Sport - Ashes 2nd Test Day One

Panic. Hilfenhaus and Mitchell replaced by Bollinger and Harris.
Panic. Katich OUT for a diamond duck.
Panic. Ponting OUT Clarke OUT 2-3.
245 all out. All out panic.

Ponting attacks Strauss

Ponting attacks Anderson

They sacked their bowlers but left it to England to dismiss their batsmen. Anderson et al did not disappoint. Australia won the toss, got first go on a flat track - and blew it gloriously. Despite another rearguard action from Hussey and Haddin they were bowled out for under 300 at Adelaide for the first time in 17 years leaving England with a wonderful chance to consolidate over the next two days what has already become a winning position. Only the forecast thunderstorms can seemingly hold them up now.

Cricket fans are witnessing a shift of power the like of which has not been seen since the fall of the mighty West Indies. It is not a coincidence that both falls from grace were predicated on the loss of the best bowling attack in the world. While Australia and West Indies undoubtedly had world class batsmen in their line-ups its easier to score big when your bowlers are making sure the totals you have to chase are small. Without McGrath and Warne to bedevil English batsmen at the Gabba England were allowed to rack up 517-1. 245 all out on a flat track is a direct result of that English total. The pressure is on Ponting and his men - and boy are the cracks appearing.

It does seem that bowlers take more than their fair share of the blame when things go wrong in cricket. Doug Bollinger probably hasn't worked out what he did wrong to be dropped for the Gabba, let alone what he did right to be reinstated for Adelaide. Ben Hilfenhaus could be forgiven a 'serves-you-bloody-well-right' chuckle if Aus are put to the sword again tomorrow by England's batsmen. And let's just leave Mitch Johnson alone, quietly, to grieve. Meanwhile many, most?, Aussie fans are still wondering how Clarke, and particularly North, ever get a game these days. North's dismissal was profoundly abject, worse even than the two run-outs, highly symbolic of the timidity and confusion Australian cricket has now wrapped itself in.

A man at the top of his game - James Anderson

As if their own incompetence weren't enough, the Aussies are also having to cope with several England players at, or approaching their zenith. Australia had a game plan for Swann and for four overs of the First Test it worked. Since then Swann has fought hard to recover his advantage and Anderson has bowled out of his skin. Broad's bowling has gone almost unnoticed but he too looks light years ahead of anything the Aussie attack can muster. With their batsmen scoring centuries for fun its advantage England. Tomorrow they should go a long way towards securing the first set.