Headingley crowd jeers and cheers Ponting
Peter English at Headingley
07-Aug-2009
The boos when Ricky Ponting came out to bat weren't as loud as the ones at Edgbaston • Getty Images
Boo-boo boys
The Western Terrace supporters didn't follow the ECB chairman Giles Clarke's no-booing edict when Ricky Ponting walked out to bat, but they weren't too bad compared to Edgbaston. Ponting's ears didn't echo for long and he was soon blasting boundaries that were so smart even the sceptics clapped. He took 11 from a Steve Harmison over and followed with 17 in Graham Onions' next offering. With the bars closed between the end of lunch and 3.30 pm, the people in the ground had to concentrate on the cricket and were fortunate to see Ponting's crisp 78. As he exited, lbw to Stuart Broad, he raised his bat to the terrace, where many of the home supporters were standing to applaud.
The Western Terrace supporters didn't follow the ECB chairman Giles Clarke's no-booing edict when Ricky Ponting walked out to bat, but they weren't too bad compared to Edgbaston. Ponting's ears didn't echo for long and he was soon blasting boundaries that were so smart even the sceptics clapped. He took 11 from a Steve Harmison over and followed with 17 in Graham Onions' next offering. With the bars closed between the end of lunch and 3.30 pm, the people in the ground had to concentrate on the cricket and were fortunate to see Ponting's crisp 78. As he exited, lbw to Stuart Broad, he raised his bat to the terrace, where many of the home supporters were standing to applaud.
Headingley heaven
This is such an amazing ground for Ponting that his 78 was virtually a failure. In his three previous bats here, in 1997 and 2001, he picked up 127, 144 and 72. He'll hope for better in the second innings.
This is such an amazing ground for Ponting that his 78 was virtually a failure. In his three previous bats here, in 1997 and 2001, he picked up 127, 144 and 72. He'll hope for better in the second innings.
Good cheer
Until Ponting arrived the loudest roar had come with James Anderson's single to get off the mark. The noise wasn't to celebrate Anderson avoiding a duck for all of his 53 career innings, but for England's innings reaching 100. It was that sort of day for the home fans, who watched their side fall behind at 4.31pm when Shane Watson took three off Stuart Broad.
Until Ponting arrived the loudest roar had come with James Anderson's single to get off the mark. The noise wasn't to celebrate Anderson avoiding a duck for all of his 53 career innings, but for England's innings reaching 100. It was that sort of day for the home fans, who watched their side fall behind at 4.31pm when Shane Watson took three off Stuart Broad.
Opening statements
Australian openers are used to providing explosive starts in Ashes contests and Watson did his best impersonation of Michael Slater, while Anderson did an admirable job of being Phil DeFreitas. Anderson's first two balls of the reply were short outside off and Watson cut both of them to the boundary, just like Slater did to DeFreitas at the Gabba in 1994-95.
Australian openers are used to providing explosive starts in Ashes contests and Watson did his best impersonation of Michael Slater, while Anderson did an admirable job of being Phil DeFreitas. Anderson's first two balls of the reply were short outside off and Watson cut both of them to the boundary, just like Slater did to DeFreitas at the Gabba in 1994-95.
Mr Consistency
Watson has been a Test opener for three innings and is finding certain parts of the job incredibly easy. He hasn't been bothered about reaching fifty, but as soon as he raises his bat the problems start. In Birmingham he posted 62 and 53 and today he departed lbw for 51, two balls after reaching the milestone.
Watson has been a Test opener for three innings and is finding certain parts of the job incredibly easy. He hasn't been bothered about reaching fifty, but as soon as he raises his bat the problems start. In Birmingham he posted 62 and 53 and today he departed lbw for 51, two balls after reaching the milestone.
Prior injury
Matt Prior's warm-up turned bad when he suffered spasms in his back this morning, an injury which threatened his place and delayed the toss by more than 10 minutes. Prior was able to regain his poise before the start, but missed out on a day of rest and, thanks to his side's collapse, the No. 6 was batting within 90 minutes. While he wasn't troubled too much during his team-high 37 not out, his keeping looked more painful and one early leg-side delivery went untouched to the boundary for four byes.
Matt Prior's warm-up turned bad when he suffered spasms in his back this morning, an injury which threatened his place and delayed the toss by more than 10 minutes. Prior was able to regain his poise before the start, but missed out on a day of rest and, thanks to his side's collapse, the No. 6 was batting within 90 minutes. While he wasn't troubled too much during his team-high 37 not out, his keeping looked more painful and one early leg-side delivery went untouched to the boundary for four byes.
Different umpires, same problems
Rudi Koetzen has left the series but the umpiring errors remain, starting on the first ball of the game. Ben Hilfenhaus ran in and delivered an inswinger that caught Andrew Strauss in front but Billy Bowden saw some doubt somewhere and shook his head, Koertzen-style. England's innings also finished in doubt when Onions was given out caught by short leg off his arm guard. Asad Rauf was the mistaken man that time, although neither decision changed the pattern of the game. Rauf's decision to judge Michael Hussey lbw after Broad's inswinger from around the wicket was also open to debate.
Rudi Koetzen has left the series but the umpiring errors remain, starting on the first ball of the game. Ben Hilfenhaus ran in and delivered an inswinger that caught Andrew Strauss in front but Billy Bowden saw some doubt somewhere and shook his head, Koertzen-style. England's innings also finished in doubt when Onions was given out caught by short leg off his arm guard. Asad Rauf was the mistaken man that time, although neither decision changed the pattern of the game. Rauf's decision to judge Michael Hussey lbw after Broad's inswinger from around the wicket was also open to debate.
Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo