The Ashes 2013: 1st Test, Day 3 - Five players to watch out for

Day 2 of the 1st Test was full of surprises

The second day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge was full of surprises.

The 19-year-old Ashton Agar who raised eyebrows for his surprise selection did not need to contribute much with the ball, but he bailed out Australia from a catastrophic situation with the willow.

The last batsman on the Australian team sheet looked much more comfortable than most top-order batsmen against the likes of Steven Finn and Graeme Swann as he broke the record for the highest score by a number eleven batsman in Test match history. He was well supported by Phil Hughes at the other end as the partnership took Australia from 117/9 to a total of 280.

Australia managed to take some advantage of the 65-run lead as they made early inroads in the English line-up. Mitchell Starc played his part in the first innings in an understated manner, but he struck two lusty blows to the English batting order upfront in the second innings.

He was lucky to get the wicket of Joe Root who edged a ball that was going down the leg-side, whereas Jonathan Trott was controversially dismissed off his very first delivery after he was trapped leg-before wicket. The decision-review system was brought into play, but the side angle of hot-spot being unavailable, the umpire gave the decision in favour of the bowler. However, Mitchell Starc deserves the credit for being on the money on the very first ball to the new batsman.

The third day of the match is likely to decide the fate of this encounter. England have eradicated the Australian lead and will start Day 3 from a score of 80/2. Here is a list of five players who will play a major part in the action of Day 3:

5. Matthew Prior

Matthew Prior

The wicket-keeper batsman disappointed in the first innings as he was dismissed playing an extravagant shot to the bowling of Peter Siddle. He could only get a single run in that innings.

Prior has been a vital cog in the English wheel in their last two successive Ashes victories, batting in the lower-middle order. He has the ability to get quick runs once he has settled in his stride and can bat with tail-end batsman.

That job becomes all the more critical when England’s tail is failing to show the patience and the skill required to get those additional 80-100 runs. He will be hoping that Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen wither out the first two hours of the day’s play so that it becomes a lot easier for him and the likes of Ian Bell and Jonny Bairstow.

4. James Pattinson

James Pattinson

The media tipped James Pattinson to spearhead the Australian bowling, but he has had a rather ordinary match so far. He failed to get his radar right on Day 1 but did manage to get the key wicket of Alastair Cook before Siddle penetrated the English batting line-up.

He was unable to find much swing in the last session on Day 2, and when he did, he was unable to float the ball in that corridor of uncertainty. His job on Day 3 will be made difficult by the fact that Australia cannot afford to leak runs now as every run that England scores will be a run they will have to chase.

Pattinson will have an opportunity to make a distinct mark in the first two hours of the day’s play. If he can break the partnership of Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook early on in the day, Michael Clarke will feel more confident to aggressively pursue the match.

3. Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen had to dig deep into his reserves of patience in the last session of Day 2 as he tried to anchor the English innings along with captain Alastair Cook.

The right-handed batsman will look to make up for his failure in the first innings by putting on a good display on Day 3. He can give shape to this match by scoring a substantial innings. The ease with which he can change gears makes him a huge threat to Australia.

Ashton Agar will be deployed soon enough if the seamers are unable to send him to the pavilion in the first hour of the day as he has shown a particular vulnerability against left-arm off spinners.

2. Peter Siddle

Peter Siddle

Siddle was Australia’s hero in the first innings as he picked up a five-for to dismiss England for a moderate total of 215. There will be no time to rest upon that achievement however as Day 3 brings a greater challenge.

Australia need to restrict England under the score or 265 so as to get a target of about 200. Siddle is an asset to Michael Clarke as he is a work-horse and will run in with full commitment every ball. The stadium bathed in sunlight for the most part of Day 2, and if that is the case again on Day 3, customary swing will not be available.

Siddle will rely on his stock delivery that is just outside the off-stump, deriving a little movement off the pitch. It remains to be seen if he can replicate the success that he had in first innings.

1. Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook

The England captain has consistently anchored the English batting line-up in the last two years. His contribution to the Ashes campaign of 2010-11 was enormous, and England are not greatly superior to this Australian side if he is excepted.

He failed in the first innings and that exposed the English middle order which crumbled under pressure. He looked determined to weather out the day in the last hours of Day 2 as he concentrated hard against Australia’s tactical bowling. They tried to make him play away from his body in an attempt to replicate the dismissal of the first innings.

He will try to plug one end and allow Kevin Pietersen to dominate the course of play. The entire English batting line-up looks better when Cook gets runs, so his wicket will be critical for Australia’s fate in this Test match.