Andrew Flintoff provided a first breakthrough as England sought to develop a first-innings advantage in the 2009 Ashes opener. All-rounder Flintoff produced a hostile post-lunch spell of 6-2-15-1, which evoked memories of his 2005 displays and accounted for Australia's new batting star Phillip Hughes. It left the tourists 142 for one at tea, in reply to England's 435 in Cardiff. Left-hander Hughes emphasised his fondness for forcing the ball through the covers off the back foot before lunch but he added only eight to his interval score of 28. Flintoff peppered him with 90mph bouncers immediately upon the resumption and was rewarded in his fourth over when he located the inside edge and wicketkeeper Matt Prior clutched a low catch.
England's bowlers added 99 valuable runs in the morning session to help reach a total of 435 all out against Australia on the second day of the first Ashes Test in Cardiff. Australia, seeking to retain the Ashes they won back in 2006-07, reached 39 for no loss after eight overs at lunch as Phillip Hughes exploited some wayward bowling to race to 28 not out, while his fellow opener Simon Katich had six. Graeme Swann struck an enterprising 47 not out from 40 deliveries to put England in command of the first Ashes Test against Australia. The hosts, who resumed their first innings on the second day on 336 for seven, took their total to 435 before Monty Panesar (4) was caught at slip by Ricky Ponting off Nathan Hauritz. Swann took three consecutive boundaries of fellow off-spinner Hauritz, including an audacious reverse sweep, and added 68 in 53 balls for the ninth wicket with James Anderson (26). England began brightly with Broad and Graeme Swann playing their shots and running swiftly between the wickets. Broad's dismissal for 19, bowled around his legs by Mitchell Johnson, only accelerated the run rate. Peter Siddle, the pick of the bowlers on Wednesday, conceded 28 runs from four overs and Johnson 18 from three while Hauritz's first two overs went for 22. Hauritz gained some consolation when Anderson lofted a simple catch to Michael Hussey at mid-on but Australia's frustrations continued when Swann was caught at midwicket by Marcus North off Hauritz, only to find the delivery had been called a no-ball. Swann added one further run before Panesar gave Hauritz his third wicket of the innings.
*Agencies
