England would have been disappointed at the end of the first day’s play of the fifth and the final Ashes test match, but all in all, it is very difficult to call the Aussies favourites at this stage. England was 307/8 when the play ended, on a wicket that was so dry that the Aussie part-time time spinners were getting enough out of the surface. With Australia having to bat last against Graeme Swann, the score is not as bad as it could have been otherwise.
England went into the game with two changes; Jonathon Trott was an expected replacement for Ravi Bopara, whereas a fit-again Andrew Flintoff came in for Graham Onions. The hosts won a very crucial toss and decided to bat first, but were immediately in trouble, when Peter Siddle made one to move across Alastair Cook, who edged it and was snapped up by Ricky Ponting in the slips.
Ian Bell then joined captain Andrew Strauss, and was peppered by some really short stuff from the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark, but he survived the torris session to come in unbeaten at lunch; England was 108/1, with Strauss having completed his half century.
Post-lunch, Strauss did not survive for long and nicked one from Ben Hilfenhaus to the wicket-keeper, but Bell grew in confidence to bring up his half century. After the brilliant battling innings at Cardiff, Paul Collingwood’s form has deteriorated, and it was no different today as despite batting for 65 balls and for 24 runs, he went for an expansive drive off Siddle to only give out an easy catch to Michael Hussey in the gully. New-comer Trott and Bell ensured that the English did not lose any further wickets till tea, and went into the break at 180/3.
Bell’s fine innings of 72 was finally terminated off an inside edge off Siddle, and this led to a minor collapse of sorts. Prior was softened up with some short deliveries from Johnson and then sucked into playing a slower one, while Flintoff only edged one to Haddin off the same bowler. In the meantime, Trott batted in a very matured manner, but was unlucky to get out. He drove the ball to the short-leg and came a couple of steps out of the crease to only be run-out by Katich from the short-leg. England was 268/7 at this stage, and the pair of Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad ground another slight partnership before the last ball of the day had Swann tickling one to the wicket-keeper to provide Siddle his fourth wicket and the hosts ended on 307/8.
However, the wicket is playing some tricks and if it continues in the same vein, a score of around 350 could be a very challenging one for Australia. It remains to be seen if the tail can get the hosts up to the total of 350.