Here are my thoughts on each individual player...
Australia
Shane Watson - Will be disappointed not to have gone on in the first innings after gaining a good start. Batted well in the second innings despite the game being dead and he's likely to be a thorn in England's side throughout the series. I have a feeling Swann will be the man to pick up Watson the most because of his tendency to go very hard against the spinners. Picked up the wicket of the Trott in the first innings and bowled well in parts throughout the match.
7
Simon Katich - A very impressive stay at the crease on the second day. Obdurate in defence and punchy in attack, Katich survived an outstanding spell of new ball bowling from Anderson to lay a platform for his middle order to plunder on a flatter pitch. Out for very little in the second innings but by that time the game was over and Katich will be pleased with his performance in this match.
8
Ricky Pointing - Strangled down the legside by Anderson, the captain's dismissal will do nothing to quieten the doubters about his once - outstanding back foot play. Positive in the second innings and got hist just reward on a flat pitch with an unbeaten 40. What will be most worrying for Pointing are his captaincy, which was bereft of ideas, and the lack of penetration from his bowling attack.
5
Michael Clarke - Clarke's painstaking 10 from 50 balls in the first innings was so far away from his usual fluency that it was clear something wasn't quite right. A dodgy back, no appetite for the short stuff and a host of hungry young Australian batsman mean that the vice-captain's position is seriously under threat for Adelaide. Oh and he dropped a sitter. One to forget.
3
Michael Hussey - Hussey at his best is a sight to behold and this was just that. With Australia teetering on the brink of collapse, 'Mr Cricket' counter attacked with a sparkling hundred that will typify his danger to the England team. Proved the critics wrong and showed that the Australian middle order has still got some fight left in it. Simply Outstanding.
9
Marcus North - The weakest link (along with an injury stricken Clarke) in the Australian top seven, North is under fire after another sub - standard performance. Cheaply dismissed in the first innings and in a bad run of form if it wasn't for his bowling I would happily award him a 0 for his contribution to the match. Ironically he picked up the hosts only wicket in England's second innings.
3
Brad Haddin - Another sticking it to the critics, Haddin's hundred in this match has gone along way in silencing the doubters. Mixed some typical flashy strokeplay with patient defence, highlighting his threat in the series. Not much to write about his glovework. Overall, a very good Test Match.
9
Mitchell Johnson - Wicketless for the first time in his Test Match career, Johnson had an absolute stinker. Clueless with the ball, he continually sprayed the ball from one side of the wicket to the other. He built no pressure on any England batsman and provided a valuable source of easy runs. He got a duck, dropped a sitter and looks like the least confident cricketer in Australia. Prime candidate to be dropped for Doug Bollinger.
1
Xavier Doherty - Thrown in at the deep end and completely out of his depth the left arm spinner actually bowled okay in parts and certainly turned the ball sharply on a pitch that wasn't particularly conducive to spin. However, he was a bit too easy to accumulate from for the England batters and he's not really got much of a future as a Test Match cricketer. Should have picked the more experienced Hauritz.
5
Ben Hilfenhaus - Hilfenhaus will be generally disappointed in his performance. Caused problems with the new ball in both innings and his ability to swing the ball will be invaluable throughout the series, but far too often he bowled short on a pitch that was crying out for the bowler to pitch it up. For a bowler who prides himself on control and discipline it was a very uncharacteristic display.
4
Peter Siddle - The stand out performer in the Australian bowling attack, Siddle's electrifying hat-trick on the first day was the moment of the match and will be remembered by all who witnessed it for a very long time. He got to grips with conditions better than any other bowler in the match and proved that he was deserved of his selection.
8
Tuesday 30 November 2010
Sunday 28 November 2010
Strauss and Cook expose Australian frailties
Day Four at the Gabba has seen England recover from their first innings deficit in considerable style, finishing the day in Brisbane on 309-1.
