Published: Nov 22, 2013, 07:46 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 22, 2013, 07:46 AM (IST)
Mitchell Johnson (centre) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Jonathan Trott (not in photo) on Day Two © Getty Images
By Shrikant Shankar
Nov 22, 2013
England are at 55 for two at lunch on Day Two of the first Ashes 2013-14 Test in Brisbane at the Gabba. Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott were the two wickets to fall after Australia were bowled out for 295 in their first innings. Brad Haddin was run out for an important 94 in Australia’s innings. Michael Carberry is batting on 31 for England, who trail Australia by 240 runs.
The day began with Australia’s score at 273 for eight. Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris were looking to score runs at a brisk pace. A couple of crisp shots from the duo got things going for Australia. But England struck quickly as Stuart Broad found the edge of Harris’s bat and Matt Prior took the catch behind the wickets. Harris actually tried to get his bat out of the way to the length delivery, but was a little late. He was out for nine.
Haddin then pulled a bouncer from Broad to get a four and moved into the 90s. He then pushed one from James Anderson towards point and set off for two. But Carberry, running in from deep point, picked the ball up cleanly and threw to Prior at the striker’s end. The wicketkeeper collected it high towards his right and without looking at the stumps, clipped the bails. Haddin was run out for 94 off 153 balls.
Australia’s first innings finished at 295. Broad got a mixture of boos and applause as he led the England team into the dressing room.
Cook and Carberry opened the batting for England. The duo began solidly with Carberry getting off the mark with a push down the ground for two off the first ball he faced from Harris. Mitchell Johnson bowled one full and slightly down the leg side and Cook glanced it away for the first four of the innings down fine-leg. Johnson then bowled a bouncer and Cook pulled hard in front of mid-wicket to get another four.
Johnson was a little wayward but he did get some good deliveries in. He bowled a beautiful away swinger to Carberry which beat the bat. He then bowled one short and Carberry flashed hard and got a four over the slip cordon.
Johnson’s ineffectiveness led Michael Clarke to replace him with Peter Siddle. Harris then struck as Cook edged one to Haddin behind the wickets. The ball pitched on a good length and moved slightly away from Cook. That was enough for the edge. Cook was stuck in his crease.
Jonathan Trott was the next batsman. He opened his account with a four towards mid-wicket. The ball from Harris drifted down the leg side and Trott leaned to his right and worked it away on the on side.
Johnson was then brought back into the attack. He bowled one on the hips to Carberry and the batsman worked it away for a four down the fine-leg region. He bowled a similar delivery again and Carberry got the same result.
Then off the first ball of the final over before lunch, Australia struck. Johnson bowled one short and Trott edged it to Haddin behind the wickets. That was Haddin’s 200th dismissal as a wicketkeeper in Tests.
England headed to lunch with their score at 55 for two. They trailed Australia by 240 runs.
Brief scores:
Australia 295 (David Warner 49, Brad Haddin 94, Mitchell Johnson 64; Stuart Broad 6 for 81) lead England 55 for 2 (Michael Carberry 31*; Ryan Harris 1 for 12) by 240 runs.
(Shrikant Shankar is a writer/reporter at CricketCountry.com. Previously he has done audio commentary for various matches involving India, Indian Premier League and Champions League Twenty20 for ESPNSTAR.com. You can follow him on Twitter @Shrikant_23)
