Friday 13 December 2013

Aussie's Recover But Brits Don't Back Down

Both captains join Kevin Pietersen in the illustrious 100 club because of this test.

Australia are an unchanged side as they head to Perth to start the third Test of this Ashes series. England replace Monty Panesar with Tim Bresnan. 3 days between tests and a change in time zones, what's going to happen? This Ashes series could all be decided in the next 5 days...

Australia win the toss - who could have predicted that? 3/3 and England not off to the start they would have wanted.

Australia begin with a strong start but 13-0 with Broad bowling his last ball of the second over saw Anderson produce a direct hit to the stumps. Rogers is on his way for 11. Exactly what England needed to boost their confidence. Australia 13-1.

A change in the bowling sees Bresnan come into the fold with Anderson at the other end. But it's when Broad comes back into the attack that Watson nicks one to Swann in the slips and walks off with 18 runs to his name. Australia 52-2.

In-form Aussie captain Michael Clarke takes to the crease at The Waca and wobbles on 7 runs with an inside edge hit onto his pads but away from the stumps as it lands. Unfortunate for England as the tap for boundaries seems to suddenly start rapidly flowing.

Swann takes two balls as Clarke goes on the attack against the right-arm off-break spin bowler, and England have a massive wicket. Clarke walks back to the dressing room with 24 runs to his name. Australia 106-3.

Lunch: Australia 107-3.

A single brings a very quick fifty up for David Warner straight after lunch - 50 in 57 balls. England need to take care of their Warner-shaped problem pronto!

Smith takes 16 balls to get off the mark but when he does it's with a six straight down the ground off Graeme Swann.

Carberry is in the same fielding position as he was when he dropped Haddin in Adelaide but holds onto this one off Swanny's bowling. It's Warner who England have taken care of and he's gone for 60. Australia 129-4.

Two bouncers from Broad at George Bailey are too high to play but as the third comes a little lower Bailey opts to pull this one to Pietersen who somehow manages to manouver himself under it to take the catch. Bailey's gone for 7. Australia on 143-5.

England, ball is in your court. Can you keep this up?

Brad Haddin certainly rode a short wave of good fortune off an over from Broad as there are three chances where he could have been walking off the square; hitting it high between fielders and the ball luckily dropping short and an inside edge missing the stumps.

Smith acknowledges his 50 as Haddin struggles to find a rhythm at the beginning of his innings. Haddin looked to be more in the swing of things as Australia ticked over the 200 mark, Smith having hit a few fours and sixes along the way.

Tea is called, the bails taken off the stumps and with the partnership at 77, Australia look to be taking a little of England's control back on 220-5.

Tea: Australia 220-5.

After tea the 100 partnership appears and so do a couple of sixes. Brad Haddin's 15th Test fifty in 52 test matches comes next.

Stokes has been bowling aggressively with no success but as Anderson takes the catch, Haddin is dismissed for 55. Massive wicket for England! Haddin has been a huge thorn in England's side this series.

Australia 267-6.

Smith yells in celebration, shortly after Johnson joins him, jumping and punching the air for his 2nd Test century. Johnson ticks over his run rate nicely with six 4s, ending his day on 39*.

Close of play: Australia 326-6.

England showed great control for the first two sessions but too many boundaries were scored Australia clawed back a little of the control to gain the upper hand going in to day two.

England have not scored 400 in an innings here at The Waca in their last seven Test matches so they need a few cheap wickets early in the first session tomorrow.

England need a shining light in their bowling line up (batting too - but we'll get there later).

Who will it be?

02:30GMT Saturday you'll find out if and who.


And that's Ball on Willow.

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