Day one: over by over commentary

Australia 346-3 - (Ponting 137 Hussey 63)

Hoggard completes the penultimate over. One rejected lbw shout, and a glimmer of swing. Australians, though, are taking no risks.



Australia 341-3 - (Ponting 133, Hussey 58)

Expensive over from Anderson, who has bowled well only in spells. England had success in the last Ashes series partly because Flintoff and Simon Jones found reverse swing in the later sessions. Almost none today, though.

Australia 333-3 - (Ponting 129, Hussey 58)

Still no new ball. Instead, Hoggard battles on forlornly with the day-old Kookaburra. In the background, a chorus of “Barmy Army” grows louder.

Australia 327-3 - (Ponting 128, Hussey 52)

Finally, Flintoff’s loosens up as Giles sees off the old ball. Geoffrey concludes probably his final post before turning to his match report:

Quite what had happened to the Barmy Army’s voices, no one really knew: not one ditty sung. Talk of a Pommie invasion may be misplaced.

Australia 320-3 - (Ponting 123, Hussey 52)

Flintoff is withholding the new ball, presumably because Pietersen is still turning the old one. Encouraging for England, more so for Shane Warne.

Australia 313-3 - (Ponting 118, Hussey 49)

Hussey nudges a single to bring up his 50. Somewhere else in the ground, Geoffrey Dean is eyeing those on the booze:

Many of those trapped in what had been a hot sun have vacated their seats, feeling they’ve earned the right for a beer. As the shadows have lengthened, so have the bar queues.

Jealous, Geoff?

Australia 310-3 - (Ponting 117, Hussey 47)

Andrew Flintoff leaves the field, prompting the return of Ed Joyce and thoughts of the arguments over the use of substitute fielders in the last Ashes series. No complaint from Ponting, though.

Australia 306-3 - (Ponting 116, Hussey 44)

As a younger player at Natal, Pietersen was a spinner first, slogger second. Finding yet more turn, he forces Hussey to play more defensively.

Australia 306-3 - (Ponting 115, Hussey 44)

The Australians run four of one Flintoff ball. “You don’t see that very often,” notes Slater

Australia 300-3 - (Ponting 109, Hussey 44)

Hussey brings up 300 off Pietersen. Slater sharpens the sting: “Slater came out a a couple of weeks ago and admitted, ‘I’m out of touch with my batting’”. England’s makeshift bowler is, though, finding some turn in the wicket.

Australia 296-3 - (Ponting 109, Hussey 38)

Now Gower’s trying to flatter Flintoff’s men. “Well, you have to assume they’ll bat well.”



Australia 292-3 - (Ponting 106, Hussey 38)

Slater has turned to the easier task of complimenting Ponting, who apparently was “baked” for the last Ashes defeat. “He was accused of being a poor leader. With his reputation growing as a leader, his batting has improved.” Hussey’s looking good, too. Four off Giles.

Australia 288-3 - (Ponting 106, Hussey 34)

David Gower has charmed Michael Slater into the commentators’ cove. The ex-Australia batsman responds generously: “It might not have been the start that England will want to see, but I think they will take a lot of heart from the fact that they bounced back from losing the first Test in the last Ashes series.” Two more from Ponting off Hoggard.

Australia 286-3 - (Ponting 104, Hussey 34)

Part-time spinner Kevin Pietersen steps to the crease for his first over. Flintoff edges in the fielders at mid-on and mid-off. Otherwise, Pietersen has little support; Australia find the gaps.



Australia 282-3 - (Ponting 100, Hussey 34)

Ponting, the Australia captain who batted so disappointingly on the last Ashes tour, cuts Hoggard through mid-wicket to reach the 32nd century of his career.



Australia 270-3 - (Ponting 97, Hussey 27)

“It wouldn’t surprise me to see England play two spinners in the next Test,” says Beefy. Giles’s performance today has, it seems shifted the debate. No longer need to be him v Panesar. Another impressive over.



Australia 266-3 - (Ponting 92, Hussey 25)

Hoggard returns to the bowling. Flintoff removes mid-wicket, opting for a more defensive field, presumably to stifle Australia until the new ball arrives in 17 overs. We see a flash of waving members of the Barmy Army. “They are enjoying themselves,” observes Michael Holding.

