England in command after first day of Boxing Day Test
December 26th, 2010 - 3:02 pm ICT by ANIMelbourne, Dec 26(ANI): England has taken a first innings lead of 59 runs after their fast bowlers dismissed Australia for a paltry 98 on the first day of the Boxing Day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
England were 157-0 at the close of the day’s play with Andrew Strauss (64 not out) and Alastair Cook (80 not out) at the crease.
Another commanding performance with the bat on Monday would put the tourists on course to secure the victory that would give them a 2-1 series lead, and ensure that they retain the Ashes with just a Test remaining.
Electing to bowl first after captain Andrew Strauss won the toss, James Anderson and Chris Tremlett shared eight wickets as the Australian batsmen failed to cope in ideal conditions for the visitors bowling attack.
Anderson, who came into the match under an injury cloud, was the stand-out bowler as he finished with match figures of 4-44 from 16 overs.
Tremlett (4-26) and Tim Bresnan (2-25) also deserve significant praise.
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior took six catches as all the Australian wickets fell to catches behind the wicket.
Australia were always on the backfoot from the loss of the toss, as England picked up the wickets of both openers Shane Watson (five) and Phillip Hughes (16), the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Captain Ricky Ponting (10) did not look to be hampered by his fractured left finger, and was intent on aggression before Tremlett induced a fend wide of off-stump where Graeme Swann took a breathtaking snare.
Ponting’s run of poor form therefore extended to 32 runs in his last five innings.
In-form batsman Mike Hussey suffered his first batting failure of the series when he was dismissed by Anderson for eight.
Steve Smith (six), Michael Clarke (20) and Brad Haddin (five) departed to poor shots outside off-stump.
Tailenders Mitchell Johnson (0), Peter Siddle (11) and Ben Hilfenhaus (0) were also caught behind as the home team bundled out for 98 in just 43.5 overs.
It is the lowest total Australia has made against England in 54 Tests between the two countries at the MCG.
The tourists lead by 59 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the first innings. (ANI)
- England in command after first day of Perth Ashes Test - Dec 16, 2010
- Trott ton puts England in driver's seat on day two of Boxing Day Ashes Test - Dec 27, 2010
- England bowlers decimate Australia on day one of Adelaide Ashes Test - Dec 03, 2010
- Oz Ashes disaster looms as batsmen crumble in domestic games ahead of opener - Nov 18, 2010
- 'On fire' Johnson dramatically swings Perth Test back in Australia's favour - Dec 17, 2010
- Cook scores ton, England continue to dominate (Tea report) - Aug 11, 2011
- Scoreboard: India vs England, Third Test, Day Three - Aug 13, 2011
- Scoreboard: India vs. England, Fourth Test, Day Two - Aug 20, 2011
- The Ashes 2010: Ten reasons why England retained the urn - Dec 30, 2010
- India face herculean task to save Lord's Test (Roundup) - Jul 25, 2011
- Scoreboard: India vs England, First Test, Day three - Jul 24, 2011
- England dominate India with Cook's ton (Roundup) - Aug 12, 2011
- Scoreboard: India vs England, First Test, Day four - Jul 25, 2011
- Scoreboard: India vs England, Third Test, day two - Aug 12, 2011
- Siddle's six-wicket haul decimates England on day one of Ashes opener - Nov 25, 2010
Tags: alastair cook, andrew strauss, ashes test, backfoot, boxing day, bresnan, captain ricky ponting, chris tremlett, close of the day, eight wickets, james anderson, melbourne cricket ground, michael clarke, mike hussey, mitchell johnson, poor shots, shane watson, siddle, steve smith, sydney morning herald