Ashes Test 1 Preview: England To Bat First, Spinners Make Line Ups

The first Ashes Test of 2009 got underway at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff with England electing to bat first.
The decision from England’s captain Andrew Strauss did not come as much as of a surprise after England picked not one but two spinners for the encounter. Monty Panesar has won the nod to play alongside Graeme Swann. But that was far from surprising given that Graham Onions was the only other player competing for Panesar’s place, Ian Bell having already been relieved on duty.
But the bigger surprise was from the Australian team that Ricky Ponting had stated that they were even contemplating going with all quicks. However, Nathan Hauritz has been included in the team as the lone spinner and while one would have thought that the injury to Brett Lee would have necessitated Stuart Clark’s inclusion, with Ben Hilfenhaus included alongside Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson.
For England, it was a matter of one position in the bowling line up, but Australia had many a conundrum before the match, worsened by the late injury to Brett Lee. With Clark in the mould of Glen McGrath, it remains to be seen how expensive the decision could prove if the combination backfired.
Now it is all action on the field. The time for talk now makes way for action in the middle.

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