Ashes 2nd Test Day 2: Collingwood amasses 205 in record stand

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Not a good day to be an Aussie supporter as England declared at an imposing 6 for 551 then dismissed Justin Langer before stumps. In fact, this match is going the same way as the Gabba except the roles are reversed. There were hopes Australia might grab some early wickets, skittle England for a sub-400 score then grab a first innings lead (okay, maybe I was dreaming). Instead, Collingwood and Pietersen batted through the first session and right up till the last ball of the second session. The day started energetically as Pietersen targeted Glenn McGrath in his opening over, striking three boundaries. Ironically, McGrath was bowling okay - each boundary came off his stock ball, short of a length outside off stump - a delivery that has earned him hundreds of Test wickets. It's a bold tactic targeting the ageing and injured McGrath similar to Gillespie's demise in 2005.

After the initial flurry of boundaries (and a possible nick from Pietersen off Lee that was given not out), the game ground to snail pace. Warne went back to his negative tactic of bowling around the wicket to Pietersen who padded them away all morning. Slowly, England built up their total and records tumbled. When Collingwood went past 200, it was the first time in 70 years an Englishman has scored a double ton in Australia. Their partnership of 310 was England's highest ever 4th wicket partnership against Australia. They batted for almost 3 sessions without losing a wicket - I was having flashbacks to Laxman and Dravid.

Finally, Stuart Clarke (who else) broke the mammoth partnership, having Collingwood caught behind for 205 on the last ball before tea. Early in the last session, Pietersen ran for a quick single and Ponting showed amazing speed, agility and concentration for a man who's been fielding for nearly 2 days to swoop on the ball from short mid-wicket, dive and hit the stumps from side on. It was the third time Pietersen had been dismissed on 158 although I don't think many batsmen would complain if 158 was their bogey number.

Shortly afterwards, Geraint Jones holed out to point off Warne and there was a possibility of making inroads into the tail (not that it mattered, England were nearly 500 at this point). Instead, Andrew Flintoff took the opportunity to play himself into form as he and Giles put on a quickfire 50 partnership before declaring with 10 overs to bowl at Australia. McGrath's 0 for 107 were his worst bowling figures ever. Warne's 1 for 157 were the most runs he'd conceded in an innings. In contrast, Stuart Clark's 3 for 75 was not only respectable - it was startling considering England's total and the ugly figures of Australia's more fancied bowlers.

Flintoff made the interesting decision to take the new ball instead of Harmison. It was a good tactic - Flintoff is their best bowler and they only had a handful of overs before stumps. It paid immediate dividends as Flintoff had Langer caught at gully in his first over. I initially sneered at Channel 9's Hot Spot Camera but it actually gave a revealing shot of how Flintoff's rearing delivery took the shoulder of Langer's bat. Ponting dispensed with the nightwatchman and came in himself to see out the last 8 overs although Hayden played some aggressive strokes in the dying overs which had me biting my nails.

So Adelaide continues to go the way of Edgbaston. If Hayden and Ponting see off the new ball, a big partnerships is on the cards on the placid pitch. Ponting is the danger-man - his run out of Pietersen showed the fire in his belly will continue to rage until we hold the urn. However, Flintoff was getting good bounce with the new ball and Hoggard obtained some movement through the air. Apart from some late swing from Lee this afternoon, the Australians struggled to obtain any ball movement (come on, Cooley, earn your pay). Harmison is the wild card - noone really knows how he's going to perform tomorrow. If he can produce some Edbaston fire early up with the new ball, it will be an engrossing contest. I'm still picking a draw but momentum is with England at this point. Day 3 will be a moment of truth for Australia and the rest of the series.

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Posted by JC on Sat 2 Dec

9 comments

What an absorbing day's cricket JC! A few observations:

Let's not blame Warnie for the Pommie total. Bowlers bowl in partnership and, Stuart Clark
excepted, he had no-one. McGrath was bowling injured and Lee was just not good enough.

Commentators comparing Pietersen to greats such as Lara and Tendulkar have got to be joking. Much of Pietersen's aggressive batting requires a considerable element of luck. I predict that when he has a lapse of form, as all good players do, it will be a doozie!!

Stuart Clark has been a revelation don't you think?

Hopefully we bat well enough to draw this game.

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Posted by Dan Tas on 2006-12-02 22:01:47

I actually think Australia didn't bowl that badly. England just had a great tactic - stonewall for 2 sessions that cash in when the bowlers tired. It worked beautifully on day 1, they had a bit of luck and Pietersen and Collingwood just batted really nicely. I hope our bowlers have a bit more success on the other wickets later in the series though.

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Posted by JC on 2006-12-02 22:16:15

I thought Warnie's tactics against Pietersen were pretty good really. It was negative bowling but Warnie really did get to him after a while. How many times did he beat the bat and bamboozle the batsman? Pietersen might hae Warnie's number but Warnie is definitely going to grind him down. KP's got a better temperament than I initially gave him credit for but it certainly isn't up to the level of SW or Pigeon.

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Posted by TA on 2006-12-02 22:28:25

What if Aussies follow on?

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Posted by Tarun on 2006-12-02 22:44:01

I'm surprised at how well Pietersen is going - I thought he had an ordinary Ashes series last year apart from the Oval innings. Now it looks like the Aussies don't have a clue how to get him out.

If Australia bat well tomorrow, then we can write off the first two days as the flat Adelaide pitch. But if we get skittled tomorrow and worse case, follow-on (rest assured Flintoff WILL make us follow on), then day 4/5 will be two very tense days to see whether we can save the Test. It will be exciting but I'm hoping for the flat Adelaide pitch option.

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Posted by JC on 2006-12-02 23:15:17

Overall a good day for England. I was very disappointed with the way that Shane Warne bowled.

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Posted by CricketPakistan.org on 2006-12-03 02:46:16

England batted well and posted a match winning score. However, even with Harmison firing like he can, Flintoff bowling like a man possessed all day, they will rue the decision to pick Giles ahead of Panesar. This man can seriously bowl and if we bat last on this pitch he would have potentially ripped through us. I think decision will cost England a victory here but if so, i doubt Panesar will be overlooked again

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Posted by Mike on 2006-12-03 03:13:27

Turns out Kevin Pietersen said overnight that England plan to bore the Australian batsmen out, bowling dry lines and setting defensive fields. Doesn't bode well for fans hoping for a day of tight, exciting cricket. I would expect a more attacking approach considering they're sitting on 550 runs and the only two realistic results from this match are a draw or an English win. But if a big partnership does develop with the pitch offering no assistance then yes, it will turn into defensive.

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Posted by JC on 2006-12-03 09:09:57

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