Australia 262-3 - (Ponting 91, Hussey 25)

Giles, now averaging less than three runs an over, restrains Ponting again. Encouragingly, Bell has been removed from the attack.



Australia 260-3 - (Ponting 91, Hussey 23)

Bell, a medium pacer, joins the attack. Not too surprisingly, Ponting bullies him into conceding 12.

Australia 248-3 - (Ponting 82, Hussey 22)

Ponting makes it 50 for the partnership. Giles yet to make an error, though.

Australia 244-3 - (Ponting 81, Hussey 20)

Anderson has repeatedly sent in a loose short ball today, easily handled on the flat Gabba pitch by the batsmen. Hussey hits the latest for four. Not too concerned, Geoffrey has returning to admiring the electrics:

England came out from tea to the sound of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, their rugby counterparts’ anthem, over the PA system. The quality of the Gabba speakers has to be commended. Sound is crystal clear.

Australia 238-3 - (Ponting 79, Hussey 15)

Ponting disrepectfully pulls Anderson off the front front. A brilliant shot from the penultimate ball of the over.

Australia 232-3 - (Ponting 73, Hussey 15)

Just a single off an excellent over from Ashley Giles. Our man in the Gabba gods, Geoffrey Dean, meanwhile, is pining after the Barmy Army chorus:

The Queensland Cricket Association’s cunning (if it was deliberate) ploy to seat the England fans in small pockets around the ground is working. There simply aren’t enough Barmies together to give their chanting the necessary volume.

Australia 231-3 - (Ponting 72, Hussey 15)

Swing is eluding Anderson again, while Nasser Hussain is infuriating David Lloyd because, amazingly, he has never heard of Stanley Matthews, who apparently once played football at the Gabba.

Australia 228-3 - (Ponting 72, Hussey 12)

Flintoff retains Giles strike. Decent over leaves him 1-25.

Australia 225-3 - (Ponting 72, Hussey 8)

James Anderson opens the second afternoon session, using today an altered bowling action, more side-on to reduce the impact on his vulnerable back. Ponting is unimpressed, producing a stunning straight drive to the ropes.

See other pages for previous session reports

()

TEA - Australia 217-3

After struggling in the morning session, England have fought back well in the afternoon, taking two wickets and slowing the Australians’ swift run-rate. Ashley Giles played well on joining the attack, keeping to a tight line and delivering a good flight, while taking the wicket of Damien Martyn. Almost as hearteningly, Steve Harmison finally found some control, too.



Australia 217-3 - (Ponting 63, Hussey 8)

Ponting square-cuts a short ball from Flintoff to the ropes. Geoffrey, meanwhile, has a complaint:

The press box is so small that most of us are in a temporary, overspill section high up in the gods, the crowd all around us. If you are on the phone to someone, as I have discovered, you cannot hear a thing when applause breaks out.

Struggling to feel sympathy, Geoff.

Australia 209-3 - (Ponting 56, Hussey 8)

Pietersen twists his knee, but walks from the pitch for an early tea looking okay. Beefy, though, is unhappy: “It’s the pitch, here. It’s like syrup.” Ed Joyce takes to the field.

Australia 208-3 - (Ponting 55, Hussey 8)

Hussey lashes Giles through mid-wicket for another four. Otherwise a good line from the spinner.

Australia 203-3 - (Ponting 55, Hussey 4)

News from Geoffrey. Turns out Englishmen are performing better in the stands, too:

Shortly before Ponting completed his 50, the unmistakeable sound of Jerusalem could be heard from a lone trumpeteer somewhere inside the Gabba. The talented musician - and I think I met him at the Oval on that epic Ashes-winning fifth day in September last year - timed his rendition well. For once, as the crowd started applauding an Aussie boundary, everything is drowned out.

Elsewhere, Hussey starts his account with an onside drive to the boundary off the final ball of Flintoff’s over.

WICKET Martyn c Collingwood b Giles 29

Martyn back-cuts to Collingwood, the solitary slip, who holds inches from the ground. Crucial wicket for England and for Giles, who was included contentiously ahead of Panesar. Aussies, 198-3.

Australia 198-2 - (Ponting 54, Martyn 29)

Flintoff returns to the attack. He’s solid, if unspirational, allowing Martyn to sneak runs with a cut and a drive through theon-side.

