Day 2 at The Adelaide Oval : Clarke and Haddin centuries leave England in a hole

THE EVENTS

The old adage goes "Catches win matches". Brad Haddin was in the early stages of his innings when he gave Michael Carberry the chance to help England strangle Australia . But Carberry in turn, returned the favour to Haddin by dropping the Austrlian ‘keeper. And regret it , he did. Day 2 began with Australia in a shaky 5-273 but Captain Michael Clarke and Vice Captain Brad Haddin continued their batting heroics from the first test. Haddin’s rearguard action in Brisbane rescued Australia’s first innings and it was the same here as he progressed from strength to strength on a flat Adelaide wicket. Clarke on the other end was poetry in motion with his batting. He hit every shot in the book and proceeded to his 26th test century. The partnership capped off the perfect first session for the Aussies as they went to lunch without losing a wicket. And finally Clarke got out in soft fashion when Ben Stokes got his first test wicket in the second time of asking (he had Haddin earlier but he had over-stepped). Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle didn’t last long but Ryan Harris did. The pacer was seen as an all rounder in his earlier years and he proved the billing with a ruthless half century. Haddin completed his 4th test century and Australia ominously proceeded towards 600. And when Nathan Lyon hit a six, the Aussie Captain decided he had seen everything and declared at 9-570.

Out came Cook and Carberry. They looked really edgy in the first couple of overs. And then Mitchell Johnson produced an absolute beauty to get rid of Cook . The ball appeared to be angling in only to find some late movement and bowl the English captain comprehensively. Joe Root , batting at 3 in place of Trott, batted the day out but not without anxious moments

THE SCORES

Australia 9-570 dec (Clarke 148, Haddin 118 , Broad 3-98) vs England 1-35 (Carberry 20* , Johnson 1-9)

STAR OF THE DAY

Australia - Michael Clarke. The Aussie Captain was sublime and looked a mix of Ponting’s class and Steve Waugh’s grit in his super knock.

England - None. It was a day to forget for England as they got mind numbingly thrashed around

FLOP OF THE DAY

Australia - None. It was one of their perfect days

England - Alastair Cook. Much was expected of him but his cheap dismissal piled the pressure on.

DAY’S VERDICT

It was a remarkably one sided day and it is safe to say my prediction of an England victory has burnt to Ashes (excuse the pun). Should be interesting , day 3, Joe Root looked great towards the day’s end