Still the boss

Cardiff. First Ashes Test - day two

Preview
Greg here: Good as gold Ted says for me to write everything today so at last you are going to get some straight. First day even in my opinion and today the Aussies need the Dardenelles spirit, show the Poms what we are made of, trust the good people of Wales get behind us 'cos they hate the English more than we do. They have their own language on traffic signs so the Poms will get lost, Poms have to pay to get into the country and having listened to a couple of them in a pub last night they are not too thrilled to have the Queen's eldest boy as their Prince. I reckon they will run the Barmy Army out of Cardiff by the third day.Bloody brilliant

To lunch

Brilliant! Phillip Hughes throwns it right back to the Poms and sends me for a plate of leeks - traditional Welsh tucker so I hear - with a smile on my face. Got to say the Poms were giggling all day with good reason. That Jimmy Anderson was there hero. I mean we know that Graeme Swann has a decent idea of batting but Anderson has so much in the way of guts I reckon he has a bit of Aussie dog in this make-up. They put on nearly 100 in the first 80 minutes before lunch and all I can say is that the two attacks don't have half an idea between them. Right at the end along comes Hughes and lashes the ball everywhere from third man to extra cover. Never seen an opening bat do that before; and that wild backlift, and that strange stance. Still he seems to get the ball to the pickets all right. Might have a chance although when the Aussies grin there seems to be an air of resignation.

To tea

Everything going Australia's way. Oh, yeah, Freddie Flintoff got rid of Hughes when it looked as if the little fella was going to score a very rapid century and I have to say Freddie bowled beautifully. Yeah, beautifully which meant that Andrew Strauss kept him on a lot longer than he should have done and put the big fella and his injury-hit body at risk. Not that we Aussies wish him any harm. We love him to pieces and if he takes every wicket to fall in this seris, good on him. We can afford to be generous jsut a few runs behind, only one wicket down and me in charge of telling the tale without any bias. (Ted's been hit by his old enemy gout, leave the red wine alone, Ted and learn to live the simple life.)

To close

Oz 249-1, Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting both with centuries, only 186 behind that big England score; something for every true born Aussie to celebrate led by the old Prime Minister John Howard. Typical, he watches with his old smug expression as if he was responsible for every run. No longer in charge of the government but the same old polly. Still he is entitled to sit in the reserved seats looking pleased; even if none of us cares for him. We are too busy loving Katich and Ponting, true heroes who have turned this Ashes battle upside down. Bit of sympathy for the Poms. The ball didn't swing, I'm sure Stuart Broad was injured because he hardly bowled a ball and the half chances never went near a fielder. Australia have to be careful because this is a topsy turvey Test and it's not all over yet.