Katich and Ponting Put England to the Sword

If there was any debate as to which of these two Ashes rivals were on-top after the first day, there’s no doubt who is after the second day of this first Ashes test in Cardiff as Australia cruised to 249-1.

Both Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting made unbeaten hundreds in a partnership worth 187 at the end of the day.

Katich’s opening partner Phil Hughes went cheaply for just 36, the single breakthrough England could muster after a frustrating day in the field.

The brilliance of both Katich and Ponting though was difficult to ignore, and despite England’s at times inept bowling the duo were superb in the middle.

Ponting surpassed 11,000 test runs as well, becoming just the forth to do so, surely confirming his status as one of the best players of the modern era.

Even with the burden of captaincy Ponting seems to still deliver the goods in the middle, and with 38 hundreds to his name he can be held in high-regard in International cricket history.

However this day will belong to the centurions alone, and be remembered as the day Australia firmed stamped their mark on this test series.

A further 99 runs were added to England’s overnight score of 336-7, to give Andrew Strauss’ side a excellent score to bowl at, but after this one-sided day those late runs from the tail seem vital for the England cause.

England will worry about how easily Ponting and Katich exposed the weaknesses in their bowling attack, which could well lose Stuart Broad for the rest of the match with a calf injury.

James Anderson found little swing in his 13 overs, while Flintoff provided plenty of energy with just the single wicket as a reward.

Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar did turn the ball even on this second day, but were stifled by the Aussie pair.

Despite what has been a brilliant day for the tourists, they aren’t as far ahead they could have been at the end of day two, mostly down to what is a wearing pitch at Cardiff.

England’s run rate for their 435 was over four runs an over, while Australia just topped 3.50 an over, a clear sign that even the stroke making of Ponting couldn’t bring a strong flow of runs.

So there is evidence that the pitch is slowing down, and with Australia still another 186 runs behind they still have work to do.

But they have an excellent pair at the crease still, and with Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke they have all the tools to even up the scores.

England will worry about the lack of swing already, and will look towards the new ball in nine overs time, as Australia will look to bat just the once in this game.

The hosts have a dreadful record in the opening match of any test series in the Ashes, and after day two things yet again look like going Australia’s way.