Australia swings ahead on first day of 2009 Ashes
Two late wickets with the new ball by Peter Siddle have tipped the First Ashes Test at Cardiff in favour of Australia after England won the toss and batted their way to 336 for 7.
On a dry, flat pitch which looks to be as friendly to spin as had been foreshadowed prior to the match, the toss was a crucial one to win, and Ricky Ponting’s incorrect call of heads set the series off on a poor foot for the Aussies.
Australia’s bowling attack of Mitchell Johnson, Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Hauritz managed three wickets in the first session, with Alastair Cook (10) caught in the gully by Michael Hussey in his left hand diving full length in the air, Andrew Strauss (30) caught in slips by Michael Clarke leaving his bat hanging at a Johnson bumper, and Ravi Bopara (35) deceived by a Johnson slower ball to be caught in the covers by Philip Hughes. England reached lunch at 97 for three with honours even in conditions that allowed significant swing but very little movement off the pitch and a true bounce.
The middle session was dominated by England, with Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood compiling most of their 138-run stand for the fourth wicket. Hauritz and Siddle in particular leaked many runs, with Siddle giving up many boundaries and Hauritz unable to stop Pietersen sweeping him for easy runs.
After Collingwood edged Hilfenhaus to Brad Haddin’s right for 64, Hauritz had the last laugh on his tormentor after tea when Pietersen (69) made another early movement to sweep but found Hauritz had bowled four feet wide of off stump. Pietersen’s shot bounced off his own helmet and popped up to Simon Katich.
Andrew Flintoff and Mark Prior then shared an 86-run partnership for the sixth wicket at a fast scoring rate before first Flintoff (37) and then Prior (56) edged inswinging deliveries by Siddle with the second new ball into their stumps. Flintoff’s dismissal was due to a poor shot with an angled bat, but Prior’s wicket was taken with a viciously swinging delivery that beat the batsman for pace and movement.
While Australia will be struggling to win this test given their loss of the toss, they can be happy to have shaded day one with those two late wickets. England’s two spinners, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, remain in the sheds and are likely to have most influence over the game, particularly in the second innings.
