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19 March 2024

Ashes 2nd Test at Adelaide, Day 1: England hold Australia to 273-5

George Bailey of Australia hits Monty Panesar of England for a six during day one of the Second Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval on December 5, 2013 in Adelaide, Australia. (GETTY)

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

A disciplined England attack shrugged off the challenge of a bland Adelaide Oval wicket to limit Australia to 273-5 and leave the second Ashes Test delicately poised after the opening day on Thursday.

Trailing 1-0 in the five-Test series, England could do little about the coin-toss, but will rue some poor fielding late in the day, with three dropped catches letting Australia off the hook.

Australia captain Michael Clarke was dropped twice in the final session and staggered to 48 not out at stumps, with Brad Haddin at the other end on seven.

Blessed to bat first on a gentle Adelaide Oval wicket, Australia failed to cash in with four of their five batsmen throwing away their wickets after making promising starts.

George Bailey became the third Australian batsman to score a half-century in the final hour's play but smacked a short Stuart Broad delivery to backward square leg where Graeme Swann leapt into the air to bring down a fine catch.

Bailey's 53, which included three sixes, followed a 51 from Shane Watson and a 72 from opener Chris Rogers.

The England selectors' decision to pick a second spinner was validated as Swann and the recalled Monty Panesar gleaned some encouraging turn from a flat deck that offered little for seamers Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

Captain Alastair Cook would have been heartened by his bowlers' discipline in the conditions, but may rue the loss of a second straight toss with the wicket likely to break up later in the match.

DROPPED CATCHES

He would certainly have bemoaned the dropped catches that would have seen both Clarke and Bailey trudge back to the dressing room and expose Australia's tail.

Panesar spilled a knee-high chance off his own bowling in the seventh over after lunch, granting Bailey a life on 10.

Clarke was then dropped on 18, with a diving Joe Root unable to bring down a flick to mid-wicket from the Australian captain off Swann. He was put down again by Michael Carberry at backward point off the bowling of Panesar when he had reached 43.

England's task could have been yet steeper, however, with Australia having cruised to 155-1 midway through the second session before Watson underlined his habit of failing to convert starts by spooning a catch back to bowler James Anderson.

That ended a 121-run partnership with Rogers and sparked a collapse as Australia lost three wickets for 19 runs and were reduced to 174-4 at tea.

Rogers was caught behind for 72 the next over after Watson's departure and Panesar bowled all-rounder Steven Smith for six to prompt an early tea-break.

The quick wickets breathed life into a meandering contest which had seen the fast bowlers enjoying little reward from the new drop-in pitch.

Barring seamer Stuart Broad's removal of David Warner for 29, when the opener gave up a simple catch to Carberry at point in the morning, England were made to work hard for their wickets.

New Zealand-born all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was handed his first cap by former England captain Andrew Strauss before the toss, and finished with 0-26 off his eight overs.

England brought Root up the order to replace Jonathan Trott at number three after the South Africa-born batsman left the tour this week to deal with a stress-related illness.

EVENING SESSION

Three half centuries were registered as Australia scored 273 for five in 90 overs against England on the first day of the second Test in Adelaide.

After David Warner (29) provided a quick start, Chris Rogers (72) and Shane Watson (51) put Australia in a strong position sharing a 121-run stand.

But just before tea, England claimed three quick wickets but skipper Michael Clarke remained unbeaten on 48 while George Bailey scored a brisk 53 to put Australia in a healthy position.

Stuart Broad claimed two wickets for England.

A stunning catch from Swann and Bailey can't believe his luck. England celebrate. Aus 257-5 in 85.3 overs.

G Bailey c Swann b Broad 53 (110m 93b 4x4 3x6)

Bailey brings ups his half century in style with a six, his third in the innings. He has been confident playing his shots to perfection. Aus 256-4 in 82 overs.

New ball taken with 10 overs remaining for the day. England looking to finish day with few more wickets. Aus 243-4 in 80 overs.

Partnership between Clarke and Bailey fetches 48 runs. With still more than hour's play left, Australia will have to ensure this partnership remains till the end of day's play. Aus 222-4 in 76 overs.

A straight six from Bailey takes Australia past 200, Aus 202-4 in 67 overs.

A big responsibility on captain Clarke. He will be keen to see the day through with no more damage. Aus 180-4 in 61 overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

England struck with three quick wickets after a long period of toil on a flat Adelaide Oval wicket to reduce Australia to 174-4 at tea on the opening day of the second Ashes Test on Thursday.

Paceman James Anderson broke a 121-run partnership when he caught and bowled Shane Watson for 51 before Graeme Swann had Chris Rogers caught behind for 72 in the following over.

Recalled spinner Monty Panesar bowled all-rounder Steven Smith for six to prompt an early tea-break, leaving Australia captain Michael Clarke unbeaten on nine and his team looking decidedly shaky after dominating most of the extended session.

The quick wickets breathed life into a meandering contest which had seen the fast bowlers enjoying little reward from the new drop-in pitch, although Swann and Panesar managed to extract encouraging turn late in a session.

Barring seamer Stuart Broad's removal of David Warner for 29, when the opener spooned a simple catch to Michael Carberry at point in the morning, England were made to work hard for their wickets and captain Alastair Cook wasted little time introducing Panesar after lunch.

Recalled for his first Test in nine months, the left-armer worried Rogers and raised a big appeal for lbw in his fourth over with opener which umpire Kumar Dharmasena waved away.

