2 for 3 or 3 for 2?

The second Test in Adelaide got off to an incredible start as Australia sank to 3 for 2 before hauling themselves to 245. James Anderson was outstanding and Graeme Swann offered fine support, while the hosts' main bright spot was Mike Hussey's 93. However, it was another day of major concerns for Australia with ducks for Ricky Ponting and Michael. Marcus North also struggled, and he was the subject of Jesse Hogan's piece in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Arriving at 4-96 is hardly ideal for a batsman, but it is a long way from the 3-2 that Mike Hussey saw on the scoreboard when he was thrust into the middle in the third over of the day. The gap between how Hussey and North responded was stark. In the 21 times North has arrived at the crease with the score above 150, his average is 54.79. With a record like that, North would have been invaluable in the formidable Australian teams of earlier this decade. But not in this team.

Before play all the talk was about Australia's selection as they dumped Ben Hilfenhaus along with Mitchell Johnson. In The Australian, Malcolm Conn looks at the selectors' new ruthless streak.

Harris, a former local before moving to Queensland three years ago, has 37 wickets in 10 Shield games at an average of 28 in Adelaide, while Hilfenhaus has a highly respectable 16 wickets from three Shield matches at 31. So the decision was made on instinct. As Ponting said the day before the match, Harris is quicker, hits the pitch harder and can bowl reverse swing in Adelaide. And his heavily bandaged right knee is now apparently fine too. What a package

England, though, had a day to remember and in his Daily Telegraph blog Steve James suggests it could be one of their best ever.

One of England’s best days in Ashes cricket. It’s as simple as that. To lose the toss in Adelaide and bowl Australia out for just 245 is a stunning effort. And it was nothing less than they deserved. They were quite magnificent from the moment Jonathan Trott ran out Simon Katich from the day’s fourth ball. Then Ricky Ponting went first ball, and Michael Clarke followed soon afterwards. In a trice Australia were 2-3, or 3-2 as they say down here.