Australia 194-2 - (Ponting 52, Martyn 25)

A year since his last Test, Giles is bowling to a good length, but finding little spin on a flat wicket. Ponting gets two from a cover-drive.

Australia 192-2 - (Ponting 50, Martyn 25)

Martyn’s finding his rhythm, driving the final ball of Harmison’s over to the ropes. Five from the over.

Australia 187-2 - (Ponting 50, Martyn 20)

Giles follows a maiden from Harmison with one of his one. The lack of drama has prompted Athers and Lloyd to toady up in the commentary box.

“What an honour it is to sit beside the man named by Wisden as the number one commentator in the country,” grins Athers.

“Oh, I’m getting all embarrassed,” replies Lloyd. “Wasn’t far ahead of you in second, though.”

Australia 187-2 - (Ponting 50, Martyn 20)

Flintoff introduces Giles the attack. Martyn greets him with a lofted four back over the spinner’s head. Incidentally, I’m not the only Times man burning early-morning oil in London. Patrick Kidd’s posting on his blog, too.

Australia 181-2 - (Ponting 50, Martyn 15)

Ponting makes 50, off only 65 balls, with a push to mid-wicket. Harmison finding rhythm, aside from bouncer that flies over the batsman’s head.

Australia 171-2 - (Ponting 44, Martyn 11)

Harmison’s nerves have settled. Only two from the over, keeping the Aussie fans quiet - not that they’re allowed to get too rowdy, as Geoffrey explains in the same email:

85 CCTV cameras inside the Gabba are trained on the crowd to record any misbehaviour. The Mexican Wave is officially banned inside the ground, the authorities promising to eject those patrons who start it.

To rout out bad behaviour, foul language and unacceptable drunkenness, the PA system continually broadcasts the text number for spectators to shop other spectators. The idea is that any miscreant will not then know the identity of his accuser.



Australia 169-2 - (Ponting 44, Martyn 11)

Just a single off Hoggard, then a drinks break. Any other harsh measures, Geoffrey?

Water melons are also on the prohibited list after the authorities got wise to the ruse of some enterprising folk who injected the fruit with vodka before entering the ground.

Australia 168-2 - (Ponting 43, Martyn 11)

Maiden from Harmison, prompting backslapping from his team-mates. England are beginning to stifle Australia, quietening the mood in the ground. Here’s Geoffrey again:

The atmosphere has been more subdued in the afternoon session. Lunch had to be digested, of course, but the ban on bringing alcohol into the ground must have had its desired effect.

Australia 168-2 - (Ponting 43, Martyn 11)

Hoggard bowls a decent straight line to Martyn, preventing the Australian from profiting greatly on his favoured offside. The England bowler then ruins the over with gifted short-hop to Ponting, who pulls for four.

Australia 160-2 - (Ponting 39, Martyn 8)

Harmison’s back in the attack. Less wayward, but no more dangerous. Oddly, he’s bowling slower than Anderson and Flintoff.



Australia 155-2 - (Ponting 39, Martyn 3)

At third man, Hoggard claims England’s first misfield of the series, fumbling Ponting’s fine cut to the ropes. “He’ll get some stick for that,” notes David Lloyd. Facing Flintoff, Ponting then pulls another to the boundary. Twelve from the over.

Australia 143-2 - (Ponting 30, Martyn 0)

Two runs, but Anderson’s finally found swing. Even’s Holding mildly excited: “The ball’s gone with the shine. That’s not something we’ve seen this morning.”

Australia 141-2 - (Ponting 28, Martyn 0)

Countering Beefy’s optimism, Holding ponders: “But is it time for Flintoff to take himself off the attack?” Not yet, six more dot-balls.

Australia 141-2 - (Ponting 28, Martyn 0)

Maiden from Anderson, prompting more bullishness from Beefy: “88mph. That’s great news. When he first came back from his back injury he wasn’t getting even close to that.”

WICKET - Justin Langer c Pietersen b Flintoff 82

Langer square cuts to Kevin Pietersen, who holds comfortably at knee height. Flintoff has curtailed a swift, brilliant innings from the opener. Australia 141-2. “Suddenly, it’s all a different picture, Mikey,” says Botham to Michael Holding.

Australia 131-1 - (Langer 82 Ponting 19)

Langer hits possibly his shot of the day, a crisp cover drive to the ropes off Anderson. The Aussies are creeping up to an average of five runs an hour.

