Eng Aus ODI 4 Half Time: Ponting, Clarke Better Australia's Batting

by Vinay Anand

Ricky Ponting (92) and Michael Clarke (99) joined forces and put on a formidable 155 for the 3rd wicket as Australia put on 290 in their allotment of 50 Overs. The pattern remained the same once again as Australia batted first for the fourth time in a row on a belter of a wicket. The strip was straw coloured with a lush outfield to go with it, giving the batsmen full value of their shots.

ricky ponting craig kieswetter

The teams went in with unchanged line-ups as England aimed to whitewash the old enemy thus gaining a vital edge before the Ashes. The English bowlers were able to get the ball to move around both in the air and off the wicket as the Australians were circumspect in their shot selection early on in the piece. However, Watson soon got going with a couple of boundaries of Jimmy Anderson which gave the Aussies much needed momentum in the first power play. Paine was indecisive in his shot selection thus giving Bresnan his first wicket of the series when he got a leading edge only to be caught at extra cover. Watson continued in typical style before he swept one right down Eoin Morgan’s throat at deep midwicket.

Ricky Ponting’s expression was one to certainly look for. If only looks could kill…

Ponting was furious with Watson and was determined to go on and lead from the front. The drives were back, the pull was back and more importantly the runs were back. Both captain and vice captain played brilliantly as they milked the spinners around. The only criticism one could have was that had Australia taken their batting power play just after the mandatory change of ball, England would have to use their lesser bowlers in the death Overs. Australia’s batting power play only yielded 35 runs in spite of having a set batsman in Clarke and one of their best hitters Cameron White at the crease. The stage was set for a big finish as Australia got to what was just a par score on a hard oval surface. Michael Clarke stagnated once again due to his inability to play the big shots. Australia got to their score of 290 largely due to the late efforts of young leggie Steven Smith who in his brief knock of 18 of just 8 balls help provide much needed impetus to the innings. Smith walked onto the park in the 49th over with Australia’s score at a modest 267. However his unorthodox stroke play got the better of the English team as his cameo has given the Aussie attack something substantial to work with on a wonderful track.

The Australian bowlers would have to be spot on. As far as England are concerned they would know by now how good the pitch is. A couple of big partnerships and they should be through. Strauss, Collingwood and Pietersen need to do what Ponting, Clarke and Watson did for Australia. Any runs from Kieswetter and Morgan will benefit England immensely.

The wicket remains a good one. Tait would be a threat on any wicket and he’ll be hoping the wicket scuffs up a little so as to get the reverse swing going. Australia should have the scoreboard pressure in their favour as 290 on any wicket is still a good score. England have a long batting order and early in roads remain a key if Australia have to break the ‘pattern’.

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