Big news,Harmison misses the game due to injury (Mahmood comes in) and Panesar wins the spinning role ahead of Giles which is brilliant news.

Good start from England. But now they cannot break the fifth wicket partnership. If Lehmann can handle the England bowlers with such ease, I wonder how the Aussie regular test batsmen would?

Things do not look good for England.

Well, that was a waste of a place wasn't it? A run a ball more expensive than Flintoff and no wickets to show from it. A Matthew 'he's too slow' Hoggard? More wickets than Flintoff, Anderson, Mahmood put together... and all top order batsmen.

At least he looks set to eclipse Shaun 'I could miss my mum's house if it were only 22 yards away' Tait... whose first ball was apparently so wide it missed the cut bit of the pitch!!!!

eng 24/1 in reply to South Australia 247 declared

Strauss gone for naught lbw Tait

Harmison Injured... so is Watson...
http://content-pak.cricinfo.com/aust...ry/268679.html

Lehman battled well to save the day... after Hoggards excellent spell

But i agree things not looking good at all for england

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Not looking good? Hoggard took 3 top-order wickets in something like 12 balls... Panesar bowled 22 overs, took a wicket and conceded just 54 runs (2.45 / over)... and Flintoff bowled 12 overs for just 34 runs... 8 of which were off consecutive balls to Lehman, suggesting he was generally even more on the spot than his 2.83 / over economy rate would indicate.

Strauss dropping a catch appears to have been about the sole blemish on the day... but hardly a concern: Strauss is rightly regarded as a top fielder and no-one is going to be losing sleep over that rarity!

ps. If Watson is out of the first Test this could be another in a string of 'fortunate' misfortunes: his selection was singularly (and uncharacteristically) negative on the part of the Aussies... and if Clarke comes in that HAS to be an improvement.

Not looking good!! What scorecard have you been reading, South Australia were on the rack, and but for a dropped catch could have cleaned them up very quickly... Good outings for all the bowlers except Harmison..

If the batters can get some time in the middle, it will have been an excellent outing...

We may lose Harmison, but Australia could lose Martyn and Watson, which will disrupt their plans for five bowlers, putting a lot of pressure on McGrath and his ageing bones...

It could... but in Jacques and Clarke they have two pretty impressive replacements! I just hope the Aussies don't consider Symonds as a replacement.

In fairness to the wayward wonder, the dropped catch was off Mahmood. That said.. I don't think Giles would have had any trouble matching Mahmood's contribution in today's innings.

Absolutely ... I agree this could be a blessing in disguise. Despite what Watson offered with the ball, I think England would have been pleased to have seen him at number six. Mind you, that said, Jacques has probably peaked and may well fail in both knocks! From what I've read, Martyn will be fit. Amazing to think it was only last year that he must have thought he would never play test cricket again. One of the finest players to watch in the world.

When i said not looking good... i meant in overall terms also not just this match. Watson will be fit for brisbane.. even if he is not Australia can easily replace him... but both Harmison and Tresco not playing in Brisbane???? helloooo yr opener and front line seamer are now gone!!!


Things are certainly not looking good

noone is saying hoggard didnt bowl a magical spell.

It remains to be seem if England can make the 247 required though isnt it??
They were on the rack but they went from there to 247!!! Lehman played well and shared a 150 or so runs partnership so it seems england let them get off the rack didnt they?

So what does this Prove - Mahmood did no get any wickets today. he did not get carted either.
Bowling is not just about geting wickets - it's also about applying pressure at one end, while often wickets fall at the other.

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Ern