But you would be mistaken in thinking that I was incorrect if you didn't watch one of the best day's Test Cricket in a long time.
An overnight 307-8 was where England stood as the bell rang out over the Oval pavilion on the second morning. Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Steve Harmison were the men given the difficult task of lifting England up to a respectable but below-par 350. A total that would challenge Australia, but by no means right them off.
The day started badly for England, however. James Anderson recorded his first Test match duck as he was undone by a Ben Hilfenhaus in-swinger. Anderson trudged off with his record shattered, and ending at 58 innings without a Test duck. AB de Villiers lead the way with that statistic - he played out 78 innings before recording his first duck.
Some decent hitting from Broad and Harmison saw England up to 332, before Broad edged a Hilfenhaus cutter to Ricky Ponting in the slips. A slight delay followed, with a bit of confusion. It turned out that as Hilfenhaus bowled that ball, Broad's leg stump bail had fallen off. However, both sides accepted it, and that was that as far as the England innings was concerned. Andrew Strauss would probably have been very disappointed not to at least reach the 400 mark after an excellent start to their innings, but the pitch was already showing signs of wear and tear that would no doubt aid Graeme Swann with his off-spin.
Australia's innings started slowly, but Shane Watson and Simon Katich dug in and took the score up to 73 before the first wicket was lost. Broad in the action again as he trapped Watson in front, LBW for 34. And there started one of the greatest collapses the Oval had ever witnessed. Broad went on to claim 3 more wickets in his next 3 overs, giving him figures of 5.1.16.4 mid-way through the afternoon session. Ricky Ponting dragged one on, Mike Hussey was trapped leg-before by a full in-swinger, and Michael Clarke drove on the up to Jonathan Trott at short extra-cover. That was Trott's first catch in Test Cricket, and boy did he enjoy it.
shame about the mugshot, but a great moment neverthelessAfter Broad's burst, it was Graeme Swann's turn to steal the show. On a big-turning pitch, the Notts off-spinner had the Aussies in one hell of a pickle. He first did for Marcus North, who on second look was very unlucky to be given out LBW after getting a fairly noticeable inside edge onto his back pad. A rye smile from North followed, but jubilant scenes from England said it all. They were dominating proceedings. It wasn't too long after that Simon Katich reached his fifty - a gritty, very Katich-like knock, much needed by the tourists. Australia would dearly have loved Katich to go on and make a match-saving ton, but it wasn't to be. When on exactly 50, he got a healthy inside edge onto a Swann delivery that failed to turn, and ballooned the ball up to short-leg where Alastair Cook took one of the simpler catches of his blossoming career. Katich trudged off furious with himself, and with the scoreboard reading 109-6.
Brad Haddin is renowned for being an excellent player of spin. However, it wasn't spin that claimed his wicket. It was that man Broad again. A beautiful away-swinger pitched full on middle stump, that Haddin played all around, crashed into the off stump and set the Barmy Army off again. 111-7, and only one thought on Aussie minds - to avoid the follow-on. Mitchell Johnson made 11 before edging a Swann turner, while Stuart Clark and Ben Hilfenhaus made just 6 apiece before falling to Swann and Flintoff respectively. Swann finishing with series best figures of 4-38. Clark was very unlucky to be given out bat-pad when the ball clearly missed the bat by a couple of inches. Asad Rauf not doing himself any favours with that one. Peter Siddle remained unbeaten on 26, making him one of only 4 Aussie batsman to make double figures. All out, 160.
England came out to bat in the knowledge they led by 172 with 9 and a bit sessions left in the match. They lost Alastair Cook (9), Ian Bell (4), and Paul Collingwood (1) cheaply, leaving them 39-3, but they end the day on 58 with no further losses. Andrew Strauss (32), and Jonathan Trott (8) are the not out men, and they have the comfortable task of ensuring England set a solid base tomorrow morning, from which they can press on and get a huge lead, before attempting to bowl Australia out for a second time.
