Michael Clarke’s century sees Australia finally make an Ashes stand

A belting pitch, sublime summer sun and a century from Michael Clarke. There are days when the cricket world is not such a bad place. The crowd crammed into Old Trafford and were treated to nothing less than a masterclass from the Australia captain that helped put his side in the driving seat on the opening day of a Test match they simply have to win.

By the close, Australia had taken full advantage of winning the toss for the first time in the series and will go into the second day on 303 for three, with Clarke unbeaten on 125 and Steve Smith, who enjoyed considerable good fortune early in his innings but batted with diligence thereafter, on 70.

Thus far they have added 174 for the fourth wicket, 123 in the final session, leaving the England bowlers, for once, looking footsore, weary after a debilitating day in the heat and humidity, disgruntled at their lot with umpires, the decision review system and the footholes, and not a little bereft of ideas. There were runs too for Chris Rogers hitting 14 fours in making 84.

Only an unusually insipid Shane Watson, who made only 19 of an opening stand of 76 with Rogers, and Usman Khawaja, with one, failed to make any significant contributions, although the latter can feel mightily aggrieved firstly with the decision of the New Zealand umpire Tony Hill who adjudged him to be caught behind from the bowling of Graeme Swann and then, following the batsman’s request for a review, with the application of the DRS process in which the third umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, failed to overturn what was clearly an erroneous decision.

Clear evidence demanded
The protocol demands that there be clear evidence to overturn such a decision, but although there appeared to be no contact between bat and ball, a noise that emanated from bat striking pad, no tell-tale Hot Spot mark, and later, although it had no bearing on the decision at the time, nothing but a Snicko flatline, this was not deemed sufficiently conclusive. It certainly begs the question as to what exactly would be so in such a case.

In fact it was another poor advertisement for the standard of international umpiring, certainly in the case of Hill. Nor did England enjoy their best day with the reviews. Before he had scored, Smith, playing back to Swann, was struck on the knee roll and looked plumb lbw. Hill gave him not out, England reviewed the decision and Hawk-Eye deemed it to be hitting leg stump almost full on, but marginally within the “umpire’s call” zone. It was a really poor decision in the first place: England did not deserve to lose a review for that.

That England subsequently lost their second review in querying the decision of Marais Erasmus not to give Smith out caught behind when 18 proved galling for when Smith had 24, he appeared to be nailed in front by Stuart Broad, in the middle of an excellent spell. Hill ruled against, although the technology suggested it had all the credentials to be hitting in line and two-thirds of the way up middle stump. That was the decision of a man whose confidence was shot.

Floundering
The departure of Rogers, lbw to Swann, had left Australia floundering at 129 for three. There had been excellent pace and bounce in the pitch and some decent swing for each of Anderson, Broad and Tim Bresnan, with Bresnan winkling out Watson to first slip and Swann finding drift, turn and bounce.

Clarke had already come in to bat at four, a place higher than his preferred position but necessitated largely by the inclusion of David Warner to bat at six, at the expense of Phil Hughes. It was a struggle early on, as Anderson in particular probed away. Clarke plays spin, though, as well as anyone in the world. If he slowed down a little later on, with his second half-century coming from 35 deliveries more than the 67 he took for the first, then he too can be allowed some weariness.

Australia now have the chance to put the game at least beyond the reach of a third England win, if not a draw, which if the pitch holds up, and the weather interferes as it may, would remain favourite. England need to regroup in the morning and make good use of the new ball. Manage that and they would still be in the game.
Guardian Service