England have won the toss and elected to bat first in this fourth Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds. Flintoff has been replaced with Harmison and Stuart Clark comes in for Hauritz. Haddin returns back in place of Manou for Aus.
Morning Session – England 1st Innings
Over 0.1: No runs. Ben Hilfenhaus to A Strauss, pitched up delivery, strikes the pad low right infront of the middle stump with an inswinger and that’s absolutely plumb infront but not for the Silly Billy Bowden!
Over 1.3: Boundary! P Siddle to A Cook, half volley, plays a free flowing flick through squareleg for an easy boundary.
Over 3.6: He is Caught! P Siddle to A Strauss, pitched up delivery, thats a stunning one handed catch from North at third slip! Strauss drove away from his body and its a thick edge that is well held at third slip to his right!
Over 6.4: He is Caught! Ben Hilfenhaus to R Bopara, short and rising delivery, gets surprised by the extra bounce and is opened up by that indipper which Bopara helplessly fends it straight to the man at gully!
Over 8.5: Boundary! Ben Hilfenhaus to I Bell, half volley, plays a flowing drive through covers for a boundary, excellent footwork from Bell in that shot.
Over 10.4: Boundary! Ben Hilfenhaus to A Cook, good length delivery, gets back and whips it past shortleg for an effortless boundary.
Over 11.1: Boundary! M Johnson to I Bell, half volley, drives away from his body to that wide one and its a thick edge that flies over gully for a boundary. Johnson has replaced Siddle.
England at Drinks in the morning session are 38/2 in 14.0 Overs (Cook 22* Bell 8*)
Over 15.3: He is Caught! M Johnson to I Bell, short and rising delivery, cannot sway away from the line and ends up fending that off his gloves to the keeper!
Over 18.3: He is Caught! S Clark to P Collingwood, good length delivery, gets only half forward and dabs at that, the gentle outswinger takes the edge and goes at a comfortable height for Ricky at second slip.
Over 19.5: Boundary! M Johnson to A Cook, short of length delivery, just gives it a sweetly timed jab using Johnson’s extra pace and the ball races away to the squareleg boundary, that brings up the 50 for Eng.
Over 20.3: Boundary! S Clark to M Prior , pitched up delivery, thats a loose drive away from the body and its another thick edge but one which goes down very low along the ground between the slips and gully for a boundary.
Over 21.1: Boundary! M Johnson to M Prior , short and wide, plays a flowing upper cut over point for a boundary. England need to go after the runs rather than waiting for partnerships to develop!
Over 21.3: Boundary! M Johnson to M Prior , good length delivery, drives on the up and its a catchable outside edge that goes down begging between the slips and gully!!
Over 22.2: He is Caught! S Clark to A Cook, good length delivery, another uncertain push forward and a little bit of extra bounce and nip takes the edge that goes straight nto the hands of first slip, oh its c Clarke b Clark!
Over 22.4: Four Byes! S Clark to S Broad, good length delivery, thats an inswinger sprayed down the legside and it hits the finger of Haddin and races away to the fine leg boundary.
Over 23.4: Two runs. M Johnson to S Broad, short and rising delivery, thats a nasty one threatening to take the throat of Broad who fends that awkwardly past the slips for a couple. Just heard some profanity used by an Aussie fielder, not sure if it was Haddin!
Over 24.5: He is Caught! S Clark to S Broad, good length delivery, thats brilliant work, everything going right for Oz! That was onto the pads and Broad flicks that as it should be but seems to have forgotten that there is a fielder at short leg who is just a yard deep to take a low catch!! And that’s Lunch on Day 1. England 72/6 in 24.5 Ovs (Prior 17*)
Afternoon Session – England 1st Innings
Over 25.2: Boundary! P Siddle to M Prior , good length delivery, goes back and edges it past the slip cordon along the ground for a boundary.
Over 26.4: Boundary! S Clark to M Prior , half volley, plays a free flowing drive to put that wide outswinger through point for a boundary.
Over 29.4: He is Caught! P Siddle to G Swann, pitched up delivery, thats the perfect outswinger that lures Swann into the expansive drive and its an edge that flies straight to first slip. Perfect length it was from Siddle, just a trifle short of being a half volley.
Over 29.6: No runs. P Siddle to S Harmison, short and rising delivery, does very little to avoid that and ends up taking a smack on his helmet grill by that!
