Jimmy Jimmy - Day One at Adelaide

It is always unwise to judge a test after the first day, as Brisbane taught us a few days ago and, indeed, as Adelaide taught us four years ago, but there is no doubt which side will be warming down with the greater enthusiasm this evening. Having lost the toss on what is traditionally a batting paradise, at least on the first few days. England will be delighted to have been the first side to bowl the opposition out on the first day at this ground for thirteen years.

The start, of course, was extraordinary. It is always horrible being run out without facing a ball, but Watson and Katich ran like two people who had never met each other before rather than an established opening pair and Jonathan Trott’s composed direct hit set the tone for the day. There have been times in the past when a chance like that would have resulted in four overthrows, but this is a side brimming with self belief.

This self-belief swiftly became ecstasy as Australia’s captain, who would have had a rather different mental image of how the day might pan out when he won the toss, pushed with hard hands at his first ball and was snaffled at second slip. This is Ponting’s 150^th test and a great player deserves better at such a milestone, but this was his fourth first baller in two years, confirming the suspicion that he is increasingly vulnerable at the start of his innings.

Regardless of the outcome of this series, it seems likely that Ponting’s tenure as captain of Australia is nearing its end, but life isn’t treating his likely successor terribly well either. Having batted poorly in India and horribly at Brisbane, Michael Clarke, whose back is surely still causing him problems, walked into a loose drive and edged to slip at the very moment that his team needed him to knuckle down. Unless he makes runs in the second innings then the knives will be out for him.

One player for whom the knives were out before Brisbane was Mike Hussey, and one can only admire the way that he has bounced back. He has the happy knack of delivering when his team needs him the most and to make ninety-three in the way that he did was enormously impressive. It was only when the Sky commentators started talking about the prospect of a third consecutive Ashes hundred that he fell, beaten both in the air and off the pitch by a beautiful delivery from Graeme Swann. He received useful support from another player whose place is in the balance, but Marcus North for once failed to capitalise on a start, falling between twenty-five and fifty for only the second time in his test career.

Brad Haddin is another player who must have been waiting slightly nervously for the selectors’ call before Brisbane, but he batted well again for his fifty. He can look back on his contribution with some pride, only falling when trying to push on with the tail. Althogh doubts about his keeping remain there is no doubting his character and ability with the bat.

The tail offered little resistance. Ryan Harris can count himself unlucky, although the way that he played the ball from Swann didn’t inspire confidence. Doherty was the victim of another stuttering piece of running and composed fielding from England, and Siddle didn’t tarry for long. There is no doubt that the strength of the tail is one of England’s advantages – Haddin was batting with a degree of desperation once seven wickets were down, which doesn’t suggest an abundance of confidence in the batting ability of those at the other end.

It’s easy to be critical of Australia, but England bowled and fielded exceptionally well on a warm day. James Anderson showed why he is ranked at number four in the world with swing, seam and intelligence, Stuart Broad bowled better than his reward of one wicket suggested and Graeme Swann also bowled well on a first day pitch. Only Steven Finn will be disappointed with his day, leaking runs and not looking terribly threatening. The fielding, also, was outstanding – the catches were held and the two run outs exceptionally well executed. England, at the moment, look confident not just in themselves but also in each other.

There are still four days to go, however. If Australia can make inroads with the ball tomorrow morning then the game will still be in the balance, but the feeling persists that if England can get on top then Australian heads will go down. England can’t afford to be complacent by any means, but they will be very happy with their day’s work.