Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 08:27 AM
England made a stunning start to the second Ashes test on Friday, reducing Australia to two wickets for no runs in the first over and three for two in the third before the hosts staged a recovery.
Australian opener Simon Katich, captain Ricky Ponting and vice captain Michael Clarke were all dismissed in the first 10 minutes of play on a hot, sunny day at the Adelaide Oval.
Shane Watson, unbeaten on 50, and Mike Hussey, who had made 36 not out, survived scares of their own before steadying the innings and taking Australia to lunch at 94 for three.
Having lost the toss at a ground which is traditionally batting-friendly and where huge first innings totals are the norm, England were expected to spend a long, hot day toiling in the field.
The first breakthrough came, however, as early as the fourth delivery when Katich, who had not faced a ball, was run out by a superb direct hit from England's Jonathan Trott after Watson had set off for a single without his opening partner.
The next ball took the key wicket of Australia captain Ponting -- the most prolific test run scorer at the ground -- for a golden duck when Ponting got an outside edge from a James Anderson delivery that Graeme Swann swooped to catch at second slip.
Vice captain Clarke, who again looked out of sorts, lasted just seven minutes before Anderson and Swann combined to dismiss him for two runs.
Anderson thought he had added Watson to his list of victims soon afterwards but his loud lbw appeal was ignored and the tv review showed the ball to be going over the stumps.
The impressive English quick later dropped a difficult return catch off Hussey, a let-off which the Australian mid-order batsman will be keen to exploit after making 195 in the drawn first test at the Gabba.
Australia replaced two thirds of their strike bowling line-up after taking just one wicket in England's second innings in Brisbane.
Doug Bollinger came in for Mitchell Johnson, while fast bowler Ryan Harris replaced Ben Hilfenhaus. England were unchanged.
Source: Web Search
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