Ashes 2013-14: Michael Clarke’s century takes Australia to 389/5 at lunch on Day 2 of 2nd Test

By Shrikant Shankar

 

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Dec 6, 2013

A superb century from Michael Clarke has put Australia in a very good position in the second Ashes 2013-14 Test against England at the Adelaide Oval. At lunch on Day Two, Australia’s first innings score is at 389 for five with Clarke batting on 109 and Brad Haddin on 57. Australia did not lose a single wicket in the morning session on Friday.

The day started with Australia at 273 for five. Stuart Broad began proceedings for the day. Clarke got to his half-century with two runs over cover off a huge outside edge. That was his 28th Test half-century.

Clarke then got the first four of the day as he came down the track and chipped Monty Panesar over mid-on. Haddin then gloved a short ball from Broad for a four past Matt Prior behind the wickets.

Clarke then started hitting fours at will as he got a couple against both Panesar and James Anderson. Panesar tossed one up and Haddin lofted a straight drive over the bowler’s head for a four.

Clarke was batting brilliantly as he played a delightful cover drive for a four to a length delivery from Anderson. Haddin then slog-swept Swann for a big six over deep mid-wicket.

England had a chance to get the breakthrough as Anderson dug one in short and it rose on Haddin. He top-edged a hook shot and Panesar was late to react at fine-leg and the ball fell short of him.

Haddin slog-swept Swann again and he top-edged it, but he had enough on it to get it over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a six. Ben Stokes bowled one outside off-stump and Haddin punched it off the back-foot for a four through cover-point.

Stokes bowls a bouncer outside off-stump and Haddin opened the face of the bat and guided it away for a four through third-man. Haddin reached his half-century with three runs off Swann towards fine-leg. That was his third half-century in-a-row.

Stokes seemed to have got the breakthrough as Haddin edged one to Prior. But the umpires checked for a no-ball and he stepped over the line. So, it was not out.

Clarke got to his 26th Test half-century with a single towards square-leg off Stokes. The whole Adelaide Oval crowd applauded a fantastic innings. This is also his second century in-a-row after his ton in the second innings of the first Test in Brisbane.

Lunch was taken soon after as the first session well and truly belonged to Australia.

Brief scores:

Australia 389 for 5 (Chris Rogers 72, Shane Watson 51, Michael Clarke 109*, George Bailey 53, Brad Haddin 57*; Stuart Broad 2 for 72) vs England.

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(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)