Ashes 2009, Third Test day 1 at Edgbaston report
 It was a day that many feared would not arrive at all after seeing the conditions that prevailed for most part of the day at Edgbaston, Birmingham. However, the match began much close to the session after tea and Australia elected to bat on a wicket that many feared had some juice early on for the pacers. But no problems whatsoever for the Aussies as they marched to 126 for one at stumps on day one.
Shane Watson was 62 not out and Australia captain Ricky Ponting 17 not out were at the crease. The hosts made one change to the team that won the second Test by 115 runs —-Ian Bell, returned to England duty on his Warwickshire home ground, replacing Pietersen after KP was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes with a longstanding Achilles injury.
On the other hand, Australia sprang a surprise by dropping opening batsman Phillip Hughes and bringing in Shane Watson in his place, even though the injury-prone all-rounder has never batted higher than No 6 in a Test. They were also forced into a late change after wicket-keeper Brad Haddin sustained a suspected broken fourth finger of his left hand in the warm-up.
He was replaced by Graham Manou, who makes his Test debut. Australia had to seek permission from England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andrew Flower to alter their side after including Haddin in the team named at the toss. Four years ago at Edgbaston, Australia saw fast bowler Glenn McGrath pulled out after injuring himself his ankle in the warm-up in a Test that England eventually won.
Hughes was omitted after having struggled against short-pitched fast bowling during the first two Tests. Last weekend Watson, whose inclusion bolsters Australia’s seam attack, scored 84 and 50 in a tour match against Northamptonshire. But in eight Tests the 28-year-old Queenslander has scored just 257 runs at a low average of under 20 and, as an opener, has a first-class average of a mere 6.5. Watson’s last four Test innings have all ended in single figure scores.
However, Australia did keep faith with fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. So far in this series the struggling left-arm quick has taken eight wickets for 331 runs at an expensive average of 41 apiece. Ponting went into this match needing just 25 more runs to become his country’s leading Test match run-scorer and so surpass retired former skipper Allan Border‘s mark of 11,174 runs. By going past Border’s career total, Ponting would move up into third place in the all-time list of Test run-scorers. Will we witness Ponting surpassing Border’s record on the second day? Watch this space for more…..
