Australia
Were unlucky early on. Once they got a partnership they held onto it, and held onto it, and held onto it.
England
Bowled very well early on, had luck with the umpiring, but had to get the nicks. Then weren’t sure what to do when the partnership started, and seemed to wait for the new ball.
Who will win
Just the fact I have changed the heading from will England win, to who will win tells you how weird this game has become. I think who ever wins the first hour will win the test. That isn’t based on any facts or anything.
Play of the day
It has to be the minute people saw the footage of the Andrew Strauss’ catch. What a moment. Billy Doctrove is the best straight-faced comedian in world cricket.
Testicular moment of the day
I was looking for an excuse to give this to someone other than Michael Clarke, but who? He came in, he blasted to 50, then settled in for a hundred. At stumps he had England trembling. Can’t argue with that.
Working class moment
Freddie’s spell was reminiscent of his whole career outside of those glorious two years. He was fiery, fast, scary, and ultimately didn’t get wickets.
I suddenly have got respect for Clarke. Maybe this inning will mark a turning point in his career. Will definitely shut up people who were cribbing about his “successor” status.
Michael Clarke is a poor mans Ian Bell, and you all know it!!!
I have gained some respect for Clarke as well. Shame he couldn’t kick on, but he and Haddin must have been absolutely knackered by this morning with the pressure.
It was lucky in a way that it was mainly Freddy who got the dodgy decisions to go his way (Swann will always get them) as I would never begrudge him a five-for in his last series. His bowling has always been his strong point and he makes the rest of the English team apart from KP look very, very bland.
Anyway good fight back from the Oz team after a cruddy all round match and I hope that Mitch takes some heart from this and remembers that he is an excellent cricketer. That is, if he gets picked for the Edgbaston match.