Ashes 2013: Rogers's Half-Century in Vain as England Seize Control on Day Two

A complacent Australia find themselves on the backfoot, as England wrested control on day two of the fourth Test of the Ashes series. Alastair Cook's side restricted the hosts to 164 as his bowlers ripped through the Aussie lineup grabbing nine wickets by the end of day's play.

England began the day at 226 after losing six wickets with Kevin Pietersen and Tim Bresnan at the crease. Skipper Alastair Cook would have hoped for a respectable total, but Mitchell Johnson was in no mood to let the visitors settle down and struck in his very first over of the day.

Bresnan's (1) attempted smash off Johnson's first delivery was caught by George Bailey at square leg. The left-arm fast bowler then sent Pietersen (71) packing after shattering his leg stump. England had lost eight wickets and managed only five more runs from the previous day.

Stuart Broad (11) entered the field and smashed a couple of fours off Ryan Harris in the next over. But Johnson was having none of it as he caught Broad leg before wicket to complete a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

At 242 with one wicket remaining, it was up to James Anderson (11) and Monty Panesar (2) as they put on 13 more runs. Nathan Lyon bowled the left-arm spinner to put an end to England's innings for just 255 in the 100<sup>th over.

Australia started the chase with openers Chris Rogers (61) and David Warner (9). Anderson struck in the sixth over of the innings as Warner's attempted pull looped behind into the hands of wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

The hosts could not settle down as Watson (10) too departed off Ben Stokes's delivery, edging the ball behind the stumps to Bairstow. Michael Clarke (10) misjudged Anderson's delivery opting to leave the ball as it unsettled the bails.

Rogers completed his 50 in the 41<sup>st over as he partnered Steve Smith (19) to take Australia beyond 100. Smith, who scored a century in the third Test, edged Broad's delivery into the hands of Ian Bell at second slip. Rogers too followed suit hitting a Bresnan delivery for Pietersen to catch with ease, adding just two runs.

Bailey departed for a duck after Anderson's delivery appeared to have nicked his bat. But Umpire Aleem Dar declared it not out. Skipper Cook asked for a review and TV umpire Billy Bowden over-ruled the decision in favour of the visitors.

Johnson (2) too departed pulling one towards midwicket for Anderson to grab the ball before it hit the ground. Harris scored six runs before holing out to Joe Root at short leg. Next to go was Peter Siddle for zero while trying to hit Broad only to give a catch to Bresnan.

Broad and Anderson took three wickets each and Bresnan two while Stokes picked up the crucial wicket of all-rounder Watson to ensure that Australia go into the third day trailing by 91 runs.

Skipper Clarke will be disappointed with his and his players' performance as he wanted to execute a complete whitewash in this series. Not much can be expected from the hosts on day three as Haddin (43) is unbeaten with only Lyon to bat. England will be hoping to quickly wrap it up and then set up a massive total for Australia to chase in the second innings.