Old Trafford: Australia finally had a good day in Ashes 2013 series as they managed to put up a good show on the first day of the Third Test at Old Trafford on Thursday. Michael Clarke scored a scintillating knock of century and was very well supported by Steve Smith, who is batting at 70.
The duo used their feet well against the spinners and didn’t allow them to make the most of the abrasive pitch on the first day. Though the DRS still managed to gain some limelight but it was more because of a very poor decision made by the third umpire who gave Usman Khawaja caught behind when the replays and hot-spot clearly showed that there was no edge at all.
Earlier in the day, it was some good aggressive batting from Chris Rogers that allowed Australia to have a good start of their first innings.
Final session added great zeal of life to the Aussie innings as duo of Smith and Clarke added 123 runs in the 37 overs that they batted. They manoeuvred the innings by rotating the strikes and later on coupled it with some odd boundaries. They didn’t get bogged down when they went through a rough patch of good six-eight overs bowled by James Anderson and Tim Bresnan. They survived it and targeted Swann to put Alastair Cook under some pressure and the effect of their batting was quite clear when English skipper brought Jonathan Trott into the attack who gave away six runs in the only over he bowled.
Clarke played a captain’s knock to bring up his 24th hundred off just 169 balls and after few minutes Smith also reached his half-century. They managed to end up the day with 3/303 after the 90 overs of play on Day 1.
Brief Scores- Australia 1st innings 3/303 (Michael Clarke 125*, Steve Smith 70*, Chris Rogers 84, Graeme Swann 2/82, Tim Bresnan 1/51)