Centuries for England Captain Andrew Strauss and his opening partner Alastair Cook provided the mainstay of the tourists fightback, whilst Jonathan Trott was able to chip in with a positive half - century once the skipper had departed.
Australia, devoid of ideas and lacking in any real penetration, were put to the sword by the impressive threesome throughout the day and will now find it hard to respond with the second new ball already taken.
The match looks destined for a draw, with England the happier of the two sides, and further pressure will now be felt by Ricky Pointing, regarding his captaincy, going into the rest of the series.
England started the day looking to negotiate the dangerous new ball and begin to whittle down Australia's first innings lead. Strauss and Cook were relatively untroubled throughout the morning and were able to feast upon a succession of short pitched bowling from the Australian trio of Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus.
Strauss became the first of the pair to reach fifty, before Cook followed shortly afterwards and the pair batted serenely going into the interval. Very little had troubled the openers and the inexperience of Xavier Doherty, who bowled a mixture over overpitched and short deliveries, was becoming more prominent by the over.
But, it was Doherty who produced the only clear cut chance of the morning session when he had Strauss miss-hitting a flighted delivery straight to Mitchell Johnson at mid - off, who inexplicably dropped the chance.
The dropped catch summed up Johnson's match, who has bowled poorly throughout and looks miles away from the form that saw him become the world's best bowler in 2009.
After lunch Strauss would go on to complete his 19th Test century with consumate ease as Australia's attack began to fold rapidly. The England skipper was delighted to correct his first innings duck and and was fully deserved of the acclaim from all corners of the ground.
And, it was met with an air of disbelief when Strauss was stumped by Brad Haddin off the part time bowling of Marcus North for an outstanding 110, leaving the score 188-1. His wicket brought Jonathan Trott, another with a first innings failure, to the crease who immediately went about his business in a positive manner.
At the other end, Cook was accumulating through a mixture of nudges and nurdles, and it wasn't long after the tea interval when he brought up his hundred with a trademark cut off Siddle. The Essex opener's century had taken 204 balls and had been one of great character and application.
The pair continued to punish a tired Australian outfit and even a second new ball could not stem the flow, as Trott eased his way to fifty just shy of the close of play.
It had been England's day from start to finish and when Cook and Trott walked off at about quarter to seven they had built a lead of 88.
Centuries for England Captain Andrew Strauss and his opening partner Alastair Cook provided the mainstay of the tourists fightback, whilst Jonathan Trott was able to chip in with a positive half - century once the skipper had departed.
Australia, devoid of ideas and lacking in any real penetration, were put to the sword by the impressive threesome throughout the day and will now find it hard to respond with the second new ball already taken.
The match looks destined for a draw, with England the happier of the two sides, and further pressure will now be felt by Ricky Pointing, regarding his captaincy, going into the rest of the series.
England started the day looking to negotiate the dangerous new ball and begin to whittle down Australia's first innings lead. Strauss and Cook were relatively untroubled throughout the morning and were able to feast upon a succession of short pitched bowling from the Australian trio of Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus.
Strauss became the first of the pair to reach fifty, before Cook followed shortly afterwards and the pair batted serenely going into the interval. Very little had troubled the openers and the inexperience of Xavier Doherty, who bowled a mixture over overpitched and short deliveries, was becoming more prominent by the over.
But, it was Doherty who produced the only clear cut chance of the morning session when he had Strauss miss-hitting a flighted delivery straight to Mitchell Johnson at mid - off, who inexplicably dropped the chance.
The dropped catch summed up Johnson's match, who has bowled poorly throughout and looks miles away from the form that saw him become the world's best bowler in 2009.
After lunch Strauss would go on to complete his 19th Test century with consumate ease as Australia's attack began to fold rapidly. The England skipper was delighted to correct his first innings duck and and was fully deserved of the acclaim from all corners of the ground.
And, it was met with an air of disbelief when Strauss was stumped by Brad Haddin off the part time bowling of Marcus North for an outstanding 110, leaving the score 188-1. His wicket brought Jonathan Trott, another with a first innings failure, to the crease who immediately went about his business in a positive manner.
