Ashes 2013-14: Fielding errors from England let Australia off the hook in Second Test

 
PA
5 December 2013

One-nil down against an Australia team quickly regaining confidence, the opposition cannot afford to miss a beat. At the end of play today, England were left wondering whether the three catches they dropped in the final session might have a decisive impact on this Ashes series.

Australia had won the toss and had made a very solid start but after three quick wickets before tea, England had their rivals where they wanted them. Then, the recalled Monty Panesar dropped George Bailey on 10 off his own bowling and Joe Root could not pull off a diving attempt to end the innings of Michael Clarke, who had 18.

The worst mistake of all came from Michael Carberry, who put down a simple one at in the day’s penultimate over that would have sent back Brad Haddin for five.

Graeme Swann had limited the damage by taking a marvellous catch to remove Bailey for 53, yet between them, Bailey and Clarke contributed 73 after they were reprieved, with Clarke – 48 not out – and Haddin still there at the close. Had England seized those moments, the home side would have been eight wickets down on a drop-in pitch that looks perfect for batting, and England would have been well on the way to erasing the memories of the 381-run thrashing in Brisbane.

As it was, Haddin and Clarke fought their way through the new ball to ensure Australia reached stumps on 273 for five.

It was a tough day on which to make his Test debut for Ben Stokes, who nevertheless bowled competently as England’s third seamer. Stokes was included in the side for his all-round skills as the tourists decided the pitch was sufficiently dry to choose Panesar, their second spinner, ahead of Tim Bresnan.

Upon losing the toss, Cook’s expression betrayed disappointment and it was easy to understand why. David Warner scored a second-innings century in Brisbane and he was quickly into his stride here, taking the attack to both Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Warner is the kind of player who, if he bats for two hours, can turn a match. He looked in precisely that mood today, moving to 29 from only 32 deliveries, so it was a surprise when he gave away his wicket.

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The delivery from Broad was short and wide but instead of crashing it to the boundary, Warner seemed caught in two minds about whether to play or leave, and could only steer the ball straight to Carberry at point.

Warner’s error was a crime on such a placid surface, and it was one Chris Rogers and Shane Watson appeared determined not to commit. The pair were particularly watchful as, at one stage, England recorded 20 dot balls in succession through Panesar and Stokes.

Facing Panesar, Rogers had survived an lbw review when he had 27 before reaching his half-century during the afternoon session with a square cut for four. Watson soon followed him to 50 and, at that stage, it was difficult to see how England were going to interrupt the Australian pair. Interrupt them they did, though, as Anderson dropped to his right to take an excellent return catch and dismiss Watson.

Yet again, Watson had failed to build upon a fine start, and five balls later, Rogers was gone, too, falling to a thin edge to the wicketkeeper off Swann. When Steve Smith showed poor balance and was bowled by Panesar in the final over before tea, Australia had slipped from 155 for one to 174 for four.

Under such circumstances, the best teams accept whatever opportunities that come their way; England may regret deeply their failure to do so. As caught-and-bowled chances go, the one Bailey chipped back to Panesar was relatively straightforward. Australia’s one-day captain had 10 at the time and as the ball fell to the ground after Panesar’s clumsy attempt to catch it, Matt Prior’s body language was more eloquent than any words.

Far less blame should be attached to Root, who dived to his left at midwicket but could not hold on after Clarke had played a wristy stroke against Swann, but Root’s disappointment was apparent. He and his team-mates know that Clarke is the best batsman in this side, and the idea of removing him for just 18 on this pitch was almost too good to imagine.

Clarke seemed to have made up his mind to play watchfully, with Bailey adopting a more aggressive attitude. Australia’s one-day captain took Panesar for two sixes down the ground, and reached his half-century with another. It was a perfect demonstration of the easy-paced nature of the pitch, as Bailey had time to pull a short-pitched delivery from Broad in front of square and over the rope.

Bailey was attempting a similar shot when Swann took a stunner at short square-leg to give Broad his second wicket. Bailey has become one of England’s chief sledging targets and Broad could not resist firing a few words in his direction as he departed but the atmosphere appeared a little less tense than at the Gabba.

Soon afterwards, the England man was convinced he had Haddin leg-before for five, but when England reviewed, Hawk Eye suggested the ball would just have cleared the stumps. Haddin then rode his luck when he cut Panesar to backward point and was spilled. England had let Australia off the hook.

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