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Ponting's 32nd
century puts Aussies in a commanding position |
November 23, 2006 (Link to
Scorecard)
 Ricky
Ponting notched up his 32nd hundred to begin
Australia's mission of getting back the Ashes.
The Australians having won the toss and batting
first at a beautiful batting wicket at Gabba
closed the opening day of the Ashes at 346 for
3. A total day of dominance it was from
Ponting's men. Apart from Ponting, Justin Langer
and Michael Hussey had scored half centuries as
English seamers with the exception of Andrew
Flintoff couldn't get their direction and
lengths right in most part of the day.
An interesting inclusion in the Australian line
up was that of Stuart Clark who got ahead of
Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson. Michael Clarke
who wouldn't have played this Test Match had
Shane Watson remained fit is yet to bat along
with the dangerous Adam Gilchrist, there is
still plenty of batting left for the homeside
and most people expect them to make a huge total
of 550 plus. The English side had one prominent
change with Ashley Giles getting selected
instead of Monty Panesar. A good start it was
for the Australians with Hayden and Langer
putting up 79 runs for the first wicket.
Flintoff gave England the first hope by forcing
Hayden to nick one to the slips and with that
the English men got back all the energy that was
required to compete. Hayden missed out on a big
score on an easy track falling for just 21.
Hayden's partner, Langer didn't miss the
opportunity though as he stroked the ball in the
gaps quite often to put on a marvelous
partnership with his Skipper Ponting.
 Ponting
was keen on making his start count today, so was
Justin Langer who wanted to show that he was
miles better than Phil Jaques. However, a rush
of blood saw Justin Langer fall just a while
after play had resumed after the lunch break.
Langer played an uppish square drive off
Flintoff to Pietersen at point. The 36-year-old
Justin Langer could have easily gone onto score
his 23rd hundred but for that one mistake. His
runs had come at a quick pace in just 98 balls
with as many as 13 fours! The next man was
Damien Martyn who was reasonably comfortable at
the crease and as a result another fifty-run
partnership followed for the Kangaroos. It was
Ashley Giles who had provided the breakthrough
this time with a delivery that looked short for
the cut shot but had bounced extra to catch the
outside edge of Damien Martyn's blade. Martyn
was caught by Collingwood in the slips after he
had made 29.
Young Michael Hussey came in at 198 for 3 and
there was no further joy for the English bowlers
for the remaining 42.4 overs. Ricky Ponting has
taken his score to 137 from 206 balls with 16
fours. He had celebrated his 32nd century as if
it was his first; such was the excitement and
emotion shown by him in starting the series with
a superb century and leading the team with his
performance. Hussey without any fuss had moved
onto 63 from 133 balls with five hits to the
ropes. Andrew Flintoff was the best bowler with
2 for 48 from 16 overs while Ashley Giles looked
good in attacking the batsmen; he finished the
day with 1 for 51 from 18.
The biggest disappointment of the day was Steve
Harmison who not only went wicketless but was
very expensive as well going for 52 in his 12.
Harmison who had bowled the first over of this
Ashes had bowled a widish wide delivery to
Justin Langer from over the stumps to begin the
proceedings in this Test Match. It was taken in
the slips by a brave Andrew Flintoff, such was
the erratic nature of that delivery. The problem
for England was that they couldn't come back
during the middle overs as the pace bowlers just
couldn't get the Kookaburra ball to reverse
swing. It was reverse swing that had got the
Ashes for England in 2005 and that is something
they need very badly in the coming days of Test
Cricket.
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