Ashes T1 Day 2 Stumps: Australia Gain The Upper Hand With Double Centuries

England continued to dislodge the experienced pair at the crease who have been relentless since the exit of Phillip Hughes after lunch on day two of the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
Australia did not have any hiccups in their batting as they did in the bowling in the morning when Graeme Swann enjoyed his brief stint with the bat. Once young Hughes was sent packing by Andrew Flintoff, Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, and Simon Katich continued after tea what they had done before, continue to form a formidable partnership that England simply found it beyond their strength and will to break.
While Simon Katich made his century as the opener, giving his team real experience at the top of the order, Ponting played his number three role to perfection. Ponting’s century was his thirty-eighth Test century and it also meant he crossed the 11,000 mark in Tests, a significant milestone.
It meant that despite the heroic of the England tail order earlier in the day, Australia were in firm control of the match at 249 for one and threatening to make England feel hollow and England captain Andrew Strauss having to put on the thinking cap overnight. Is it any wonder then that the crowds were heard singing “God Save the Queen”?

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