Cook reviewed, and though the Hawk-Eye technology tracked the ball clipping leg-stump, the decision was deemed the "umpire's call" and allowed to stand with Australia on 78 for one.

Reprieved, Rogers and Watson hit away as the sun bathed the re-developing stadium following earlier rain squalls that had cut an hour's play from the morning session.

New Zealand-born all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was handed his first cap by former England captain Andrew Strauss before the toss, was introduced into the attack and saw his second delivery rocket to the boundary courteous of a glorious cover drive from Watson.

Watson, who failed twice in Brisbane after suffering a strained hamstring in the leadup to the series, later lofted Panesar over his head for a huge straight six.

The burly all-rounder raised his half-century shortly after the second drinks break, poking a single through midwicket off Swann.

Watson, who has only three centuries from his 47 tests prior to Adelaide, inexplicably gifted his wicket to Anderson, poking a half-hearted drive that the seamer did well to catch just above the pitch.

That sparked a mini collapse as Swann had Rogers nick to wicketkeeper Matt Prior to continue his domination of the opener, after capturing his wicket six times during the northern Ashes series earlier this year.

Panesar celebrated his recall by bowling Smith, clipping his off-stump with a smart turning delivery.

Warner will also rue losing his wicket having been in blazing form in the morning session.

England brought Joe Root up the order to replace Jonathan Trott at number three after the South Africa-born batsman left the tour this week to deal with a stress-related illness.

England taking charge here. A beauty from Panesar and England could not have asked for more before the Tea break. Aus 174-4 in 58.3 overs.

S Smith b Panesar 6 (17b 1x4 0x6)

That's another in quick succession. Rogers falls and both settled batsmen are back in the pavillion. England fighting back hard. Aus 158-3 in 53 overs.

C Rogers c Prior b Swann 72 (199m 167b 11x4 0x6)

Watson gets his half century and is gone. Anderson provides the important breakthrough. Aus 155-2 in 52 overs.

S Watson c & b Anderson 51 (160m 119b 6x4 1x6)

Two brilliant boundaries from Rogers and that takes him to 48. He's taken his time to settle in and played a superb knock. Aus 118-1 in 40 overs.

Partnership crosses 50 between Rogers and Watson. Aus 89-1 in 30 overs.

Spin operating at both ends but Australia look firm. 72-1 in 25 overs.

Rogers on 21, Watson on 16. Aus 66-1 in 20 overs.

Australia reach 50-1 in 15 overs.

MORNING SESSION

England's Stuart Broad briefly took the wind out of Australia's sails by removing opener David Warner but the hosts survived without further loss to be 46 for one at lunch on a rainy opening day of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide on Thursday.

Warner, who scored an imperious century in Australia's first Test win, was in blazing form, blasting four boundaries before chasing a wider delivery and spooning a simple catch straight down the throat of Michael Carberry at point for 29.

Watchful opening batsman Chris Rogers was seven not out with number three Shane Watson on 10 when an early lunch was called after the third rain interruption of the morning.

England will have counted Warner's wicket as a bonus after losing the toss on a flat wicket that offered little reward for either Broad or fellow seamer James Anderson.

The tourists' hopes of building momentum were also thwarted by the rain which came down after the first over was bowled and also caused a further 20-minute rain-delay midway through the session.

Yet another rain delay. It must be frustrating for the players who were forced off the field three times since morning. It's not been raining heavily, so we wait and watch. Early lunch taken.

Two back to back boundaries from Watson. Aus 46-1 in 12 overs.

Good news. The rains have cleared. Match to start in some time soon.

It's raining and the covers are on. Weather has been very unpredictable since morning.

Watson is in. He will be keen to get a big one here. Aus 36-1 in 10 overs.

Broad does it for England. Gives the first break as Warner departs offering an easy catch to Carberry at point. Aus 34-1 in 8 overs.

D Warner c Carberry b Broad 29 (32b 4x4 0x6)

Warner had a great opening Test and he is continuing it from there. He looks to be in great form already scoring 19 of the total 20. Aus 20-0 in 5 overs.

Rogers and Warner open for Australia. Warner looks rock solid with a classy cover drive. Australia 7-0 in 3 overs.

Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat first in the second Ashes Test on Thursday as England opted for a second spinner in Monty Panesar on a flat Adelaide Oval wicket.

England, trailing Australia 1-0 in the five-Test series, named Joe Root to replace Jonathan Trott at number three after the South Africa-born batsman left the tour this week to deal with a stress-related illness.

Ben Stokes was handed his Test debut and will slot in at number six.

Australia captain Michael Clarke was pleased to win his second toss in a row for a test on a drop-in pitch that is unlikely to offer much for the bowlers over the first three days, but is expected to offer turn later in the match.

"I think the ground's in fantastic condition," Clarke said pitchside after confirming his team would be unchanged from the 11 that defeated England by 381 runs in the opener in Brisbane.

"I think you know there'll be some natural variation (with the pitch) as the game goes on."

"Let's hope (the crowd's) nice and loud cheering us on today.

"We've got to come out here in this Test and back up Brisbane."

England captain Alastair Cook said 22-year-old Stokes would offer "all-round balance" in attack for the tourists, who have overlooked the option of a third seamer in Chris Tremlett or Tim Bresnan.

"It looks a dry wicket and there hasn't been too much help on these pitches for the seamers, but we are lucky to have two spinners of this quality," Cook said of Panesar and fellow spinner Graeme Swann.

Playing XI:

Australia: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon.

England: Alastair Cook (captain), Michael Carberry, Joe Root, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Ben Stokes, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar.