Ashes: Australia struggle in opening Test

England take control on day four with Rogers’ dismissal.

NOTTINGHAM:

Australia’s Chris Rogers scored his maiden Test 50 before the see-saw Ashes opener against England took yet another twist on the fourth day at Trent Bridge yesterday.

To what turned out to be the last ball before tea, Australia lost Ed Cowan when he edged part-time spinner Joe Root to Jonathan Trott at slip on 14.

Cowan’s exit left Australia 111 for two in their second-innings – needing exactly 200 more runs to reach their daunting victory target of 311.

No side has made more to win in the fourth-innings of a Trent Bridge Test than England’s 284 for six against New Zealand in 2004.

Rogers, like Cowan a left-hander, battled hard to complete a 104-ball 50 with eight fours, with the 35-year-old playing his second Test five years after making his debut.

Australia frustrated England in the initial stages of their chase before opener Shane Watson was leg-before wicket to a Stuart Broad inswinger for 46.

The all-rounder reviewed Kumar Dharmasena’s out verdict but, with the Decision Review System indicating the ball would have clipped the edge of leg stump, the Sri Lankan’s call was upheld.

It was the latest controversial decision in this match but Watson, restored to his favoured opening position by new Australia coach Darren Lehmann, had to go having failed to add to his meagre tally of two hundreds in what was now his 42nd Test.

And 84 for one nearly became 85 for two when Rogers was given out caught behind off spinner Graeme Swann on 38.

Rogers immediately reviewed the decision and, with replays showing neither an edge nor indicating he was leg-before wicket, was reprieved.

Bell, Broad help England

Earlier, Ian Bell’s 109 had been the cornerstone of Ashes-holders England’s second-innings score of 375.

Bell, 95 not out overnight, shared a seventh-wicket stand of 138 with Broad (65).

Broad, 47 not out overnight, completed a 124-ball fifty when he edged a drive off James Pattinson between Watson and Clarke in the slips.

Then a misfield at point by Agar allowed Bell to scamper through for a single that saw him to his 18th Test hundred in 237 balls with 13 fours.

Broad was eventually out for 65 when he edged Pattinson to Haddin.

All-rounder Broad was controversially given not out on 37 on Friday despite edging teenage debutant spinner Ashton Agar to Australia captain Michael Clarke at slip, a decision the tourists could not challenge as by then they’d used up both their reviews. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2013.

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