2nd Test, Day 1: More misery one day into it

More misery for AU cricket, 245 all out, kind of depressing?
Let's not get into what this score symbolises and what record book it falls into, but let's just say the time to support the Baggy Green is at the red zone!
The Adelaide Oval wicket will become easier to score on over the next 3 days and I expect the wicket to open up a bit on the last day. However, England has the momentum so it’s already put them in pole position. What we aren’t looking to do is replicate the Lord’s test.

Things started off terribly. Simon Katich was run out, when he didn’t respond to a call by Shane Watson. The single was on, Katto would have made it, but he hesitated, leaving Watto no option but to keep charging. The direct hit was on and to Katto’s misfortune, no lifeline. He escaped one against Alastair Cook in the 1st test which was also a result of poor communication between him and Watto, only then the single wasn’t on.
While their opening duo is a mighty strong one, and very consistent at that (which is a surprise with this team), their running between the wickets has been shocking recently. Even in India they were a bit sloppy with their communication. Katto was gone for a diamond duck.

Ricky Ponting (playing his 150th test, what an achievement!), who has a great record at the Adelaide Oval, was caught for 0.
Punter has been dismissed is similar fasion many times, with a slight cross bat generating leaning edges to the slips, when a straight bat or pushing to the offside would see him safe more often than not. I’m too worried about Punter as that innings at the Gabba showed loads of promise; however, it costs us every time he stumbles.
He scored two centuries in his 100th test vs the Proteas, maybe a hundred is going to occur? Will be tough grafting if it is to be.

Michael Clarke you have to have a bit of a laugh at. Firstly, it was a joke he played in the 1st test given his condition and now, after claiming he was standing more upright in the crease and his stance to improve his technique, he was caught behind standing the lowest I’ve ever seen him. One hell of a contradiction and it was like that throughout his brief stay.
Unless I misunderstood, point it out to me, but it doesn’t seem the plan in the nets paid off for him. He’s another bloke with an outstanding record at the AdeOval, but he’s not getting anywhere at the moment, unlike his 2009 campaign.

Marcus North is surely at an end. I defend our players, but it’s amusing when you see Mitchell Johnson get omitted from the starting XI, Nathan Hauritz gets the yellow card and then Ben Hilfenhaus as well (who I hope was left out due to an injury niggle or purely conditions, cause to drop him in form is not justifiable), it makes you question what Marcus is doing there under those circumstances….I have the answer! Here it is:
The NSP have been complacent, and when guys were showing poor form and should have been sent to the County’s or back to State cricket, they kept selecting them, while leaving potential players in the dark to not have an honest opportunity at the elite level.
Their lack of foresight, courage and pathetic complacency has resulted in question marks as to WHO can step in to replace North (same was applicable for Huss till he found form).
We know who could do it, but now in the series, the fear is reality that you could be debuting a guy where there is doubt over how he will rise the occasion. I see no harm in it, but selectors are spineless.
Why the bowlers though? Because injury allowed for opportunity to be sourced and now we have options, but it’s come at an unfair expense in comparison to our batting line-up.
Andrew Hilditch must go, no matter WHAT the Ashes outcome is.

So, the positives? Hussey and Haddin!
Michael Hussey has come to the party and is looking brilliant. I am so angry he didn’t get a century as that would have given us just a bit of an edge over England, but it wasn’t to be. Still a good fight displayed by Huss and his cover drives still look marvellous. His pull shots were a bit out of it during his innings (a couple knocks to the crotch) but for the better part he still tried to counter-attack England with aggression.
He’s still looking vulnerable early in his innings (outside edges almost expected from him) and he was fortunate James Anderson put him down in a near caught and bowled. But he fought hard, just a pity that century went begging by 7 runs!

It’s a huge bonus having Brad Haddin in form. He’s being our saviour with the bat like Clarke was in 2008 throughout our ODI season. I do believe that the impact of Tim Paine made Hads up his game and the healthy competition has ignited something within him, especially with his bat in hand. If his wicket keeping dropped to a low, he could easily represent us as a specialist batsman. He is so strong on the front foot, and his was executing his shots alot better than the 1st first, which is hard to believe. More batting partners I am sure Hads could have gotten three figures.
His innings was entertaining, and Hads, while it seems he has finally dropped an Gilly comparisons, is his own batsman out there. Daft at times, but entertaining with a genuine elegance.
He made a half-century and he’s making an impact alongside Huss as a dup that could be a key to start gaining some psychological warfare advantages over the English bowlers.

Ryan Harris, playing in place of Hilfy due to his experience at the AdeOval as well as a bowling repertoire including reverse swing and effective deviation of the ball in mid-flight that can generate very skiddy deliveries off the deck with some late movement as well.
Hilfy apparently also has a mild injury, but to be honest Ryano is a good enough bloke to get the job done. As much as I rate Hilfy and think he got shafted, I have zero issues seeing a guy like Ryano steaming in because he values being a part of the Baggy Green.

Day two, expect a massive crowd at the AdeOval. The bowlers will need it, as a testing day awaits!