England endure batting disaster on opening day

Published on Friday 7 August 2009 22:35

ENGLAND allowed a disrupted build-up to the fourth Test to undermine their Ashes advantage as Australia progressed into a commanding position on the opening day at Headingley.

Having dominated the last two Tests to secure a 1-0 lead in the npower series, England knew victory would reclaim the Ashes and emulate the triumphant scenes of four years ago.

But the momentum shifted dramatically after they were dismissed for 102 – their lowest Test score at Headingley for 100 years – and allowed Australia to reach 196 for four by the close of an eventful first day.

England's dismal display followed a haphazard morning when all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was ruled out with persistent knee problems while wicketkeeper Matt Prior almost joined him on the casualty list after suffering a back spasm and needed a late fitness test to retain his place.

The early drama clearly affected England, who decided to stick with a five-man bowling attack despite Flintoff's absence, a gamble which backfired badly with Stuart Clark claiming three for 18 in his first Test for nine months and Peter Siddle recording career-best figures of five for 21.

Captain Andrew Strauss was fortunate to survive an lbw appeal off the first ball of the match from Ben Hilfenhaus.

It was a reprieve which Strauss failed to exploit and he fell in the fourth over, brilliantly caught at third slip pushing outside off-stump to Siddle to set a trend for England dismissals. Eight of their side were caught at slip or by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Sticking to tried and tested methods at Headingley, pitching it up and giving the ball a chance to swing, Australia wreaked havoc and ensured only two players – Alastair Cook and Prior – reached double figures.

Sidelined since November last year following an elbow operation, Clark had expected to return at the start of the series, but lost his place to Hilfenhaus and seemed intent on proving a point when he was selected ahead of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

Leading wicket-taker during Australia's 5-0 Ashes whitewash in 2006-7, Clark claimed three for five in 21 balls to leave England reeling on 72 for six at lunch having had Cook and Paul Collingwood caught at slip while Stuart Broad clipped off his hip straight to short leg.

Terrorised by Clark from the Kirkstall Lane End, any resistance was quickly ended after the interval by Siddle adopting similar methods of line and length to wrap up the innings in ruthless fashion, claiming four for three in 14 balls to complete England's humiliation.

It was their lowest score at Headingley since being dismissed for 87 by Australia in 1909, although their struggles against the swinging ball may have encouraged England they could claim similar success when Australia began their reply.

However, instead of pitching the ball up in a similar manner to Australia, England got carried away with the short deliveries which dismissed Ian Bell and Graham Onions and paid the penalty.

Steve Harmison, recalled as Flintoff's replacement, provided early encouragement when Simon Katich fended a bouncer to leg gully off his fourth delivery.

But when they continued with a policy of short-pitched bowling it was severely punished by opener Shane Watson and Australian captain Ricky Ponting during a 119-run stand which threatened to virtually settle the outcome of the match on the opening day.

James Anderson was hammered for ten in the first over of Australia's reply, whereas Onions was hit for 17, including two fours and a pull for six over mid-wicket by Ponting.

Converted into an opener in the previous Test, Watson fell lbw to Onions after completing his third half-century in as many innings, but it took two debatable umpiring decisions for England to start making inroads.

Predictably booed all the way to the crease when he walked out to bat – particularly after the authorities urged the boisterous West Stand spectators not to do so – Ponting had responded by hitting 12 fours and a six in his superb 78 off 101 balls.

He could, however, count himself unlucky to be given lbw to Stuart Broad with a delivery which appeared to be missing leg stump, a dismissal which was followed by a similarly contentious decision against Michael Hussey in the Nottinghamshire seamer's next over.

At 151 for four, England still fancied their chances of limiting Australia to a modest lead only for Michael Clarke, already the leading run-scorer in the series, to team up in another determined partnership with Marcus North.

They forged an unbroken 45-run stand to steer Australia to the close without further loss with Clarke shrugging off a startling blow to the back of his head from Harmison and a strong appeal for a catch behind off his glove in the same over.

Wicketkeeper Prior insisted afterwards England will "take it on the chin" after the disastrous opening day

Prior was passed fit after the toss was delayed by ten minutes for him to have treatment on a back problem, but only he and Cook reached double figures in an indisciplined batting display. And the wicketkeeper admitted the dismal innings was down to both poor batting and impressive Australian bowling.

"I think it was a bit of both: obviously there was a bit in the wicket, and they bowled well and put the ball in a good area a lot of the time," he said. "There were probably some weak shots as well.

"We'll take that on the chin. We've not had a good day today, but it's one day of five. We've got to dust ourselves down and come back tomorrow. We've had a poor day, we hold our hands up to that. But there are four days left and I think how we react and come back tomorrow morning will be key."

Prior's participation was in serious doubt yesterday morning after he suffered a back injury warming up and he admitted it was "really touch and go".

"I had a bit of a shocker," he said. "I've absolutely no idea how or why it happened, I was jogging along and suddenly had a back spasm. It was a tricky situation. It was really touch and go."

Australia's Siddle, who proved England's chief tormentor with figures of five for 21, admitted his haul was all the more enjoyable after what has been a difficult series for the tourists since they were held to a draw in an opening Test which seemed theirs for the taking.

"It was a good day in the end," said the paceman.

"I was trying my best and was lucky enough to get some good rhythm and it was successful. I felt a bit more comfortable today, a bit more consistent with my lines and back to where I bowl my best. It's pleasing."

Siddle added: "I have been disappointed. I always want to do well, contribute to the team, but I've been a little bit off. So I just wanted to tighten up a little bit, work harder, make the batsmen work a bit harder and it has paid off."