Australia 124-1 - (Langer 76 Ponting 18)

Ponting marches on, before asking the umpires to check the seam, for the second time today. They do so, briefly, before returning the ball to James Anderson, next bowler up. Gamesmanship already from the Aussie captain?

Australia 118-1 - (Langer 76 Ponting 12)

The Aussies return from lunch displaying all the aggression of their morning’s batting, Langer hitting eight and Ponting a single from Anderson. Returning from the most recent post from our man in the press box, Geoffrey Dean, we find praise for the Gabba in-house technology:



Hayden’s dismissal was very visibly displayed on the new Gabba scoreboard, a state-of-the-art piece of technology bedecked in, you’ve guessed it, green and gold. Unlike scoreboards in England, which are invariably badly designed and carry insufficient or superfluous information, Aussie scoreboards are excellent. All the info you need and very easy to read quickly.

See other pages for previous session reports

() LUNCH - Australia 109-1 - (Langer 68 Ponting 11)

Australia have dominated the first session of the first Ashes. Winning the toss and electing to bat, they ripped into an England attack that mostly struggled for line and swing. Justin Langer, in particular, batted with superb aggression in reaching his half-century. Of the English bowlers, only the wicket-taker Andrew Flintoff impressed, while Steve Harmison looked alarmingly bereft of form and confidence.

Australia 109-1 - (Langer 68 Ponting 11)

Giles keeps the Australians to a single. The players retire to the pavilion for lunch, the hosts comfortably in control. Geoffrey. meanwhile, has captured some of the atmosphere inside the ground:

Ponting arrived to a mixture of cheers and boos, the Barmy Army at last finding their voice even if the negativity was unwelcome. Rather than being grouped in one section of the ground, they are scattered all over it, which will please the Aussies if not the Barmies. It is one reason why they have been drowned out by the home supporters this morning.

Ponting’s magnificent back-foot forcing shot through extra cover for four off Harmison received the loudest cheer, the crowd enjoying it all the more for Hoggard’s long and fruitless chase. Lunch was noisily celebrated, too. It had been Australia’s morning.

Australia 108-1 - (Langer 68 Ponting 10)

Hoggard returns to the attack, only to concede ten. TV wizadry backs up a not-out decision on a good leg-before shout. Flintoff calls on Giles to slow the run-scoring.

Australia 98-1 - (Langer 58 Ponting 10)

Consistency from the England captain, wearing a black armband in memory of a close relative of his wife who died shortly before the match.



Australia 95-1 - (Langer 57 Ponting 8)

Two consecutive boundaries from Ponting. Harmison’s still struggling. “He’s not got fundamental confidence in his technique,” reckons Athers, back on the mic. “It’s frustrating,” sighs Ian Botham, beside him.

Australia 86-1 - (Langer 53 Ponting 0)

Good aggression from Flintoff. Langer plays and misses, then edges runs. Possibly stirred by the wicket, Geoffrey has been moved to note the inadequacy of the Gabba:

It used to have considerable character, with a grass hill, a traditional pavilion and some quaint old-style Queensland stands. Now those have all gone, with the ground reconfigured. In fact, it is a misnomer to call it a ground. It is every inch a stadium, and a featureless one at that.

Australia 79-1 - (Langer 50 Ponting 0)

Now seems the appostite time to post some salutary reportage from Geoffrey Dean, our man embedded in the press box at the Gabba:

The Australian fans are wearing cardboard sun-visors inscribed with the words “Tonk a Pom” beside an action shot of Matt Hayden winding up to play a booming drive.

WICKET - Matthew Hayden c Collingwood b Flintoff 21

Moments after Langer climbs to 50, Flintoff makes a breakthrough, forcing Hayden to edge to Paul Collingwood in the slips. Good line, length, and some promising bounce from the England captain. Australia 75-1.

Australia 71-0 - (Langer 45 Hayden 19)

Flintoff recalls Harmison. Important spell for the fast bowler. This week, he had to deny accusations that he lacked commitment. Earlier today, he lacked control. Better this time, just three.

Australia 68-0 - (Langer 45 Hayden 17)

“Is this it for the Gabba?” wonders Healy, wondering if the Australia already have the game won. “Oh, far from it, Mr Healy,” counters Gower, before admitting, “the temperature’s rising, as is the score.” Five more for the Aussies.

