Australia v England, 3rd Test, Perth, 1st day
England 0 for 29 (Strauss 12*, Cook 17*) trail Australia 268 (Johnson 62, Hussey 61, Haddin 53, Anderson 3-61, Tremlett 3-63) by 239 runs
Australia was a forlorn 4-36 before lunch, with its top batsmen, including captain Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke, back in the shed. England supporters were beginning to visualise the urn in their keeping before Christmas.
Only some rallying from the lower order allowed Australia to reach a respectable 268. The Australian bowlers had 12 overs at the tourists before stumps, with Andrew Strauss (12) and Alastair Cook (17) steering England to 0-29.
Strauss's brave decision to bowl after winning the toss looked to have paid dividends.
"I don't think it is realistic to change positions at 35 or 36 after playing more than 150 Tests," Waugh said. "I don't see the value in that."
Australia's gamble on four quicks to face blistering test
AUSTRALIA'S batting saviour, Michael Hussey, insisted he was ''100 per cent'' behind the selectors' decision to play four specialist quicks in the third Test.
"There was probably more moisture in the wicket than I've probably played on in a Test match here at the WACA," Hussey said.
"The first session in particular was really difficult. It (the pitch) was a bit two-paced early, some balls really skip through quite a lot and other balls sort of sat in the wicket and came through more like a tennis ball bounce, so it was pretty tough."
"I think the conditions are pretty suitable for the fast bowlers, the selectors have obviously had a good long hard think about who they think is going to get more wickets from that fourth bowling option."
"They've decided to go the fast bowler option and we're just going to back that a hundred per cent, there's certainly enough there for the fast bowlers and it's good that we've got a good artillery of them plus Shane Watson as back up."
"It was a pretty tough, challenging (day of) Test cricket, but hopefully we can make it just as tough for the English tomorrow morning."
Stats...
Ricky Ponting averages just over 41 in matches played in the last two years. In 73 matches between 2002 and 2008, he averaged over 65 with 27 centuries.
Australia's 268 is their third lowest score against England at Perth since 1986. In the previous Ashes Test at Perth, they made only 244, but went on to win by 206 runs.
Michael Hussey has scored over fifty in all his four innings in the series. He has 401 runs at an average of 100.25 so far.
Chris Tremlett,playing in his first away Test, picked up 3 for 63. This was his fourth three wicket haul in seven innings.
Mitchell Johnson's fifty was his first in 2010 and fifth overall. In 2010, he averages 13.56 while his overall average if 23.23.
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