Comments from Asylum Australia: Oh, Australia. I often watch us having a shocking first innings, whether with bat or ball, and wonder, "if their side can do that to us, what can our inherently talented stallions do next?" And sure enough, we show them that maybe it has more to do with the pitch, and that they're going to do even worse... For all their talk of having two 'real' spinners, why haven't the English tweakers found more purchase than our lot? Of course we wish we still had Warney, but, ummm, England doesn't even have someone who turns it like Hauritz!Comments from Asylum UK: The seagulls that spent most of yesterday circling above Sophia Gardens in Cardiff may as well have been vultures waiting for the England bowlers to drop down dead. You couldn't blame any passing carrion birds for making that mistake -- apart from a few good overs from Freddie the England bowlers looked half-dead all day. Stuart Broad had to limp off with a calf (pride?) injury and Monty Panesar yet again proved that he's only in the side so that the spectators can cheer when he makes a fielding mistake. In the face of batsmen who, unfairly, aren't up for giving away their wickets at a moment's notice (taking notes, KP?) it was a frustrating day to be an England fan. Not that we're whinging or anything... but is it too early to start hoping for a draw?
Best of the Aussie pundits
Ponting regains control over a cheeky foe by taking a bat in his hands
"ENGLAND took charge of the match on the second morning with an aggressive and bold performance that spoke of a side determined to dictate terms. Contrastingly the Australians looked nonplussed and it was left to the experienced batsmen to keep them in the contest." - SMH
Flintoff reminds England of 2005 Ashes effort
"However Flintoff, who bowled a fearsome spell to young Aussie opener Phillip Hughes, spent the moments after play trying to gee his side up." -Daily Telegraph
Best of the English pundits
That's how you do it England - lessons for KP and Co from cool centurions
"England were bitterly disappointing with the ball on the second day of this all-important clash. There was no swing in the cooler conditions and Australia were determined to value their wickets far more dearly than England. But the bottom line is that, up to now, Ben Hilfenhaus has outbowled Jimmy Anderson and, damningly, Nathan Hauritz has outbowled both Swann and Monty Panesar." - Daily Mail
England short of ideas
"Ponting's pedigree is that of cricketing royalty and he showed the preening peacocks among England's batsmen the difference between an eye-catching cameo and an innings of substance, passing 11,000 Test runs in the effort. With only eight fours the self-restraint was obvious, but there was also a gimlet-eyed purpose that recalled Steve Waugh at his cussed best." - Telegraph
Blunt bowlers blame the ball
"Panesar averaged two vociferous appeals an over, with umpire Billy Doctrove wanting to clock him over the ear with his sun hat but, as the pundits infuriatingly continue to retort: 'That is just Monty!' ... Both sets of bowlers can blame the ball for not swinging enough, not bouncing enough, or not making them smile enough, but maybe they should stop bemoaning the conditions if this opening Test is not to peter out into a drab draw." - Cow Corner
