Verdict: The front page of Australia's Herald Sun newspaper today
Well firstly, my apologies. The first day of the Boxing Day Test was memorable for a number of reasons – among them my temperamental laptop died.
Fortunately, a good night’s rest has seen it come back to life. So, as I sit here with the players trotting out onto the field for the start of day two I thought I would recap my thoughts on the opening day, although not in the usual format as you know what happened already.
Let’s start with the Australian papers. After being rolled out for 98, then seeing England reach the close unscathed on 157 without loss, they were rapidly frothing at the mouth at their team’s demise.
Here’s a selection of headlines:
‘Crash and burn: With the Ashes in the balance, on the most important day in the cricket calendar, Australia was pitiful and England surely retained the urn.’
‘We were AWFUL HOPELESS A DISGRACE: Our Ashes hopes look gone – is Ponting too?’
‘Cook, Line and stinker: Pathetic Aussies hit new Ashes low’
‘Last stand looms for ragged Ricky’
The general feeling among the locals is Ricky Ponting, who is woefully out of form, is a goner as captain when the series finishes. If England do win here, might he miss the Sydney Test and try to make sure his finger is okay for the start of the World Cup in February? Probably. Can he stay in the side if he loses the captaincy? It would be very difficult as his presence would undermine the new leader.
People are also laying into opener Phil Hughes, dropped midway through last year’s Ashes in England, and recalled to the side for Perth. Despite Australia’s win there he was poor. Again he was poor yesterday, going for 16 before driving at a wide one and being caught in the gully. He lacks the technique for top-level cricket and has been labelled a ‘park player’ in several Aussie papers today.
But what of England? They were fantastic yesterday. If you had dreamed of the perfect day for them it wouldn’t have been as good as yesterday. I think the dominance shown here – along with their superiority on the final two days in Brisbane and the whole of Adelaide – proves they are a superior side.
As I finish writing this, England have just lost Alastair Cook for 82 to Peter Siddle. But the game is gone for Australia surely? It’s too little too late.
I’ll be back at the close of play with my normal round-up. If you’re staying up, enjoy the cricket and if you’re off to bed I hope you wake up with England even closer to an historic victory.