If England were the doubtful starters on the first day of the first Test of the Ashes at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, it was Australia that stumbled on the first day of the second Test at Lord’s. Their history may have intact so far, but can the legacy continue?
The much touted England line up with Steve Harmison did not materialize. Andrew Flintoff made it to the final playing eleven, as Harmison as cover remained outside the boundary. Monty Panesar though got the expected axe with England deciding to go ahead with just one spinner. Graham Onions made it to the team.
But it was the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, that was experiencing the headache and it was not just because of the loss of Brett Lee, who was already ruled out for the first two Tests. But Ponting has problems on his hand when his spearhead in recent months, Mitchell Johnson, has not only lost his accuracy and rhythm but also, spills over runs by the dozen an over.
The England openers, captain Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, made an ominous start and played positively without fear, not that there was much to fear over the fare that the Australian bowlers were dishing. An unbeaten partnership at lunch saw England go commanding to the break with 126 on board with Cook looking strong, and authoritative on sixty-seven and Strauss on forty-seven.
The story stayed pretty much the same after lunch only that Australia did get a couple of breakthroughs including that of Cook on ninety-five to Johnson and Ravi Bopara to Ben Hilfenhaus. But there was little doubt that only one team on the field looked hungry, eager and determined. Strauss emphasized the fact with his fourth Test hundred at Lord’s, third against Australia and eighteenth Test hundred overall.
Keeping him company was Kevin Pietersen who thoroughly enjoyed his brief stint when England went into tea at 255 for two and looking like they could do more damage with Australia’s bowlers struggling to catch their breath and Nathan Haurtiz running tests in the hospital over what appears to be a serious finger injury.
Australia have lost a Test at Lord’s since seventy-five years. While Ponting would have felt confident of Australia’s record at Lord’s, the results of the morning have yielded little Australia’s way. Their record of nine Test wins and nine draws in the last eighteen Tests could suffer if they allow England to overcome he nerves that Strauss stated had got the better of the England team.
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