Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Previous editions
Friday, July 10, 2009
ENGLAND’S 2005 Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff last night gave a dressing room rallying cry following Australian domination of the second day of the opening npower Testin Cardiff.
After Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich struck twin unbeaten hundreds to guide the tourists to 249 for one, a deficit of 186 runs, Flintoff reminded his colleagues of how England addressed a similar scenario four years ago.
Off-spinner Graeme Swann said: "They certainly have the momentum after the end of today, but happily for us we still have a nigh-on 200-run lead.
"And as Fred said when we got into the changing room, for those who didn’t play at the Oval a few years ago, it was a very similar situation.
"It takes just one good spell to bring us right back into the game and that’s what we’re going to be thinking."
Flintoff, 31, roughed up Australian new boy Phillip Hughes with a hostile introduction after lunch and dismissed him in the fourth over of his spell.
"We know with Freddie, he’s going to keep coming at you all day," said Katich. "Whether it’s his first, second or third spell you know he going to come hard."
Australia finished with the upper hand but England threw some entertaining early blows with Swann’s unbeaten 47 from number 10 key to 99 runs being stacked up in 75 minutes this morning.
"It was a great start," said Swann. "We talked about getting momentum and going into lunch we were pretty happy – when we came off at the end we weren’t quite as happy.
"Their score probably sums up the way we bowled because we didn’t put the ball in the right place often enough."
Another legend of the baggy green brigade Bobby Simpson has been Katich’s mentor in repairing his career.
"I am thankful to him for giving me the time of day," Katich said. "His helpand support has been enormous in getting me back to this stage. That technical help has turned me into a more confident player.
"Last time I was playing a lot differently to how I am playing now. I probably look the same but I have more confidence in hitting the ball straight."
Ponting, who completed his 38th Test hundred from the penultimate delivery of the day, appears in ominous mood.
"You can tell by the way he is going about his business," said Katich. "Hedoesn’t have to say much.
"Those of us who went through what we did four years ago know how much it hurt."
* MEANWHILE, Captain William Porterfield’s 81 underpinned a three-wicket victory for Ireland which gave them a 1-0 lead in their one-day international series against Kenya.
After the tourists chose to bat first at Clontarf, an opening stand of 80 between Kennedy Otieno (78) and David Obuya laid the foundations for a total of 214 for nine.
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