Australia are in control of the 5th Ashes test after day 1 at The Oval, after winning the toss, choosing to bat first on a dry but flat pitch, and then closing the opening day on 307/4. Shane Watson dominated the scoring for Australia, making a magnificent and much needed 176 batting at no.3, which is his first century of the series and his first in test matches since 2010. That should now answer any questions the Australian and English critics had, and secure his place now for the winter, just as I suggested he would in this match.
England started the day with 2 debutants, bringing in Chris Woakes and Simon Kerrigan for Tim Bresnan and Jonny Bairstow. Meanwhile Australia announced their 2 changes 24 hours ahead of the match, with debutant James Faulkner and Mitchell Starc replacing Usman Khawaja and Jackson Bird. Neither of those 2 had a part to play today, with Australia's top 5 doing the damage as England's bowlers, especially the debutants, toiled.
The day started reasonably well for England, with a bit of movement with the new ball, making openers Rogers and Warner uncomfortable. Warner didn't really last long at all, falling in the fifth over to James Anderson for 6. Warner got stuck in the crease and had a drive at Anderson, but he could only find the edge which left a comfortable catch for Matt Prior. Chris Rogers continued to struggle, but Shane Watson looked good as the pair put on 107 for the second wicket, with the big hitting Watson making most of those. He took advantage of some poor, and perhaps nervy opening spells from Woakes, and Kerrigan particularly as started to come up with the goods, now that it is all to late in the series for the tourists.
Chris Rogers was the next to fall for 23 off of 100 balls to his nemesis of the series Graeme Swann, getting a thick edge to Jonathon Trott at slip. Michael Clarke fell shortly afterwards for a hard fought 7, after struggling with the short stuff from Stuart Broad, as James Anderson got one to squeeze through the captain's defences and onto the stumps.
Shane Watson continued to dominate though, and Steven Smith also played well along with him, as Watson made his new test match best and Steven Smith got his 3rd half century of the series, as the England attack struggles for a breakthrough in the evening session. The 2 of them had put on 145 before Watson finally went for 176. Taking on a Broad short ball, Watson could only pick out Kevin Pietersen at deep fine leg, who took an excellent catch diving to his left, to give the hosts the breakthrough they dearly needed. Night-watchman Peter Siddle and Steven Smith saw Australia through to the close on 307/4, Smith not out on 66 and Siddle on 18 not out himself.
It was certainly Australia's day, and England will need quick wickets tomorrow to fight back and then to bat well in their own first innings if they are to win this final test match. Tomorrow should be another good day of Cricket as England look to get back into it.It should be another good day for batting, on what will be a good batting pitch until around late day 3 or day 4 when it will really start to turn for the spinners.
I'll be back tomorrow to see if Australia have continued their domination or if England have got back into it.
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