Over 30.5: Four Leg Byes! S Clark to S Harmison, pitched up delivery, thats an attempted yorker that ends legstumpish and Harmison deflects it off his pads to the fine leg boundary.
Over 31.4: He is Caught! P Siddle to S Harmison, short of length delivery, does’t cover the line and looks to flick it but its an outside edge that is snapped up by the keeper.
Over 32.6: Single. Ben Hilfenhaus to J Anderson, short of length delivery, dabs it to extra covers and steals a single to avoid a duck, Eng get into three figures! Anderson had done some damage either to his hamstring or calf muscle while taking that quick single.
Over 33.4: He is Caught! P Siddle to J Anderson, short and rising delivery, cannot duck under that nor can he sway away but can only jump up and glove it behind to Haddin!
Over 33.5: He is Caught! P Siddle to Graham Onions, short and rising delivery, and Onions just closes his eyes to this in fear and the ball takes the forearm guard and lobs into short leg. After a prolonged appeal, the Umpire surrenders to give the wrong decision of a catch out! Eng 102 all out in 33.5 Overs
Afternoon Session – Australia 1st Innings
Over 0.1: Boundary! J Anderson to S Watson, short and wide, cuts that fiercely behind point for a boundary.
Over 0.2: Boundary! J Anderson to S Watson, short and wide, and again plunders it with a fast cut shot played behind point for another boundary.
Over 1.2: Four Byes! S Harmison to S Katich, short of length delivery, thats way down the legside and Prior doesn’t even move an inch to try and stop it!!
Over 1.4: He is Caught! S Harmison to S Katich, short and rising delivery, looks to fend it down but the bounce gets big on him and takes the glove and lobs up straight to leg gully!
Over 2.5: Boundary! J Anderson to S Watson, good length delivery, slips the inswinger onto the pads and Watson flicks that furiously to the fine leg boundary.
Over 3.2: Boundary! S Harmison to R Ponting, short and wide, plays a crashing cut through covers for a boundary.
Over 4.4: Boundary! J Anderson to S Watson, short of length delivery, gets inside the line and tucks it away to the fine leg boundary. Harmison seems to be very square at the boundary!
Over 5.2: Boundary! S Harmison to R Ponting, short and rising delivery, brilliantly gets on top of the bounce and pulls it down with the angle through mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 5.5: Boundary! S Harmison to R Ponting, short and rising delivery, oh dear lucky escape but just have a feeling that Ponting went hard and fast at the ball to slash it well over the top of gully for a boundary!
Over 6.1: Sixer! Graham Onions to R Ponting, bangs it short, thats not quick enough for Ricky who swivels back and hooks it high over squareleg for a huge six!!
Over 6.2: Boundary! Graham Onions to R Ponting, short and rising delivery, gets inside the line and tucks it comfortably away to fine leg for a boundary.
Over 6.5: Boundary! Graham Onions to R Ponting, short of length delivery, fetches his pull from outside off and dismisses it through wide mid on for a boundary!
Over 8.5: Boundary! Graham Onions to S Watson, pitched up delivery, drives it on the up through covers for a boundary. A very brave shot indeed but Watson was totally committed into that with his positive footwork.
Over 9.4: Single. S Harmison to R Ponting, short of length delivery, punches it to covers and takes a risky run from Bell, a direct hit and Ponting was run out by a mile!
Over 13.1: Boundary! J Anderson to R Ponting, short of length delivery, that was hardly short but Ponting still decides to pull that and pull that away through wide mid on for a boundary! Anderson has replaced Harmison.
Over 14.6: No runs. Graham Onions to R Ponting, pitched up delivery, drives that straight to covers. And that’s Tea on Day 1 with Australia trailing behind by 34 runs with 9 wkts in hand. Australia 69/1 in 15.0 Ovs (Watson 24* Ponting 39*)
Final Session – Australia 1st Innings
Over 15.4: Three runs. J Anderson to R Ponting, half volley, drives it through extra covers and picks up three easy runs.
Over 19.1: Boundary! J Anderson to R Ponting, short of length delivery, plays a cracking cut past point for a boundary that brings up his 47th test fifty.
Over 20.4: Boundary! S Broad to R Ponting, short and wide, plays a flashy cut shot that disappears past point for a boundary.
Over 21.2: Boundary! J Anderson to R Ponting, short of length delivery, plays a sweet looking backfoot drive between point and covers for a boundary.