Australia 63-0 - (Langer 41 Hayden 17)

Only recently Duncan Fletcher questioned Andrew Flintoff’s ability to contribute to the strike attack, given his recent ankle injury. That he is striding in so early has delighted Ian Healy, succumbing to David Gower’s gentle probes. “It’s bad news for England,” the Aussie grins. Six more for the Aussies.

Australia 57-0 - (Langer 38 Hayden 16)

Lloyd undermines a good maiden from Anderson with unwelcome news from the groundsman. The pitch is overly dry, suggesting early cracks. Perfect for Shane Warne.

Australia 57-0 - (Langer 38 Hayden 16)

Flintoff starts at decent pace, touching 88mph. Untroubled, Hayden hits three.

Australia - 51-0 (Langer 37 Hayden 13)

That magic ten-over mark having passed hardly noticed, Langer flashes another boundary. Lloyd has taken to reading a fan’s email supporting his argument for Flintoff’s inclusion in the attack.”I think you might just get what you’re looking for, Alistair,” Lloyd says to his complainant cohort as Anderson hangs back at the over’s end.

Australia - 47-0 (Langer 33 Hayden 13)

Leading up the Test, Langer revealed in a newspaper column that Australia planned to attack Hoggard, suggesting they felt the Times columnist overrated. This over, the plan finds fruition. Seven runs.

Australia - 40-0 (Langer 26 Hayden 13)

Another maiden, from Anderson. Finally, England are finding control. Flintoff, meanwhile, edges that third slip across to fine gully.

Australia - 40-0 (Langer 26 Hayden 13)

Maiden from Hoggard. Good length but no swing. Should Flintoff introduce himself to the attack? David Lloyd thinks so, having replaced Athers behind the glass. “You just wonder if another captain would have done so by now,” he says.

Australia - 40-0 (Langer 26 Hayden 13)

Anderson tightens up, restricting Hayden to three, scored down leg from the over’s final ball.

Australia - 37-0 (Langer 26 Hayden 10)

Yet another mistimed cut, this time from Hayden, runs just inside gully for four. Athers is now adamant that Flintoff should plug the hole between gully and third slip.

Australia - 31-0 (Langer 26 Hayden 4)

Harmison has been removed for the attack, a defensive move from Flintoff of worrying implication. What’s wrong with the England lynchpin bowler? Langer welcomes James Anderson to the attack by hitting two boundaries.

Australia - 21-0 (Langer 16 Hayden 4)

A closer duel is unfolding between Hoggard and Hayden. Hoggard has hit a good length early, but Hayden moves into credit with a clean drive for four.

Australia - 17-0 (Langer 16 Hayden 0)

Dogged this week by a side injury, Harmison is struggling for rhythm. Two more boundaries for Langer, the second flashing between gully and slip again. In the commentary box, Mike Atherton is growing restless with Flintoff’s close-in fielding positions.

Australia - 9-0 (Langer 8 Hayden 0)

Matthew Hoggard attacks the man he troubled last year, Matthew Hayden. Unable to curb his aggressive instinct, the Australian flashes at a sharp outswinger, missing narrowly. Hope for England. Flintoff cited the first ten overs as crucial, Hoggard has four more of them to make his movement tell.

Australia - 9-0 (Langer 8 Hayden 0)

Steve Harmison completes a nervous first over. It opened with a loosener that split the slip fielders and ended with a leg-side delivery, but featured one ball that Justin Langer clippped only just wide of gully, sending it luckily to the boundary. The other four? Langer cut to leg and fell to his knees.

*****

11.35pm - First blow to Australia. Ricky Ponting has won the toss and elected to bat. Andrew Flintoff admits he would have done the same. “We’re not too dejected. There’s a bit of green on the pitch, the first ten overs are crucial. It doesn’t swing for long here,” says the England captain, before fielding questions on the morning’s other early talking point: Ashley Giles has been included in the England team ahead of Monty Panesar.

“We don’t make gambles at this stage,” Flintoff said. “Ashley has been playing well the last two weeks and, as we know, he strengthens the batting.” Here are the teams in full:

England: Strauss, Cook, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, Jones, Giles, Harmison, Anderson, Hoggard

Australia: Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn Hussey, Clarke Gilchrist, Warne, Lee, Clark