England bowlers decimate Australia on day one of Adelaide Ashes Test

ADELAIDE - England bowlers made a sensational start to the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval by bowling out Australia for 245 in their first innings on day one on Friday.

Asked to bowl first, England had a dream opening three overs when they took three quick wickets to have the hosts 3-2 after 13 balls of the Test.

Australian opening batsman Simon Katich was run out without even facing a ball by a brilliant throw from Jonathan Trott, while captain Ricky Ponting edged his first ball from Jimmy Anderson low to second slip, where Graeme Swann took an outstanding catch.

It was Ponting’s fifth golden duck in Test cricket.

The dramatic start did not end there as Michael Clarke (two) never looked comfortable and quickly joined his teammates back in the dressing room.

Anderson gained his rewards for pitching the ball up on a track, when Clarke, again looking troubled by his chronic bad back, was drawn into a loose drive and also edged to Swann.

Shane Watson (51) however looked solid in the middle and scored a confident half-century, during which he shared a crucial partnership with Michael Hussey (93).

Watson and Hussey shared a 94-run partnership, before the opening batsman became the third scalp for Anderson.

Hussey fell short of a defiant century, but went on to add some stability to Australia’s innings from the dramatic early batting collapse.

The left-handed batsman struck eight boundaries from his 183 deliveries, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin contributed an aggressive 56, but was the last man out as the hosts’ last five wickets fell for 38 runs.

Anderson claimed 4-51, while off-spinner Swann took 2-70, his wickets coming off consecutive deliveries.

England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook faced an over before stumps.

Brief Scorecard:

Australia:- Ist innings: 245 (Hussey 93, Haddin 56, Anderson 4-51)

England:- Ist innings: 1-0 (Strauss 0 not out, Cook 0 not out) (ANI)