Kangaroos knocked out on Boxing Day- first day 4th ashes test
The first day of the 4th Ashes test proved to be a perfect one for England, it was a late Christmas present for English players. As even they could not have imagined having a better first day in the all important 4th Boxing Day test
match. England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and took a gamble in electing to bowl first. There were some doubts about the fitness of his bowling line up before the match. However the performance his trio put out wiped away all doubts in the first session.
Australia were dismissed for just 98 runs in a splendid display of quality swing bowling, and to stamp their authority even further England ended the day at 157 for no loss. The visitors lead Australia by 59 runs with 4 days in the test to go and all their
wickets still intact.
When England Captain Andrew Strauss won the toss he did make a bold decision to put the hosts in. Melbourne does not have a record of offering too much assistance on the first morning to the seamers, but maybe Strauss had read the pitch much better than
the pundits.
Phil Hughes the left handed opening batsman who is under some pressure to perform did start the innings brightly with a couple of crispy blows in the covers. While Shane Watson looked a bit circumspect. Just in the 4th over Chris Tremlet got one
to bounce awkwardly and got the shoulder off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326’s bat, Kevin Pietersen made no mistake and took an easy catch in the gully. Hughes on the other end continued to go hard at the full pitch deliveries and that was also his undoing. The left hander slashed
hard at one outside the off stump and Pietersen got his 2nd catch once again in the gully off the bowling of Tim Bresnan who is in the team for Steven Finn.
Another player who is struggling for runs is Aussie captain Ricky Ponting and he did look nervous. After couple of close calls down the leg side he got a beauty from Tremlet. The ball pitched off and moved away taking the edge of Ponting’s bat and Graeme
Swann in the slips dived to his left to complete a good catch. Ponting made just 10 runs.
The whole of Australia would have been looking at the man of crisis Michael Hussey also known as Mr Cricket, to come up with yet another one of his trademark innings. But it was not to be and Michael Hussey was snapped up by James Anderson who got one to
move away from him and Matt Prior made no mistake behind the stumps. Hussey made just 8 runs and it was 58 for the loss of 4 wickets.
Steve Smith was to follow soon and he was also caught behind off the bowling of James Anderson for just 8 runs.
It was all downhill for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 was out for 20 runs.
77 for 7 became 98 all out in the 43rd over, James Anderson and Chris Tremlet ended up with wickets each.
In reply Australia while looking to get quick wickets went a bit too hard at England and in result threw up some half volleys. The two England openers Andrew Strauss and Alistiar Cook made full use and punished every loose ball. At the close of play both
had got to their 50s. Strauss was unbeaten at 64 while Cook was not out at 80 as England ended the day at 157 for no loss leading Australia by 59 runs.
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