After Englands disastrous batting performance at Leeds, they would like to redeem themselves by putting a better batting performance. Ravi Bopara batting in the crucial no.3 did not provide the innings that is expected from him, following his poor performance he has been replaced by Jonathan Trott. With Flintoff back in the England line up, we can expect a better allround performance from England. It is also time Paul Collingwood comes into the party and scores some runs.
England won the toss and elected to bat first, England the lost the early wicket of Cook when the score was 12. Ian bell joined Strauss, the pair looked scratchy and England end the first session at 108/1. Soon after resuming Strauss was picked up by Hilfenhaus at 55. Considering their earlier performance England will be quite happy with their batting performance till now.
England 1 Andrew Strauss (C), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Paul Collingwood, 5 Jonathan Trott, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Steve Harmison, 11 James Anderson.
Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Mike Hussey, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Stuart Clark.
Paul Collingwood, England's middle order batsmen has been struggling, since the first test match. Paul Collingwood plays a vital role in England's fragile middle order and with the absence of kevin peterson in the line up, he needs to stand up and take the responsibility, which he has failed to do. Apart from the match saving innings of 74 in the second innings of the first match and a 64 in the first innings, Collingwood has been struggling for form in the middle. He once again failed to make an impression at oval, getting out after making a scratchy 24 to Peter Siddle. Collinwood was caught at Gully by Hussey, Australia bowled with a plan to Collingwood targeting his offside. He looked scratchy and out of sorts from the start of his innings and was poking his bat at anything offside.