There is no doubt as to who's day it's been. Stuart Broad has had a mixed time of it lately, particularly after the Cardiff Test. He's had his critics, but it seems ever since Mitchell Johnson got involved with him while Broad was making runs at Headlingly, he's been a different bowler. Figures of 6-91 at Leeds, followed by 5-37 in this match. His variety has been his downfall in the past, but today he used it to perfection, causing every batsman he bowled at problems, and keeping composed after taking his first couple of wickets. There's been much talk as to whether he could be as good as Andrew Flintoff, and with performances like these, you have to agree. We've seen the potential he has with the bat - an average of over 32 with two fifties has taken care of that side of his game - but it's his bowling that needs to really progress in the next 12-18 months if he's to stake a claim for being England's next genuine all-rounder. I don't think there's any doubt that if he continues to work hard at his game, and put in full-blooded performances
like we've seen today, that Broad can do just that. As an England fan, I'd love him to fulfill his potential, and some. He's got a bright future ahead of him that kid, we just need to give him some time, and he'll become one of the best.
A mention for Graeme Swann too. Only 6 wickets in the series prior to today, and 4 of them in one innings. There were questions over his form after Cardiff, a pitch that offered considerable turn, but he's answered them today, on a surface that has turned more than Sophia Gardens. 4-38 is a fantastic return for a finger-spinner on any Oval pitch, and even more so against Australia. So well done to him, and the rest of the England boys.
Brad Haddin is renowned for being an excellent player of spin. However, it wasn't spin that claimed his wicket. It was that man Broad again. A beautiful away-swinger pitched full on middle stump, that Haddin played all around, crashed into the off stump and set the Barmy Army off again. 111-7, and only one thought on Aussie minds - to avoid the follow-on. Mitchell Johnson made 11 before edging a Swann turner, while Stuart Clark and Ben Hilfenhaus made just 6 apiece before falling to Swann and Flintoff respectively. Swann finishing with series best figures of 4-38. Clark was very unlucky to be given out bat-pad when the ball clearly missed the bat by a couple of inches. Asad Rauf not doing himself any favours with that one. Peter Siddle remained unbeaten on 26, making him one of only 4 Aussie batsman to make double figures. All out, 160.
England came out to bat in the knowledge they led by 172 with 9 and a bit sessions left in the match. They lost Alastair Cook (9), Ian Bell (4), and Paul Collingwood (1) cheaply, leaving them 39-3, but they end the day on 58 with no further losses. Andrew Strauss (32), and Jonathan Trott (8) are the not out men, and they have the comfortable task of ensuring England set a solid base tomorrow morning, from which they can press on and get a huge lead, before attempting to bowl Australia out for a second time.
There is no doubt as to who's day it's been. Stuart Broad has had a mixed time of it lately, particularly after the Cardiff Test. He's had his critics, but it seems ever since Mitchell Johnson got involved with him while Broad was making runs at Headlingly, he's been a different bowler. Figures of 6-91 at Leeds, followed by 5-37 in this match. His variety has been his downfall in the past, but today he used it to perfection, causing every batsman he bowled at problems, and keeping composed after taking his first couple of wickets. There's been much talk as to whether he could be as good as Andrew Flintoff, and with performances like these, you have to agree. We've seen the potential he has with the bat - an average of over 32 with two fifties has taken care of that side of his game - but it's his bowling that needs to really progress in the next 12-18 months if he's to stake a claim for being England's next genuine all-rounder. I don't think there's any doubt that if he continues to work hard at his game, and put in full-blooded performances
like we've seen today, that Broad can do just that. As an England fan, I'd love him to fulfill his potential, and some. He's got a bright future ahead of him that kid, we just need to give him some time, and he'll become one of the best.A mention for Graeme Swann too. Only 6 wickets in the series prior to today, and 4 of them in one innings. There were questions over his form after Cardiff, a pitch that offered considerable turn, but he's answered them today, on a surface that has turned more than Sophia Gardens. 4-38 is a fantastic return for a finger-spinner on any Oval pitch, and even more so against Australia. So well done to him, and the rest of the England boys.
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