Chaotic Australia crash all out

James Anderson restricts hosts to 245 on opening day of second Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval.

ADELAIDE: England backed up a sensational three-wicket start inspired by James Anderson to bowl out Australia for 245 on an extraordinary opening day of the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Australia got off to their worst Test start in 60 years at two for three in the opening three overs and then lost their last five wickets for 38 to hand England the inside running on a crucial early victory in the series.

It was a horror performance by Australia, coming off the drawn first Gabba Test and needing to finish ahead of holders England to reclaim the Ashes.

Anderson’s magic spell

Anderson was the best England bowler, snaring the crucial wickets of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke in his four for 51 off 19 overs.

“It was a fantastic start and we obviously didn’t expect to have them two for three, so we were delighted and we just created pressure all day,” said Anderson.

“It was a hugely satisfying day for everyone to come to a ground which has a notoriously flat pitch with big first-innings scores and I thought it was great to keep them to such a low score.”

At close, England’s openers had negotiated one over to be at one without loss. If not for Mike Hussey it would have been considerably worse for Australia with the senior number five batsman showing plenty of spirit in a fighting 93 before 38,615 spectators, one of the biggest Ashes crowds here in decades.

Chaos in the Adelaide Oval

Simon Katich set off a calamitous day for Australia when he was run out by a direct hit from Jonathan Trott side-on at square leg. Shane Watson hared off for a single on Anderson’s lbw appeal and Katich had the misfortune to be out without facing a ball, a victim of chaotic communication with his opening partner.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2010.