Horror show: How every England fan felt for the first two sessions at the Gabba
Session one: Australia 329/5
A morning to destroy the optimism in any Englishman’s soul. A host of missed opportunities for Andrew Strauss’ men despite superb bowling with the second new ball. Mike Hussey survives an lbw to Jimmy Anderson on referral, then Mr Cricket gets yet another life when a plum lbw is not given. England had used both their referrals and were made to pay as Hussey got his century. Brad Haddin, who passed 50, was then dropped in the deep by Alastair Cook as Australia built an ominous 69-run lead by lunch.
Verdict: Australia.
Session two: Australia 436/5
Hussey and Haddin flay England to all parts of the Gabba, with the Aussie wicketkeeper bringing up his century with a huge six off Graeme Swann. The pair break the record for the highest Test partnership of all-time at the Gabba and have put on an incredible 293 by the time the tea break comes.
Verdict: Australia.
Session three: Australia 481, England 19-0
After 307 runs, England finally get a breakthrough when Swann has Haddin caught by Collingwood for 136. Mr Cricket falls five runs short of his first Test double ton when he is snared by Finn but he still has his best Test score and England’s Ashes debutant picks up six wickets as Australia are eventually dismissed for 481 – a lead of 221. It leaves Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook needing to negotiate a tricky hour before the close and they do just that as the openers take England to 19-0.
Verdict: England
Test in a tweet: Australia bat and bat and bat and bat until England finally find their mojo. But it still looks grim.
Our Facebook friend: Mike Hussey. As as a lover of the game you have to tip your hat to Mr Cricket. A truly brilliant innings of 195 turned the tide in this match and possibly the series. And to think before this Test there was talk about him being dropped.
And who we’ll unfriend: UDRS or the Umpire Decision Review System to give it it’s full name. Twice decisions have cost England in this game (Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey) when they’ve been bowling and it clearly needs a rethink. Why limit sides to two referrals, why not let the umpires refer as per Rugby League? This system was meant to ensure correct decisions but it’s patently not doing that at the moment.
Number of the day: 129
Without that Hussey and Haddin patnership, that's what the rest of Australia's batsmen got between them in their first innings.
Distraction of the day: Geoff Boycott and former Aussie PM Kevin Rudd, now foreign minister, having a photo opp with a Chinese dignitary in the press box. Boycott, through Rudd’s Mandarin, tries in vain to explain the significance of the Ashes to the guest. A clash of cultures indeed.
Irony of the day: Now, I don’t know about you but when I’m waiting for a bus, invariably it’s a long, drawn-out affair full of frustration. So imagine my surprise when I saw a red, routemaster London bus - commandeered by the Barmy Army - outside the Gabba this morning. Typical, one always turns up when you don’t need it.
Download of the day: Faith by Goerge Michael.