At the other end, Cook was accumulating through a mixture of nudges and nurdles, and it wasn't long after the tea interval when he brought up his hundred with a trademark cut off Siddle. The Essex opener's century had taken 204 balls and had been one of great character and application.
The pair continued to punish a tired Australian outfit and even a second new ball could not stem the flow, as Trott eased his way to fifty just shy of the close of play.
It had been England's day from start to finish and when Cook and Trott walked off at about quarter to seven they had built a lead of 88.
Friday 26 November 2010
England fightback curtailed as Hussey dominates
An intriguing second day's play at the Gabba has seen Australia reach 220-5 in their first innings reply. Mike Hussey's excellent unbeaten 81 proved the backbone to Australia's recovery after earlier England had battled to reduce their opponents to 143-5 in the afternoon session.
England began the day in search of early wickets with the new ball, but the home side's pair of Shane Watson and Simon Katich seemed relatively untroubled by a pace attack struggling to find the length that Peter Siddle had been able to exploit on day one.
The opener's batted serenely through the first session, with only a couple of troubling moments, until half an hour before lunch when James Anderson induced Watson into edging a good length delivery to Andrew Strauss at first slip, leaving the score 78-1.
Despite England being unable to unsettle Australia's captain Ricky Pointing before lunch, the wicket of Watson was a timely one and provided much needed impetus for the visitors who came out firing after the interval.
Within four overs of the afternoon session England had picked up a further two wickets, with Anderson snaffling an unlucky Pointing in his first over after lunch and Steven Finn managing to dislodge the seemingly immovable Katich, for an impressive 50, with an outstanding caught and bowled.
All of a sudden momemtum swung England's way and with Michael Clarke looking particularly scratchy, as well as unfit, Andrew Strauss's side sniffed an opportunity to rip out the Australian middle order.
Clarke was the first to go, caught behind off the bowling of Finn, for a laboured 9 off 50 deliveries and then Graeme Swann got in on the action, having an under-fire Marcus North caught at first slip by Paul Collingwood to leave the Australians teetering at 143-5.
But, any hopes that England might be able to run through the Australian line-up soon evaporated as Hussey and the wicket-keeper Brad Haddin got together and began to rebuild the home side's total.
Hussey, in particular, was fluent as he cut and pulled the ball very firmly against both Swann and the English trio of seamers. He passed 50 with ease and despite Haddin playing and missing on a number of occasions, the pair were able to push the Australian total along at a decent rate.
And, just as England looked to provide fresh impetus to their efforts by taking the new ball they were thwarted by bad light and then a tropical storm, leaving Australia just 40 in arrears of their first innings score.
Player of the Day: Mike Hussey
'Mr Cricket' was simply outstanding today. Aggressive against an out-of-sorts Swann and measured in his approach to the English pace attack, he paced his innings perfectly and has wrestled back control of the Test Match for his side.
England began the day in search of early wickets with the new ball, but the home side's pair of Shane Watson and Simon Katich seemed relatively untroubled by a pace attack struggling to find the length that Peter Siddle had been able to exploit on day one.
The opener's batted serenely through the first session, with only a couple of troubling moments, until half an hour before lunch when James Anderson induced Watson into edging a good length delivery to Andrew Strauss at first slip, leaving the score 78-1.
Despite England being unable to unsettle Australia's captain Ricky Pointing before lunch, the wicket of Watson was a timely one and provided much needed impetus for the visitors who came out firing after the interval.
Within four overs of the afternoon session England had picked up a further two wickets, with Anderson snaffling an unlucky Pointing in his first over after lunch and Steven Finn managing to dislodge the seemingly immovable Katich, for an impressive 50, with an outstanding caught and bowled.
All of a sudden momemtum swung England's way and with Michael Clarke looking particularly scratchy, as well as unfit, Andrew Strauss's side sniffed an opportunity to rip out the Australian middle order.
