akd545
NormPonting’s Ton Set Ashes Alight
November 23rd 2006 13:26
Ashes First Test (Brisbane) – Day 1
The first day of the first Test has come and gone, and not only has Australia been able to keep their head up high, but have set the tone for a really aggressive Ashes competition.
Winning the toss, captain Ricky Ponting elected to bat, and from the start the Australian side were determined to start off the right foot.
Opening batsmen Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer seemed to be batting like they were fighting for the Champions Trophy once more, and with massive shots and aggressive running, they were able to notch up Australia’s first 50 in 63 balls, and grab 57 runs in 13 overs before the first drinks break.
Their break seems to unsettling the opening duo, as a few overs later, Hayden was out, caught out from Collingwood trying to chase a Flintoff ball.
But that was just the start of the attack, as captain Ponting took the pitch. Within ten overs of the first 50, Australia had cracked the ton, and even with Langer going out after an overly aggressive shot, they seemed to be no sense of stopping the run machine Ponting.
With the bat firmly in his grasp, he made it apparent why he is known as one of the best Australian batters to pull on the baggy green. Despite all the pressure from the pre-game hype, plus the stress of knowing that an entire nation was riding on each and every one of his decisions as captain, he made the pitch his own as punished any ball deserving.
Even losing Martyn on 29, going out from an oddly wide shot chasing a Giles ball, Ponting was simply unstoppable. With his new partner in crime Hussey in tow, both made simply mincemeat of the English bowling side, with both Ponting’s ton and Hussey’s 50 coming easily (not to mention Australia’s 200 and 300), they were able to glide to a 148 run partnership, finishing the day with Australia 3/346.
For England, best put it was not the start they were looking for. Knowing that fielding first was always going to be an uphill battle, it seemed that many bowlers were not able to grasp the finesse of the pitch. In fact the two best bowlers were the acting captain, Flintoff, himself, and more surprisingly spin bowler Ashley Giles, who was able to accurately guide the ball on a pitch usually suited for a pace bowler.
So what is in store for tomorrow. Well first of all England will be aggressive from the start, getting one of these batters out before they have a chance to settle into form. Australia on the other hand simply have to keep their head down, and this first Test could be theirs without any real worry.
Until next time, sports minds.
First Test scorecard (information from Cricinfo)
Australia 1st innings R B 4s 6s SR
JL Langer c Pietersen b Flintoff 82 98 13 0 83.67
ML Hayden c Collingwood b Flintoff 21 47 2 0 44.68
RT Ponting not out 137 206 16 0 66.5
DR Martyn c Collingwood b Giles 29 62 2 0 46.77
MEK Hussey not out 63 133 5 0 47.36
Extras (lb 5, w 3, nb 6)
Total (3 wickets; 90 overs)
Fall of wickets1-79 (Hayden, 18.3 ov), 2-141 (Langer, 28.5 ov), 3-198 (Martyn, 47.2 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ
SJ Harmison 12 2 52 0 4.33 (2w)
MJ Hoggard 16 2 62 0 3.87 (1nb)
JM Anderson 18 4 88 0 4.88 (1w)
A Flintoff 16 2 48 2 3 (3nb)
AF Giles 18 2 51 1 2.83
IR Bell 1 0 12 0 12 (2nb)
KP Pietersen 9 1 28 0 3.11
The first day of the first Test has come and gone, and not only has Australia been able to keep their head up high, but have set the tone for a really aggressive Ashes competition.
Winning the toss, captain Ricky Ponting elected to bat, and from the start the Australian side were determined to start off the right foot.
Opening batsmen Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer seemed to be batting like they were fighting for the Champions Trophy once more, and with massive shots and aggressive running, they were able to notch up Australia’s first 50 in 63 balls, and grab 57 runs in 13 overs before the first drinks break.
Their break seems to unsettling the opening duo, as a few overs later, Hayden was out, caught out from Collingwood trying to chase a Flintoff ball.
But that was just the start of the attack, as captain Ponting took the pitch. Within ten overs of the first 50, Australia had cracked the ton, and even with Langer going out after an overly aggressive shot, they seemed to be no sense of stopping the run machine Ponting.
With the bat firmly in his grasp, he made it apparent why he is known as one of the best Australian batters to pull on the baggy green. Despite all the pressure from the pre-game hype, plus the stress of knowing that an entire nation was riding on each and every one of his decisions as captain, he made the pitch his own as punished any ball deserving.
Even losing Martyn on 29, going out from an oddly wide shot chasing a Giles ball, Ponting was simply unstoppable. With his new partner in crime Hussey in tow, both made simply mincemeat of the English bowling side, with both Ponting’s ton and Hussey’s 50 coming easily (not to mention Australia’s 200 and 300), they were able to glide to a 148 run partnership, finishing the day with Australia 3/346.
For England, best put it was not the start they were looking for. Knowing that fielding first was always going to be an uphill battle, it seemed that many bowlers were not able to grasp the finesse of the pitch. In fact the two best bowlers were the acting captain, Flintoff, himself, and more surprisingly spin bowler Ashley Giles, who was able to accurately guide the ball on a pitch usually suited for a pace bowler.
So what is in store for tomorrow. Well first of all England will be aggressive from the start, getting one of these batters out before they have a chance to settle into form. Australia on the other hand simply have to keep their head down, and this first Test could be theirs without any real worry.
Until next time, sports minds.
First Test scorecard (information from Cricinfo)
Australia 1st innings R B 4s 6s SR
JL Langer c Pietersen b Flintoff 82 98 13 0 83.67
ML Hayden c Collingwood b Flintoff 21 47 2 0 44.68
RT Ponting not out 137 206 16 0 66.5
DR Martyn c Collingwood b Giles 29 62 2 0 46.77
MEK Hussey not out 63 133 5 0 47.36
Extras (lb 5, w 3, nb 6)
Total (3 wickets; 90 overs)
Fall of wickets1-79 (Hayden, 18.3 ov), 2-141 (Langer, 28.5 ov), 3-198 (Martyn, 47.2 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ
SJ Harmison 12 2 52 0 4.33 (2w)
MJ Hoggard 16 2 62 0 3.87 (1nb)
JM Anderson 18 4 88 0 4.88 (1w)
A Flintoff 16 2 48 2 3 (3nb)
AF Giles 18 2 51 1 2.83
IR Bell 1 0 12 0 12 (2nb)
KP Pietersen 9 1 28 0 3.11
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