Cricket Update: Ashes 2010- Cook and Pieterson give command to England on the second day of Adelaide Test
The second day of the Adelaide Test totally belonged to the English batsmen, as they were able to take the lead in their first innings. England at the end of the day were 317-2, with Kevin Pieterson and Alastiar Cook still present at the crease. For Australia,
it is again a worrying situation for them as they have not been able to pressurize the English players in first two days.
Australia made two changes for this Test match, but so far they have not been able to create a massive difference. It was a view that Australia would come out with everything on the second day, but their bowling again lacked the punch that has been associated
with them in the past. England enjoyed the first day with some impressive bowling by James Anderson and on the second day, it was Alastiar Cook who steered them to an easy lead. Australian fans are in desperate hope of a wonderful performance by their players,
but so far, Australia has not capitalized the home advantage in their favour.
Australia started the day on a positive note, when Andrew Strauss was bowled by Doug Bollinger in the first over. It was the perfect start for the Aussies, and to get rid of Strauss early on is always an achievement for a side. Strauss only managed 1 run
to the total, and he would definitely be disappointed of not being able to make a big total in the first innings. For Australia, it was the perfect opportunity to get a hold on the English batsmen and get them out for a low total. The fine form of the English
batsmen continued as none of the Aussie bowlers were able to contain them.
Alastair Cook carried his form from the first Ashes test and played with a lot of confidence. He was professional in his approach and scored with that mind set. Cook along with Jonathan Trott contributed 173 runs for the second wicket, and really placed
England in a commanding situation. Jonathan Trott made 78 important runs for his side and looked in a good touch. Australia has only itself to blame in the missed chances department, as they let Trott off the hook almost 3 times in his innings. Trott was given
life at the score of 6, when Doherty missed a run out chance of him. At 10, Hussey dropped his catch at slip position, and at the score of 76, he was again given life when Brad Haddin dropped an easy catch of Trott of the bowling of Ryan Harris.
Alastair Cook was the star of the day for England as he played some elegant shots. Trott, after being given life by the fielders, was also looking good and struck some lovely drives on the “on side”. Cook and Trott managed a strong partnership of 173 runs
of 282 balls, and gave stability to the England innings. At the score of 176, Trott was dismissed by Harris, when he gave a catch to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 at mid wicket position. He played well for his 78 and struck 11 boundaries. Kevin Pieterson was the next batsman for
England, and a perfect platform was set for him to show his worth. Pieterson has not scored a major innings for quite some time, and one could see the willingness in his eyes to score some important runs. Kevin Pieterson came to the party and played a good
knock. Pieterson batted brilliantly for his 85* and showed to everyone that why they call him the big match player. He showed a great deal of composure, and his body language was quite positive.
Australia were finding it hard to control the runs flow, as none of the Aussie bowlers were able to trouble the settled and in form English batsmen. Pieterson used his feet brilliantly against the spinners and did not allow them to dictate terms to him.
He struck number of impressive boundaries of the spinners. Pieterson brought his fifty from 77 balls, and was looking in a fine touch. Cook on the other hand was in supreme touch and played all round the wicket. He did not allow any bowler to settle and did
not take any irrational risks in his knock of 136*. The ease with which he scored really placed a number of questions for the Aussie bowlers. Cook played some lovely cut shots in his knock of 136*. He played his favourite cut shot off Doherty for a boundary,
to reach his 15th hundred in Test Cricket. It was the second consecutive hundred by the young left hander and his form has impressed every one.
Pieterson and Cook managed 141 runs for the third wicket and placed England in a commanding position. For http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, Ryan Harris was the pick of the bowler, as he was economical in his spell and also picked 1 wicket. Bollinger also picked a wicket but was
expensive in his spells. At the end of the day England managed 317-2 with Cook (136*) and Pieterson (85*) still at the wicket. England were also successful on the second day, and it would take a lot of effort by the Aussies to bounce back in the Test match.
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