Australia turn the screw with bat and ball

First Test (Day 2 – Stumps)
Australia 602-9 dec. England 53-3

England are definitely staring at defeat and, one or two exceptions, have only themselves to blame. They need phenomenal performances from their four remaining recognized batsmen just avoid the follow-on!

Glenn McGrath, revelling in the notion that he is too old to have a meaningful say in this series, dismissed both England’s openers cheaply in the evening session. Both played poor shots and gifted their wickets.

Strauss’s dismissal came off a mistimed hook which was well taken by Mike Hussey. Given the situation were England could only gain from keeping wickets in tact, a foolish error from an otherwise well regarded player.

England’s two other victims failed on footwork. Cook went one ball after Strauss edging to slip whilst caught in the crease, McGrath’s second wicket. Stuart Clark took the wicket of Paul Collingwood who was caught walking, an unsteady shot to cap an unsteady display over two days.

If you had only caught a glimpse of England’s total, you might be lead to believe that they’re playing on a bowlers’ paradise, far from it. Australia amassed (or were allowed to amass) a monumental total inside two days. Whilst the pitch has started to bear cracks in it, England should still trust the track and not let it detract from the bowlers they are facing.

Australia’s pacemen will put more balls in the “corridor of uncertainty” and as for Shane Warne, he has his own acre of uncertainty at the Gabba. No doubt England will need some luck as well as talent to survive the test.

Tomorrow’s Man

England – In this case men in the shape of messes Bell, Flintoff, Pietersen and Jones needing runs and plenty of them.

Australia – Shane Warne has largely been on the fringes of this game to date. Surely it can’t be too long before he spins England minds in torment.