*Official* First Test at Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

[tooextracool]

If England can get through to 320 for 5 at the close, then that would be a pretty good. I would have taken that at the start.

Indeed, this pitch could disintegrate a fair bit, so its not quite as clear cut to describe it as a dead flat pitch. Hope Prior can bat through to be honest.

 

[four_or_six]

When we were 90-3 I didn't think we were going to get to 300.

 

[grecian]

If England can get through to 320 for 5 at the close, then that would be a pretty good. I would have taken that at the start.

Big IF, the way Johnson has got the new cherry to swing, guessing Hilfenhaus will do similar.

 

[tooextracool]

Looks like SP Jones liked that shot....

 

[steds]

Fred

 

[BoyBrumby]

Ha, wow. Contemptuous pull from Fred off Hilfy there. Not going to overthink it today, Freddie.

 

[TT Boy]

Really enjoyable partnership and good to see Fred not scratch around.

 

[grecian]

This is reminiscent of the Geraint-freddy counter-attacks in 05.

 

[TT Boy]

Two balls aside, Johnson has been poor. His looked flat and with Sky's Lionel Baker 90mph + speed gun, he should be clocking better speeds than he has.

 

[King Pietersen]

I just posted the exact same thing on Planetcricket. Very pleasing. GoJo and Fred used to put on some very good partnerships, and Prior's leagues ahead of Jones, so can see these 2 having a big impact on the series. Both get their runs at a very decent rate. Prior is especially nice to watch, definitely the most pleasing on the eye batsman in the England team.

 

[andruid]

Matt Prior now has a better test average than Adam Gilchrist

 

[S Chanderpaul]

Prior's average is now back above 50.

 

[four_or_six]

Kind of funny that Johnson has bowled the least overs of the quicks, and spells of 3 and 2 overs with the new ball.

 

[superkingdave]

Has Ponting never watching Prior bat before??

Resorting to a deep cover fielder again

 

[pup11]

Some very poor balls have been bowled by all the Aussie quicks so far with the second new ball, pretty much undoing all the good work they did earlier in the day.

 

[social]

Oz have undone much of their good work by bowling utter rubbish for the last 20 overs

They've gone from bowling in a relatively disciplined fashion to wide and short rubbish

 

[grecian]

Well done Matt, really top stuff

 

[Furball]

Haha, when you're hot, you're hot.

 

[kingkallis]

Its pleasing to witness Prior's stroke play when on song!

Its good to see these two attacking the Aussie bowling...

 

[tooextracool]

Geez this Prior is one hell of a batter, bit surprised that his FC record isnt as good as you would expect it to be.

However, cant help but feel that the Aussies havent done their homework on him. They have let him get on the backfoot for most of his innings when instead they should be trying to bowl close to the stumps and make him drive. Poor bowling from the Aussies but this guy knows how to bat. Cant remember seeing anyone bat with this kind of controlled aggression since Graham Thorpe.