Fifth test, The Oval.
Day 1.
England 319-7 (88 Overs)
The day started brightly, with a rousing rendition of Jerusalem from the Barmy Army. Then we won the toss and elected to bat. We were sailing along at 82-0, but then Marcus Trescothick (43) was caught brilliantly by Matthew Hayden in the slips off the bowling of Shane Warne. By lunch, he had also taken the scalps of Michael Vaughan (11) and Ian Bell (0) to leave us on 107-3.
After lunch, it looked like being much the same, with Kevin Pietersen departing for 14, leaving us teetering on an embarrasing 131-4.
Enter Andrew Flintoff.
He built a marvellous partnership of 143 with Andrew Strauss (129) and added 72 himself, including his trademark straight drive six down the ground off Warne. He departed, leaving us to use debutant Paul Collingwood, who was out for 7. Strauss followed soon after, and the score was 297-7. Not as dissapointing as before, but still substandard. Geraint Jones (21) and Ashley Giles (5) remained at the crease at stumps.
Shane Warne returned first day figures of 5-118 off 34 overs. toward the end of play, he was nursing an injury to his wrist. I hope it's really stiff in the morning, so he can't bowl at us. That only leaves 3 mainstream bowlers and they're all seam. Simon Katich might bowl a little spin, but not unless it's an emergency.
Rain is forcast for tomorrow and Saturday, so let's make it a good one, while it lasts.