Michael Hussey stands first as first Ashes Test hots up at Gabba
After Peter Siddle’s heroics on the opening day of one of the most eagerly awaited Test series of recent year, the Australians had Mr. Cricket to thank on day two at the Gabba as they nose ahead in the match.
The Australians ended a curtailed day at 220/5 a mere 34 runs behind the first innings score of 254 posted by England and 5 wickets in the kitty.
Resuming at the overnight score of 25 for no loss the Australian openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich carried on from where they had left on day one. The two made full use of scoring opportunities yet were forced to graft for their runs at times as England
sought the first breakthrough.
The breakthrough came with the two batsmen set for big scores as Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 was snapped by Graeme Swann of opening bowler James Anderson for 36 runs, the all-rounder fell with the score at 78 he hit 6 fours in his knock.
18 runs later captain Ricky Ponting was caught behind in unfortunate manner when his attempted glance landed in Matt Prior’s gloves to the jubilation of the bowler Anderson.
Ponting could score 10 runs only, the joy was doubled in the English camp when Steven Finn accounted for Simon Katich for 50 runs he was caught and bowled.
Mike Hussey joined hands with Michael Clarke and the two tried their best to counter the English attack, Hussey motored along as Clarke withstood a barrage of short balls from the other end.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120’s resistance finally ended when another short ball by Finn took the edge of his bat as he attempted a pull shot and ended in Prior’s gloves.
Clarke scored 9 runs only, Hussey than was a mere spectator as Marcus North edged Swann to the slips after making 1 run.
The Aussies had stumbled to 143/5 at this stage and needed resurgence from Hussey and new man Haddin. That resurgence came quickly and the two soon added 50 runs for the sixth wicket stand.
Hussey was lucky to survive a scare of the first ball that he faced which found the edge of his bat yet landed inches before the waiting slips cordon.
He thanked his lucky stars for the escape, "It just goes to show how much the game is a fine line", he said. "Nicking that first one, I was praying it would fall short and thankfully it did. A foot more and I was gone for a first-ball duck".
Meanwhile, Hussey posted a superlative half century and raced to 81 off 144 balls as the Aussies wrestled back the initiative he attributed his success to his positive attitude.
"It's a time where my mind is a lot clearer and maybe I'm just seeing the ball a bit clearer out of the bowler's hand", he said. "At other times in the last couple of years, there have maybe been other clouds or doubts or negative thoughts going through
my mind. Or the situation of the game, or what the pitch is doing. It stops you playing with the same freedom".
The Aussies are back in a relatively strong position, yet a lot of work remains for them if they are to win the encounter, Hussey feels that the second new ball is going to be a big challenge tomorrow hence both him and Haddin needed to guard against complacency.
"We had to battle pretty hard throughout that partnership", Hussey said. "We managed to get a good partnership but it's probably not even half what we require, we've got some really hard work to do tomorrow morning. The second new ball is going to be a really
challenging time in the game".
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