Third Ashes Test – Edgbaston – Day 2 Roundup

The England pace bowlers bowlers James Anderson and Graham Onions devastated the Australian batting line up on the second day of the 2009 Ashes test at Edgbaston, Birmingham having bowled the Aussies all out for 263.England. Already 1-0 up in the series, the batsmen went looking to build on the excellent foundations laid by their bowles Anderson and Onions who took no less than seven wickets in the morning session and built a good first-innings lead.

Onions, who was taken off by Strauss yesterday for being too expensive, struck with the first two balls of the day to dismiss Shane Watson and Michael Hussey and went on to take the wicket of the Australia captain Ricky Ponting in the same spell. His bowling partner James Anderson dispatched Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Mitchell Johnson and Graham Manou swiftly just before lunch. The England fast bowlers had struggled to make any impact on the rain affected first day but quickly settled into their rhythm

Ponting was briefly in the limelight when he became Australia’s highest Test run-scorer reaching 25 but had only added only 13 before being caught by Matt Prior as he attempted an ambitious hook. Australia did stage a useful but brief revival in their fortunes when last two wickets added a further 60 runs. At the final count Anderson, finished with figures of five for 80 and Onions four for 58.Truly devastating statistics.

The Australia bowling attack started well enough and made an early breakthrough when Siddle dismissed Alastair Cook for a duck, edging through to the Australian replacement wicket keeper Manou., followed shortly after when Ravi Bopara, on 23, was bowled by Hilfenhaus. However, Strauss remained composed, belting 10 fours to continue the good form from the last Test at Lord’s. He was ably supported by Bell, who was in for the injured Kevin Pietersen. England had reached 116 for two in when bad light stopped play with captain Andrew Strauss on 64 and Ian Bell on 26.

Whilst the rain seems still to be the dominating factor, at this stage England look to be in the driving seat and the drama continues to build.