BRISBANE, (Reuters) – England’s fast bowlers failed to make the major breakthrough they had hoped for as Australia reached 96 for one at lunch on the second day of the first Ashes test today.
James Anderson got the only wicket to fall in front of another packed house on a sunny morning at the Gabba, having Shane Watson caught in the slips by Andrew Strauss for 36. Opener Simon Katich, who survived a potential run out and an lbw decision, was 46 not out alongside his captain Ricky Ponting (10 not out) as Australia, who resumed on 25-0, chased England’s first innings total of 260.
Katich could have gone for 22 but Alastair Cook’s attempted throw missed the stumps with the batsman stranded after he called for a single but Watson stood his ground. He got another life on 27 when umpire Billy Doctrove gave him out lbw to Anderson but Australia appealed and the TV review suggested that the ball would have gone over the wicket.
England then lost another TV appeal for lbw on Watson but the 29-year-old’s reprieve was short-lived as Anderson struck on the next ball.
England quick Steve Finn’s first Ashes over went for seven runs, including the shot of the morning — a beautiful on drive down the ground for four by Watson.
Early morning rain gave England some hope that the ball would swing in the more humid conditions but the moisture was quickly burned off by the sun. The series began with a bang on Thursday when Australian paceman Peter Siddle took six wickets, including only the third Ashes hat-trick in the last century. Australia have not lost a test match at the Gabba since 1988, their last Ashes defeat at the ground coming two years earlier.
Scoreboard
England won the toss and chose to bat
England first innings 260
Australia first innings (overnight 25-0)
S. Watson c Strauss b Anderson 36
S. Katich not out 46
R. Ponting not out 10
Extras (lb-3 nb-1) 4
Total (for one wicket, 33 overs) 96
Still to bat: M.Clarke, M. Hussey, M. North, B. Haddin, M. Johnson, B. Hilfenhaus, P. Siddle, X. Doherty.
Bowling (to date): Anderson 14-4-36-1, Broad 12-2-22-0 (nb-1), Finn 5-0-20-0 Swann 2-0-15-0.
