Ashes Day 2: Australia 249/1 (186 behind)

You didn’t think regaining the Ashes was going to be easy, did you?

Any doubts England may have had about the enormity of their task this summer were dispelled as Ricky Ponting (100) and Simon Katich (104) made unbeaten centuries on the second day at Sophia Gardens.

England’s attack was made to look depressingly tame as the Australian pair countered them with dispiriting ease, making deep inroads into England’s decent first innings total.

There had been mutterings that Ponting was a batsman on the wane. He
had only made one century in his last 21 Test innings and doubts over his captaincy had begun to cloud judgements over his batting.

We should have known better. Here he produced a batting master-class, studded with superb stokes and a near flawless defence to complete the 38th Test century of a remarkable career. It was the third time he has made a century in his opening innings of an Ashes series and, in the process, he became only the fourth man to pass 11,000 Test runs. Not only was it chanceless, it’s hard to recall a false stroke.

Katich was almost as impressive. Almost unrecognisable from the hesitant fellow who struggled here in 2005, the left-hander recorded his sixth century in 16 Tests since he was recalled in May 2008. He credits Bobby Simpson for his ability to play straighter, though also admits the “hurt” of his previous Ashes experiences have left him “hungry” for success.

Impressive as the  Australians were, however, this was a disappointing performance from England’s bowlers. They were unable to find the swing or spin that was anticipated and remain horribly over reliant on the brilliant but fragile Flintoff.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. This is, largely, the same England attack that struggled to dismiss West Indies over the winter and India and South Africa in series before that. Three times in the last year they have conceded more than 500 as their lack of skill or ideas has been punished by patient batsmen.

Anderson was especially disappointing. Over the last 18 months he has fully earned the reputation of England’s leading bowler, but here was to unable to generate any of the swing that Hilfenhaus found so readily on the first day. Anderson’s control of line and length was not up to his usual high standards either and this was a performance that will have fuelled the Australian belief that he doesn’t react well to pressure. How he bounces back will be crucial to him and
England, for this series could well define his career.

Broad’s too. This is his 18th Test – far past the stage where he can be selected on promise – yet his bowling average is on the brink of 40. That is not acceptable for an opening bowler and Broad must deliver sooner rather than later.

The spinners were disappointing, too. Pansear offered no threat and was milked, while Swann persisted manfully but did nothing to alter the growing view that conventional off-spin is an archaic art.

Only Flintoff impressed. Roaring in from the River Taff End, he produced a blistering spell of fast bowling to account for the highly-rated Phil Hughes, who was softened up by short balls before fencing at one he could have left. Hughes actually played the short ball much better than he did at New Road, but Flintoff’s impressive pace and accuracy will examine the technique of any batsman and
Hughes’ would appear to have holes in his.

Flintoff’s colleagues were unable to follow suit, however. Whatever plans they had for Australia, they surely did not consist of bowling short and wide. Anderson and Broad largely squandered the new ball.

Katich enjoyed a couple of moments of fortune. Flintoff put down a tough caught and bowled chance when the batsman had just 10, while Billy Doctrove turned down a strong appeal from Swann when he had 56. Doctrove, it seems, does not give leg-before decisions.

The most galling part of the day for England was that they seemed to have seized the momentum in the morning session. By adding 99 in 16 overs, they had taken their total well over 400 and looked to have unsettled the Australians.

Swann led the way with a merry innings. His aggression seemed to momentarily rattle the visitors, who made some uncharacteristic errors in the field, with 16 coming from one Hauritz over.

Yet, while Australia’s batsmen took their opportunities to make match-turning contributions, England continued to give away their advantage. Anderson, who had prospered by batting sensibly, suddenly started trying to hit each ball for four and soon perished to mid-on, leaving Swann with only Panesar for company. The end was not delayed long and Swann was left stranded on 47.

That meant that eight of England’s batsmen made 26 or more. Yet none had gone on to score more than 69 and England had failed to establish the match-dominating position that could have been theirs. Such profligacy may yet cost them.