England v Australia Fifth Test, Second Day

Thursday, 22th August 2013 - Fifth Test, Second Day

Australia 492-9 declared
England 32-0

Entrance: £65
Programme: £5

Day Report

This was my first day of Test Match cricket for a good few years and despite losing the morning session to rain and the game itself becoming rather pedestrian during the second session, it was a most enjoyable day. Despite knowing the weather forecast in advance, it is somewhat dispiriting standing at the railway station with the rain tumbling, catching a train that is going to get you to the ground in time for the start of play that you know is not going to happen.

This was my first time at The Oval and my overall impression was that it was a strange kind of mish-mash combining the majesty of the Pavilion with the rather ugly executive boxes to its left and right and the relatively new OCS stand with its curved roof and four tiers that towers over the rather bland stands at mid wicket on both sides.

The leaden sky show little sign of breaking before lunch and after finding my seat and sitting in the rain for a little while it became apparent that there was little point in getting soaked so I went in search of shelter, which was at a premium underneath the stands. Lunch was taken early and true to the forecast the gloom started to lift in the early afternoon and a 2.30 p.m. start was announced to a relieved capacity crowd after a couple of false dawns when the covers were removed but quickly reinstated.

After a first day in which Australia had dominated and closed on 307-4 with Shane Watson having made 176 they resumed with Steve Smith on 72 and nightwatchman Peter Siddle on 18. I don't know how badly my eyes have deteriorated since the last time at a Test Match but from my place in the cheap seats (£65!) at mid wicket, I had great difficulty in actually seeing the ball.

I had purchased an earpiece that gave me the Test Match Special commentary and this was a great help in following proceedings and the little asides that are a feature of TMS made for good listening. After 20 minutes in which Siddle had moved on to 23, James Anderson clean bowled him for the first wicket of the day with the Aussie score on 319.

As the sixth wicket stand climbed to over 50, England embarked on an unwise review when the ball brushed Bruce Haddin's thigh pad. England had tried all their front line bowlers to break the partnership and employed the part time arm of Jonathan Trott but left their new spinner, Simon Kerrigan who had endured a torrid first day, on the boundary.

On 94, Steve Smith went for a big heave off Trott and ball sailed over the ropes for a six to bring up his century. A couple of balls later and Trott got a measure of recompense when Haddin chopped a ball onto his stumps to dismiss him for 30. Australia 385-6.

Tea was taken with Australia on 397-6 and Smith 112. It had been an enjoyable session but it was to be anticipated that after tea the tourists would be picking up the pace to put a declarable score on the board and have a bowl at England late in the day.

James Faulkner scored 23 in just 21 balls before becoming Chris Woakes first test victim skying a catch to the boundary and Trott taking it over his shoulder. Australia 422-7 (Smith 114).

The Aussies were now throwing the bat at everything and Mitchell Starc made a breezy 13 before being bowled by Graeme Swann. Australia 446-8.

We now entered a period in which a declaration appeared to be imminent, there was a little rain in the air and England were getting the bird for some really irritating slowing of the game with endless drying of the ball. Meanwhile the score moved on to the 480s with Ryan Harris clubbing the ball to all quarters, depositing Swann for a pair of sixes. Eventually with Harris on 31 and Australia on 491, he heaved a Anderson delivery high into the sky and the bowler made the catch with the majority of England fielders camped on the boundary.

At this point, I expected Steve Smith sitting pretty on 137 to depart with Harris with the Aussies declaring, but Nathan Lyon was sent to the crease, didn't face a ball and when Smith nudged a single, the declaration was made. I cannot say that I understood the value of that single run.

So the scene was set for the Aussies to steam in and attempt to break through England's top order. As it was their bowlers wasted their opportunity and Alastair Cook and Joe Root were able to comfortably see through an hours play, closing the day at 32-0.

With the benefit of writing this after the match has actually finished, despite losing the morning session I had seen the best of the opening four days. The following day was a complete borefest and the Saturday was a wash out, before a sporting Aussie declaration set up a thrilling finish in which England were denied by bad light from recording a successful run chase.