Over 21.6: 1 Leg Bye. J Anderson to S Watson, pitched up delivery, strikes the pad down the legside and the leg bye brings up the 100.
Over 23.1: Boundary! S Harmison to S Watson, short and rising delivery, no pace at all in this and Watson pulls it away comfortably to the wide mid wicket boundary. Harmison has replaced Anderson.
Over 23.3: Boundary! S Harmison to S Watson, short and rising delivery, Harmy has lost his venom and Watson climbs onto him again with a flat pull that speeds away to the mid wicket boundary
Over 23.5: Boundary! S Harmison to S Watson, short and wide, cuts that away through cover point for an easy boundary.
Over 25.4: Boundary! S Harmison to S Watson, short and rising delivery, cuts it over the top of the slip cordon for a boundary.
Over 25.6: Boundary! S Harmison to R Ponting, pitched up delivery, opens the face of the blade and drives it on the up through square covers for a boundary.
Over 26.4: Boundary. S Broad to R Ponting, short and wide, cuts that over point and the boundary is stopped in the end by a sliding stop from Bopara, oops it wasn’t a clean stop!
Over 27.1: Two runs. Graham Onions to S Watson, good length delivery, gets forward and eases it past gully for a couple. Watson has just reached his 4th test fifty with that shot.
Over 27.3: Out LBW! Graham Onions to S Watson, good length delivery, thats a well disguised inswinger and Watson is caught in the crease with his shuffle across, the bat comes down the wrong line and can’t stop him from getting out lbw even from Billy!
Over 28.2: No ball + Boundary! S Broad to R Ponting, pitched up delivery, drives that wide one uppishly over point and gets a boundary.
Over 28.6: Out LBW! S Broad to R Ponting, pitched up delivery, plays right across the line to a full ball and misses it to get struck low on the pad. And Broad starts to celebrate even before Asad Rauf raises his finger up!
Over 29.1: Boundary! Graham Onions to M Hussey, half volley, drives it wide of mid off for a boundary.
Over 30.2: Boundary! S Broad to M Hussey, short and rising delivery, thats wide and Hussey gets on top of it to drive it past short point for a boundary.
Over 30.3: Out LBW! S Broad to M Hussey, pitched up delivery, beats the flick shot with a full ball from round the sticks and strikes the pad infront of middle. Asad Rauf gives that out lbw and the decision looks just fine enough in the replay!
Over 31.6: Four Byes! Graham Onions to M North, good length delivery, sprays that down the legside and Prior who had pulled his back earlier this morning doesn’t take the trouble to stop that.
Over 33.2: Boundary! Graham Onions to Michael Clarke, good length delivery, goes back and whips that uppishly with the angle through squareleg for a boundary.
Over 33.3: Boundary! Graham Onions to Michael Clarke, half volley, strides nicely forward and drives it with an open faced blade through extra covers for a boundary.
Over 39.1: Boundary! J Anderson to Michael Clarke, short and wide, cuts that away past gully for a boundary. Anderson has replaced Onions.
Over 39.3: Boundary! J Anderson to Michael Clarke, short and wide, cuts it again through the gap between the slip cordon and gully for another boundary, that came off the bottom.
Over 42.2: Boundary! S Harmison to Michael Clarke, short and wide, cuts that away infront of square for a boundary.
Over 44.2: No runs. S Harmison to Michael Clarke, short and rising delivery, Clarke is too late in ducking under that, takes his eyes off the ball and ends up taking a blow right on back of the head! Clarke just taking some time to recover from that shock.
Over 44.5: No runs. S Harmison to Michael Clarke, short and rising delivery, takes his eyes off the ball and is hit on the body, well that has hit him on the wrist and lobs up to Prior. Massive appeal from England that it had come off the glove but Asad Rauf stands his ground firmly. Slow motion replays clearly showing that Clarke was hit on the glove, infact his inner glove and England were unlucky not to get his wicket.
Over 46.5: Boundary! S Harmison to M North, short and rising delivery, fends that dangerously past gully for a boundary.
Over 46.6: No runs. S Harmison to M North, short and rising delivery, let’s that go to the keeper over his stumps. And that’s Stumps on Day 1 with Aus leading by 94 runs. Australia 196/4 in 47.0 Overs (Clarke 34* North 7*)