THE ASHES TEST THREE – WACA, PERTH – DEC 14-18, 2006

DAY ONE REPORT

(Karthik Narayan)

Perth is traditionally a bouncy, pacy wicket, and it suits bowlers like Brett Lee, who are more aggressive, hit the deck bowlers in today’s cricketing world.

To take full advantage of their commanding position, the Aussies won the toss and decided to bat. They needed to make runs and then bring Lee, Warne in to skittle the Poms.

For the Poms, this test was going to test them fully in terms of mental preparedness and the ability to fight back. The tussle was on, and we were all going to gather for a feast for the eyes and the senses!

Hoggard has been a threat for the grass on which he treads, nothing else. But today he had to do something special. So also Harmison hasn’t troubled many people sleeping while he had been bowling, not definitely the scorers in terms of wickets – perhaps runs!

Langer-Hayden, one of the destructive opening pairs in test history were together for all of 47 runs – Hoggard striking with a fantastic delivery.

Wickets fell at constant intervals – Hayden has not done much for himself in this series, and the trend continued. The big man is losing his touch, by the looks of it. Ponting, Clarke, Symonds came and went back. So did Gilchrist for a duck – Panesar doing the trick for England. Australia collapsed to 172/6 and it was Hussey (the man with the Golden bat) who scored runs along with the middle order to place Australia to a decent 244. Hussey held up one side and scored an unbeaten 74.

Hoggard started off things, Monty had his say – his 5 wicket haul was the first by an English spinner at Perth. Harmison had four to his name. overall, an English day in Oz-land. This test series isn’t going to end so easily, it seems.

Against this, the Englishmen started their first innings in not the way they wanted – McGrath and Lee picking up a wicket each. 37/2 with ended up at 51/2 at stumps, Collingwood and Strauss batting at the crease.