Analysis of Day 2
England again have the upper hand at the end of the second day's play. After posting a mammoth 507 in the 1st Innings, England have already reduced Australia to 87-2, dismissing both the openers. However, this is by no means conclusive of anything, as the Aussies are the absolute masters of this game, and can pluck a win from almost any kind of situation. They have two top class batsman in, and three yet to come. England mind you had also lost their first two wickets early, but yet managed to get past 500, and even declare their innings.
England resumed their overnight score of 288-3. Michael Vaughan was unbeaten on 99, and it took him just six balls to get to his hundred. England soon got past three hundred, and the Aussies were now under some real pressure. But then Brett Lee struck, and got the prized wicket of Graham Thorpe. Thorpe was trying aiming for the deep midwicket boundary but dint manage to connect properly, and was caught by Simon Katich, who for his part did superb to take the catch in mid-air, and then hold on to it, fielding at Short Mid wicket. Robert Key was the next batsman in for England, and he only managed 19 before being caught by Martyn at Gully. Key was looking very uncomfortable, was hit on two occassions, and went after deliveries outside the offstump, and even edged a delivery which went above 2nd slip, and Key got a boundary from that. This was followed by another partnership between Vaughan and Jones. Vaughan reached his 150 and was closing in on his first ever double century. But unfortunately for Yorkshireman, he was dismissed six runs short of his 200, when he was caught by Katich off Warne. Giles, the next batsman made 13, before being bowled by Warne, and when Jones was dismissed LBW by Warne for 63, Vaughan decided to declare the England 1st Innings, with the score at 507-8. The Aussies started their innings, and Langer started scoring exclusively in boundaries. Australia had reached 35-0. Harmison then decided to go round the wicket, and it payed off for him and England. He pitched a ball short of length, and it came to Langer at Shoulder height, forcing the left hander to play a false shot, and hitting the ball straight to Hoggard at Square Leg. Some great bowling by Harmison. Hoggard then dismissed Hayden for 23. A beautiful pitched up delivery with some late reverse swing, through the gate, and straight on to the stumps. Ponting and Martyn then batted out the rest of the session, and at the end of the second days play the Aussies are trailing by 420 runs, with 8 wickets in hand.
Join us tomorrow for Day 3 of this fascinating test match, between the top two sides in test cricket, England and Australia.
