Openers set the tone for Australia on the second day of The Ashes
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 pushed their advantage on the 2nd day at Woolloongabba in Brisbane. In doing so, the home team piled up a decent score of 96 for 1 at lunch on the 2nd day of the first Test match.
The early morning rain did not have any effect on the pitch as the surface remained flat at the start of the proceedings. There was pleasant sunshine when Australia started the day as Watson collected the first boundary.
Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 and Simon Katich consolidated in the first half of play as they assembled a gritty opening partnership of 78 runs to push Australia forward. In the process the pair negated the new-ball effect of the English attack as they played watchfully.
Watson added 36 runs to the team total, which included six crisp boundaries. The Tasmanian provided his team with a solid platform by scoring runs in a steady manner. It was just before lunch that he gifted his wicket to Anderson to leave Australia on 78 for 1.
Simon Katich was the star of the show as he remained unbeaten on 46 runs. In his hunt for runs, the left handed opener mixed attack with defence in order to gain the early advantage for the Kangaroos.
Ricky Ponting joined Katich to consolidate the innings in a watchful manner. Ponting remained unbeaten for his 10 runs. The Australian captain along with the opener guided the home team to a comfortable position at lunch. The pair made sure that there were no further hiccups in the process.
England’s bowling had been competent as they grabbed the wicket of Watson before lunch. The seam bowlers bowled on a persistent line and length in order to lure the batsmen into a faulty stroke.
James Anderson was fired up in his first spell of the day. The right-arm quick bowler swung the ball at a lively pace. The main thing was that he made the batsmen play as he drew them forward to produce a wicket.
In the 26th over, Anderson produced the perfect delivery to dismiss Watson. The length delivery pitched just a touch outside the off-stump, moved away a fraction to take the outside edge of Watson, and Strauss gathered the ball cleanly to give England their first wicket.
Steven Finn and Stuart Broad bowled a couple of testing overs though they couldn’t manage to find a wicket. Swann tried to over attack the batsmen and in doing so, the off-spinner bowled a string of expensive overs.
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