Aimee Howarth looks back at the first White Rose Varsity weekend between York and Hull
Matt Cooke previews this weekend's white rose varsity tournament against Hull
James Tompkinson talks to YUSU Sports President candiate Sam Asfahani
James Tompkinson talks to YUSU Sports Presidential Candidate Ben McGladdery
But yesterday morning was perhaps the most surprising passage of play yet. First Katich run out before even facing a delivery, then Ponting and a woefully off-form Clarke caught at slip, and Australia found themselves 2-3.
The England players were in a sort of stunned delirium, struggling to comprehend what had just happened. Fielding first in an Ashes Test isn’t supposed to work like this – you’re supposed to toil for hours, conceding a few hundred runs before taking the third wicket. Instead, England had taken three wickets before Australia had even scored as many runs.
James Anderson spearheaded England’s early assault, taking the wickets of Ponting and Clarke with deliveries of perfect line and length. He bowled superbly, as he did on the morning the third day in Brisbane - only this time was rewarded with wickets. More and more he is looking like one of the best bowlers in world cricket.
Significantly, England pressed home their early advantage, bowling Australia out for 245. Michael Hussey may have done well to score 93, but Australia was never able to recover from their nightmare start. Adelaide is one of the best batting wickets in the world, so 245 is a long way off an adequate score.
It is vital that England take full of advantage of this position and go on to win the test, which would leave them just another win away from regaining the Ashes. But the way this series has gone so far, there’s no telling what twists and turns lie ahead.
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