the selectord are idiots and don't think so
We all know that the Australian selectors are bloody terrible. But i'm not too sure i agree with you. But we're all allowed our own opinions.
I'm just saying, its good bowling from Swann(in this match) because he took the 2 crucial wickets
Australia in total control and should run away with this.
Hussey played a brilliant innings, he's the inform man.
Also good inputs from Watto, Hazlewood and Dougie in bowling.
Swann might not be the greatest spinner in the world, and Vettori MIGHT be ahead of him (as well as Mendis I would've thought). But Hauritz? I don't think he's even in the conversation.
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I don't think he's even in the conversation.
