Ashes Day 2 Review - The day of the debutants

And what of Kevin Pietersen's dropped catch, when Clarke had only made 21? "Yeah, I think I owe Kevin a beer or two ..."
-I owe Kevin a beer or two (Cricinfo)

Today was the day where two players playing their first Ashes test stamped their mark for rivalries in years to come. There is a lot in common about the entry of Clarke and Pieterson into cricket. Both these players made an astonishing mark in the one-day game before they entered the Test arena. And both these players forced two ageing but brilliant cricketers out of the test side, though Lehmann didn't play as many tests as Thorpe did.

The morning marked Pieterson's counter-attack against the man unplayable on the first day. It must have been a bit of a shock for Mcgrath to see 3 balls disappear for 4,6,4 as Pieterson raced to his half-century. Harmy and Jones slogged as best as they knew and coaxed the total to 155; within striking distance of the Aussies. When the Aussies came out a second time, Langer got run out from another piece of brilliance from KP. When Hayden and Ponting disappeared, things looked a bit wobbly at 100/3. But a sedate start and the company of a solid Damien Martyn ensured that Clarke first played himself him and then unfurled some gorgeous shots. When he eventually got out owing to frustration and some good captaincy, he had spanked 91 of 106 balls with 15 boundaries finally laying to rest the debate about any demons in the pitch. The last 9 overs of the day produced 24 runs and 4 wickets, and at 279/7, the game is brilliantly poised for an absorbing day tommorow. If England can blow away the tail like they did in the first innings, they have 2 days and a bit to get about 350. At this stage, Australia still ahead but only by an inch. Final shot...

Pietersen's debut was hyped like no-one's since Graeme Hick for England, and he admitted to a few nerves before he finally went in to bat yesterday. "There was a lot of talk about how I'd bat if England were 50 for 3 or 60 for 3 or whatever. And, whew, we were 20 for 5, weren't we?! But I enjoyed it this morning, having the freedom to smack a few."

-I owe Kevin a beer or two (Cricinfo)

Blower's quote of the day,

"Rudi Coertzen shakes his head firmly as a rather disgruntled pigeon flies across the ground. Probably lost its way and saw Martyn and Clarke again and decided it's going in circles"

-after the umpire turned down an LBW appeal from Simon Jones.