Clarke was the first to go, caught behind off the bowling of Finn, for a laboured 9 off 50 deliveries and then Graeme Swann got in on the action, having an under-fire Marcus North caught at first slip by Paul Collingwood to leave the Australians teetering at 143-5.
But, any hopes that England might be able to run through the Australian line-up soon evaporated as Hussey and the wicket-keeper Brad Haddin got together and began to rebuild the home side's total.
Hussey, in particular, was fluent as he cut and pulled the ball very firmly against both Swann and the English trio of seamers. He passed 50 with ease and despite Haddin playing and missing on a number of occasions, the pair were able to push the Australian total along at a decent rate.
And, just as England looked to provide fresh impetus to their efforts by taking the new ball they were thwarted by bad light and then a tropical storm, leaving Australia just 40 in arrears of their first innings score.
Player of the Day: Mike Hussey
'Mr Cricket' was simply outstanding today. Aggressive against an out-of-sorts Swann and measured in his approach to the English pace attack, he paced his innings perfectly and has wrestled back control of the Test Match for his side.
Thursday 25 November 2010
Siddle inspires Australia as England falter
An oustanding spell of fast bowling from Peter Siddle has seen Australia gain the upper hand on the First Day of the 2010-11 Ashes series in Brisbane.
England, after winning the toss and electing to bat, collapsed after tea from 197-4 to 260 all out thanks mainly to Siddle who became only the fifth Australian of all time to achieve a hat-trick in Ashes cricket.
The Victorian picked up the wickets of Alastair Cook, Matt Prior and Stuart Broad in consecutive balls to add to his other victims, the middle order pair Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood and the dangerous tailender Graeme Swann, leaving England well below par on a docile pitch.
Australia, in reply, were able to negotiate the remaining overs of the evening session and end the day's play 25-0, only 235 runs behind.
Aside from Cook and the impressive Ian Bell who scored 67 and 76 respectively, no English batsman passed fifty and the lack of application on the first day of such an important series was alarming to say the least.
The performance of the England line up is even more disappointing considering the lack of penetration from the Australian attack, Siddle apart, and Strauss and his men will look to put things right in the Second Innings.
England go into Day Two looking for inspiration from their pace trio, James Anderson, Steven Finn and Stuart Broad alongside the world's best spin bowler, Graeme Swann. And, if they can pick up wickets early with the new ball then we're in for an intriguing Test Match.
England, after winning the toss and electing to bat, collapsed after tea from 197-4 to 260 all out thanks mainly to Siddle who became only the fifth Australian of all time to achieve a hat-trick in Ashes cricket.
The Victorian picked up the wickets of Alastair Cook, Matt Prior and Stuart Broad in consecutive balls to add to his other victims, the middle order pair Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood and the dangerous tailender Graeme Swann, leaving England well below par on a docile pitch.
Australia, in reply, were able to negotiate the remaining overs of the evening session and end the day's play 25-0, only 235 runs behind.
Andrew Strauss set the tone for a disappointing day when he cut the third ball of the day from Ben Hilfenhaus straight to the grateful Mike Hussey at Gully. And despite a number of the top order getting starts, the England batsman were more than guilty of indecision and a looseness to their strokeplay. Even the seemingly unflappable Jonathan Trott gave his wicket away relatively cheaply in an uncharacteristic show of early aggression.
Aside from Cook and the impressive Ian Bell who scored 67 and 76 respectively, no English batsman passed fifty and the lack of application on the first day of such an important series was alarming to say the least.
The performance of the England line up is even more disappointing considering the lack of penetration from the Australian attack, Siddle apart, and Strauss and his men will look to put things right in the Second Innings.
England go into Day Two looking for inspiration from their pace trio, James Anderson, Steven Finn and Stuart Broad alongside the world's best spin bowler, Graeme Swann. And, if they can pick up wickets early with the new ball then we're in for an intriguing Test Match.
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