Third Ashes Test – Edgbaston – Day 1 – Round Up

After a delayed start of some six hours due to rain, Australia having won the toss chose to bat and made a confident start to their innings .They were 126 for one at the close of play in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston against England. Shane Watson was brought in to replace Phillip Hughes and he along with Simon Katich in a superb exhibition of stroke play seized the initiative against a strangely subdued England bowling attack.

Katich (46) eventually fell to Graeme Swann England ‘spinner but Watson got 62 at the close with his wicket intact. His innings had included 10 fours, with his captain Ricky Ponting on 17. All did not go Australia’s way however, their wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, named in the side at the toss, was an early loss when he sustained a finger injury in practice without taking to the fields. The Australians’s had to ask the permission of England to replace him with Manou.

Flintoff, Anderson and Onions rarely threatened the Aussie batsmen and England’s captain Strauss, brought Swann into the attack and he immediately rewarded him as he struck in his first over, trapping Katich lbw for 46.

It looks like the English weather will continue to have a major impact on the 2009 Ashes – let’s hope we can enjoy a full day’s play tomorrow, although somehow I have my doubts