England might have thought there luck has changed when they won the toss on a green looking top and had no hesitation in sending Australia in to bat. At 97/5 things were looking good for the visitors but we've been here before. In came Brad Haddin and as he's done all series, proved a thorn in the English flesh. Haddin was eventually dismissed for a sparkling 75 but Steve Smith carried on and completed his 2nd century of the tour.
Yet again Ben Stokes impressed, following his hundred up from the previous test with 6 wickets in this innings. If England can take one positive back with them it will be his performance. Now we're eager to see how the other debutants perform in this match. Rankin impressed in his first over getting sharp bounce which prompted the question once more, "Why was he on the sideline when they played at the WACA?" But he looked at man out of form, out of depth or lack of match practice before leaving the field with what looked like a hamstring injury.
Borthwick didn't cause the batsmen too many headaches neither as the Aussies clearly decided to be positive against him, but he did at least pick up the wicket of Johnson, albeit from one too many aggressive strokes. He did however at times generate sharp turn and bounce - and of course this being on day 1. Australia were all out for 326 at a healthy run rate of 4 an over.
The big test now is whether England can pile on the runs, get a lead and maybe provide an opportunity for Borthwick to become a hero in the second innings. Maybe this will be the day that KP comes off and score a big hundred! Or are we about to witness yet another far too familiar story, where England get skittled out having had the hosts in serious trouble before halfway through day 1 themselves? England finished the day on 8/1.
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