Published: Dec 05, 2013, 01:24 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 05, 2013, 02:45 PM (IST)
By Shrikant Shankar
Dec 5, 2013
It was honours even on Day One of the second Ashes 2013-14 Test between Australia and England at the Adelaide Oval. Australia are at 273 for five with Michael Clarke batting on 48 and Brad Haddin on seven. Australia were going strong in the final session on Thursday, but England rallied late to dismiss George Bailey for 53. Stuart Broad picked up two wickets.
The final session on Day One began with Australia’s score at 174 for four. George Bailey was the new man in. He got off the mark with a cut shot off Monty Panesar for two.
James Anderson then bowled a maiden over to Clarke. Panesar had a poor post-tea session as he got his length all mixed up and the batsmen duly obliged by dispatching them to the fence for fours.
Panesar’s session got worse as he dropped a return catch to dismiss Bailey. The batsman hit it hard, but it should have been taken as it went straight to Panesar at a catchable height. Bailey then hit one straight down the ground off Broad for three runs.
Bailey then came down the track and lofted Panesar for a six down the ground. The 200 came up for Australia with that shot. Graeme Swann bowled from round the wicket and Clarke came down the ground and whipped one on the leg side.
Joe Root dived high to his right at mid-wicket, but dropped a relatively tough chance. Then there was a chance for a run-out as Bailey hit one straight back to Swann along the ground. The bowler got his hands on it and deflected it onto the stumps. Clarke could have been short of his crease at the non-striker’s end, but replays showed that he was safely back.
Bailey then pulled a short ball from Stokes for a four through deep mid-wicket. He then came down the track and hit one over Swann’s head for another four. Bailey was in the mood and he charged at Panesar and went aerial and got a six over long-off. Anderson bowled one on Clarke’s pads and he whipped it away for a four towards square-leg.
Bailey brought up his first Test half-century with a six over deep mid-wicket. Broad bowled a short one and Bailey went for the pull and connected well.
Broad then struck as Bailey pulled a bouncer straight to Graeme Swann at square-leg. It was a fantastic catch from the off-spinner diving high to his right. Brad Haddin was the new man in. He got off the mark with two runs towards mid-on.
England got a glorious opportunity to get Haddin out in the end, but Michael Carberry dropped a sitter at point. Haddin slashed hard at a Panesar delivery, but got a top-edge and scooped it to Carberry, who somehow managed to drop it.
Stumps were called on Day One as Australia were at 273 for five. Clarke was batting on 48 and Haddin was on seven.
Brief scores:
Australia 273 for 5 (Chris Rogers 72, Shane Watson 51, Michael Clarke 48*, George Bailey 53; Stuart Broad 2 for 63) vs England.
(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)
