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That was some kind of second day comeback from the Australians on Day 2 at the ‘Gabba, and they sit firmly in the box seat in this first Test of The Ashes.
In discussing the now-common first day collapses of recent Ashes series yesterday, I didn’t mention – deliberately, I’ll say now – that Day 2 collapses are not unheard of either.
Back in 2010, and having rocked England to be all out 260 on Day 1 in Brisbane, Australia lost 5/65 themselves on Day 2.
At 5/143, suddenly 260 seemed a long way away. Ultimately, Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin would bat through the final session of the day, and well into Day 3.
We know how that ended, though, and that’s reason enough to know that this Test is a long way from over.
Having fallen short of breaching the psychological barrier of 300 yesterday morning, and with Haddin running himself out short of what would’ve been his first century since that wonderful ‘Gabba knock in 2010, Australia needed a big day with the ball to make sure this First Test didn’t get away from them.
And didn’t they respond well.
Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson stuck before lunch, removing Alistair Cook and Jonathan Trott respectively, but the real carnage came in the hour leading into Tea.
Over the course of ten overs, England lost 6/9 to slump to 8/94, with Johnson and maligned offie Nathan Lyon the chief destroyers. Harris and Peter Siddle claimed the last two wickets after the break, for England to finish all out 136, handing Australia a surprising, but very handy lead of 159.
The Australian bowlers are already reaping the rewards of Craig McDermott’s reappointment as Test bowling coach, with a lunchtime rocket to the quicks the catalyst for the destruction.
“’Billy’ told the bowlers in no uncertain terms where he wanted things to be,” Haddin said post-match.
Chris Rogers (15*) and David Warner (45*) saw Australia through to Stumps safely, and on 0/65 the lead is already 224 heading into Day 3.
What Australia need to do on the third day
Just crack on. Batting may not get any better than on Day 3 in Brisbane, and just as England did three years ago, Australia has a massive chance to bat England out of this game now. But can they do it?
Once again, the great Suneer Chowdhary has all the live in-play action on Day 3 covered from 11:00am AEDT, but while he takes a well-deserved lunch break, we’ll discuss all the morning’s action right here in the Day 3 Live Lunch.
Fire in the questions through the morning though, and I’ll see you back in here from 1:00pm AEDT.