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Australia's Shane Watson plays a shot off the bowling of England's Graeme Swann on the first day of the third cricket test match between England and Australia at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham, England, Thursday, July 30, 2009. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Makeshift opener Shane Watson came good at the top of the order and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting put himself on the verge of history at the end of an abridged opening day at Edgbaston.
Watson (62no) justified his selection ahead of Phillip Hughes for the third Ashes Test as the tourists recovered from the setback of losing wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to injury.
Ponting (17no) was on the verge of claiming Australia’s record for the most Test runs, needing another eight runs to eclipse Allan Border (11,174) as the tourists reached 1-126 after just 30 overs at stumps.
There was high drama between the toss and start of play in the Australian camp with Haddin injuring the ring finger on his left hand in the warm-up.
England agreed to allow Graham Manou to be called into the side.
Play started six hours late because of the wet outfield and Watson strode to the crease under plenty of pressure.
He had averaged just over 19 in eight Tests before this match and carried a forgettable opening record of 28 runs in six outings for Queensland.
But he and Simon Katich (46) settled in and mounted Australia’s highest opening stand of the series on a track that had flattened out under the sun.
Katich survived a confident lbw shout from James Anderson on five and edged a ball wide of Andrew Flintoff at second slip on 42.
Watson had a few edgy moments but, on the whole, looked composed as he and Katich put on 85.
Spinner Graeme Swann (1-4) hauled his side back in the match by trapping Katich in front with the first ball the left-hander faced from him.
Katich tried to lean back and pull the ball but it skidded onto his back leg and umpire Aleem Dar lifted the finger.
Ponting brought up his 20,000th first-class run by square-driving James Anderson for four and Watson twirled his bat shortly after reaching his fifty by pushing the same bowler down the ground.
The skipper earlier won his first toss of the series but this time around he opted to bat first after being panned for his decision to bowl first in 2005.
His fateful decision of four years ago has been considered by many to be one of the pivotal moments in the series as England made more than 400 and went on to win the match and the series.
Ponting’s correct call was quickly forgotten as Haddin busted his digit.
As the teams had been named, Australian team manager Steve Bernard had to go to the English camp and have skipper Strauss agree to the change.
Strauss allowed Manou to make his Test debut.
The merits of a reserve wicketkeeper are sometimes mocked but on this occasion the Australians were fortunate to have the spare man on board.
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