Mixed fortunes for England on first day
Jonathan Trott was awarded his cap before play began
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Thursday, 20, Aug 2009 07:07
By Huw Davies
England closed the day on 307-8, cancelling out a great start to the day by consistently losing wickets in the final Ashes Test at the Brit Oval.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the hosts dominated the first session and a half but deteriorated from 176-2. The pitch does look like more of a bowling pitch than it was first thought, however, with balls exploding off the surface.
Graeme Swann was out to the last ball of the day for 18 to give Australia the edge. Peter Siddle was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-63.
Swann had made 39 with Stuart Broad (26 not out) as England sought to recover from the loss of debutant Jonathan Trott, run out for 41 by Simon Katich at short leg.
It was an incredible piece of fielding from Katich, who grabbed the ball and threw down the stumps to catch Trott well out of his crease.
Shortly before, Andrew Flintoff edged behind for just seven - an undignified end to a brief innings in the all-rounder's final ever Test match. Matthew Prior was tricked by a Mitchell Johnson slower ball to depart for 18.
Before Prior's innings, Ian Bell fell for 72, inside edging his first ball after tea back onto his stumps. The wicket meant that the Warwickshire batsman has still never reached three figures against Australia, and still never scored the first century of an innings.
Paul Collingwood was caught in the slips for 24 shortly before the tea break.
Collingwood and Bell, playing in his 50th Test match, characteristically took few risks and put on 62 at a sedate rate after captain Andrew Strauss departed in tame fashion.
Strauss was looking in the fine form that has defined his series with the bat, but poked at a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery and was caught behind. He and Bell had put on 102 after England's campaign started badly when Alistair Cook edged Peter Siddle to the slips for just 10.
Flintoff, retiring after this match, returns after missing the Headingley game through injury but there is no room for Graham Onions, as Steve Harmison retains his place in the team.
Australia, meanhile, have stuck with the four-man pace attack that delivered the goods in Leeds, as Stuart Clark keeps his place ahead of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.