Fast-starting England dismiss Australia cheaply

Saturday, 4 December 2010 00:01 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

  • England take three wickets in first three overs
  • Hussey scores 93, Haddin 56
  • Anderson finishes with figures of 4-51 (updates at close)

ADELAIDE, (Reuters) - Paceman James Anderson fired England a stunning start to the second Ashes test on Friday and kept going through three baking hot sessions to help bowl Australia out for 245 shortly before the end of the first day.

Anderson accounted for two of the three wickets to fall in the first 10 minutes, made a key dismissal just after lunch and then returned to remove the penultimate Australian batsman to finish with figures of 4-51.

England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook faced one over from Ryan Harris, which netted one leg bye, to leave England 1-0 at the close of play.

Australia’s Mike Hussey, who made 195 in the drawn first test at the Gabba, again offered the sternest resistance to the tourists but he was dismissed by spinner Graeme Swann for 93, precipitating the collapse of the tail.

Having lost the toss at a ground which is traditionally batting-friendly and where huge first innings totals are the norm, England were expected to spend a long, hot day toiling in the field with little return.

Anderson clearly had other ideas, however, although the first wicket to fall came courtesy of Australian confusion.

The match was just four deliveries old when Watson set off for a single off his pads but Katich, who had not faced a ball, failed to react and was left fuming as Jonathan Trott fired a direct hit from midwicket.

The next ball removed Ponting for a golden duck, the Australian skipper getting an outside edge to an Anderson delivery and Graeme Swann swooping to catch it at second slip.

Ponting, the most prolific test batsman of all time at the Adelaide Oval, looked as angry as Katich to have marked his 150th test with his fifth duck.

Vice captain Clarke, who again looked out of sorts, lasted just seven minutes before Anderson and Swann combined to dismiss him for two runs.

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